Tax and Spend Happy California at it Again!

California is at it again. Article Here

"Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.

The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent.

Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.

"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said."

Tax and Spend policies in America have gotten so far out of control. The founding of our country was on Freedom, liberty, and Personal Responsibility. Our current elected officals have lost site of this and now are pushing to control every aspect of our lives. It is time "The People" fought back and asked for the end of Big Government and a return to personal responsiblity!

Comments: 10

Christopher B. Apr 12, 2008, 2:15pm EDT

There is a big difference between beer and tobacco. You don't see beer drinkers dying from cancer. More over tobacco is the only nicotine delivery system on the market. There are a number of booze products, one wonders if this is a way to boost wine revenue by making cheap beer too expensive? Finally tobacco taxes are generally not spent on crime prevention. I'm sorry but you can't blame crime on beer. Don't take a bite out of crime by taking a bite out of the beer drinker's wallets. (For the record I tend to drink more wine than beer, but there are a few beers from California I like.)

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Katie Scarlett (Site Bouncer Wanna Be) O. Apr 12, 2008, 2:16pm EDT

I have to say MoD, that as a smoker, I've been waiting for this to happen. It's only fair.
Heck, they tax our vices, fast food included if they have their way. Soon it will be the air.

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Katie Scarlett (Site Bouncer Wanna Be) O. Apr 12, 2008, 2:17pm EDT

No but many a beer drinker causes automobile accidents and just as much death and pain.

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Larry M. Apr 12, 2008, 3:19pm EDT

You have a choice, tax and spend or borrow and spend. You aren't going to get politicians to stop spending because the lobbiests who control them want more spending. Therefore you get to choose whether to use a system which will lead to economic collapse or one which is sustainable.

Your only other option is to change the circumstances by making a striking change in the nature of our money so that there are no taxes at all and government spends nothing. It has taken me a novel to explain it all so that it is easy to understand but at least the novel Invisible Hand is fun to read.

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John S. (arizona) Apr 12, 2008, 3:56pm EDT

Yeah, lets see a rock solid document with no loopholes promising that is where the money will go... good luck. For argument sake, even assume it does, want to place bets that money currently going to that is used elsewhere instead of adding to it?
These directed taxes are a shell game playing on voter emotions, and frankly I think should be illegal to do. The odds people will vote to pass on any initiative that doesn't come out their pocket is high. Find a minority product or service, and ask to vote or raise a tax on it is the game.

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Rex T. Apr 12, 2008, 7:41pm EDT

Beer and cigarettes, they've determined we don't need them and will punish us for wanting them. Like John S. said, the added revenue is targeted at prevention programs but how much of it actually winds up going there. Behind all the "good intentions" I see a government that will stop at nothing when it comes to dictating our behavior or taking our money.

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Rude D. Apr 13, 2008, 8:36pm EDT

Yeah, lets see a rock solid document with no loopholes promising that is where the money will go... good luck. For argument sake, even assume it does, want to place bets that money currently going to that is used elsewhere instead of adding to it?

Your tax dollars eventually go to Halliburton.

Where were all the moans and groans of all these Fiscal Conservatives when bush ran up our deficit. They were waiting for a Dem to pay it off so they could cry about it. Sneaky! Now they holler but not a peep when bush rewarded his cronies with no bid contracts. Fiscal conservatives my eye!

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Shawn M. Apr 20, 2008, 9:38am EDT

Chris, No drinkers do not die lung cancer. You are correct. They die of liver cancer. Smokers don't however get all smoked up and then beat up their wives and children. Smokers don't get all smoked up, get behind the wheel of a car and drive bus loads of kids off a cliff. Personally I agree with Publius, where the hell did personal responsibilty go? Beer drinkers shouldn't be trying to argue their vice is better than the smokers vice. They should be saying we aren't taking anymore of this crap. Maytbe we need another Boston Tea Party. This time we won't toss tea into the drink maybe we should start tossing Democrats.

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