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Taken from here and here... California Assemblyman Taxocrat, er, Democrat, Jim Beall, Jr. is proposing an approximate 1,500% tax increase (2 cents to 30 cents per can/bottle) to provide funding for health care services, crime prevention, and underage drinking awareness programs, to name a few recipients of an approximately $2 billion projected revenue. I can see, maybe, a small increase for alcoholic products, to include beer, wine, liquor, "alco-pops", etc., to fund programs directed toward preventing underage drinking, but to only direct this toward beer drinkers? Does he not care that the microbrewery effort started in California with Fritz Maytag and Anchor Brewing? Where's the anti-tax voices from SABMiller, Molson-Coors, and Anheuser-Busch? Or is he directing this towards beer because he doesn't want to upset the state wine industry? And again, if he's worried about health care, why not tax fast food, video games, sugar and high fructose corn syrup-laden sodas and food? Those are some of the real causes of health care needs - not beer… Especially when studies have proven that beer, when taken in moderation (two 12-oz servings for adult males, one 12-oz serving for adult females), are good for the body's health... And doesn't part of the property taxes paid supposed to go to "crime prevention" in the form of local and state police departments? Does he think that only "beer drinkers" commit crimes? How about all of the illegal immigrants who are in the state? They're breaking the law by being here ILLEGALLY, but he wants to go after (additionally tax) the legal adult citizens who want to relax at their home, local bar, or elsewhere, and have an adult malt beverage… And then to make the comment of "The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco". Excuse me… "accepted that concept with tobacco"? Not everyone has accepted that concept, and you should probably talk with some of your other state counterparts who are having to re-look at state-wide smoking bans and increased taxes with tobacco products because their states are not bringing in as much tax revenue as they originally thought. For those in California who may be reading this, here's his contact information: Capitol Office: State Capitol P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0024 Tel: (916) 319-2024 Fax: (916) 319-2124 District Office: 100 Paseo De San Antonio, Suite 300 San Jose, CA 95113 Tel: (408) 282-8920 Fax: (408) 282-8927 I finish this blog in paraphrasing a bear: "Remember, only you can prevent bureaucratic idiocy"… Do the research and vote! Take Care, Live Life (in moderation!) and Pray Hard, - DR Post a comment in response: |
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