as for the cigarette tax: i haven't read the law, i've merely skimmed it. I don't object in principle to taxes on cigarettes whose revenue are dedicated to health programs designed to treat diseases for which smoking is a factor; but I'm not going to defend the law until i've read the specifics.
Where do you stand on making registered sex offenders wear GPS monitoring devices for the rest of their life, and not letting them live in urban areas? If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.[ Parent ]
I'm opposed to tax, firstly, and secondly, I'm opposed to specific taxes that target groups for paying extra, when the money will only be squandered by governmental inefficiency. Further, I don't think supporters of the law are even pretending that the money is going to anything remotely related to smoking, or problems caused by smoking. It's just another example of legislators trying to influence behavior by making things cost prohibitive, and lining their own pockets, and it's particularly offensive as it moves things away from anyone having any personal responsibility or rights concerning their own lives. If I want to smoke, it is my business. It is not the government's job to try and be my Mom; I already have one of those.
As for GPS monitoring of sex offenders, I am against it. It sounds costly, and I've got a pretty good bet who they expect to pay for that. If parents of children want to track perverts, let them do it on their own dime, allowing responsible non-overpopulating infidels to continue their lives without having to chip in more money to protect other people's kids. Which brings me back to my Campaign 2008 Motto: Don't Do The Time If You Didn't Do the Crime!
what i've seen of the text of the initiative is that the money will go primarily to two things: * medical research targeted to smoking-related diseases * anti-smoking plans.
since i haven't read it, though, i don't know how realistic it is, and whether or not i vote for the measure will depend heavily on whether the financial allocations seem legitimate or they seem to be polite fictions.
As for the GPS monitoring thing: holy crap, we agree on something! If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.[ Parent ]
What's best for me is best for society.
And I am!
of a future cabinet member, good sir.
