Smoking in the Name of Kids

I’m not gonna dive into this issue much but this is where I part ways with Liberals of the Left. I’m not against taxes. I’m just against unfair taxes. Slapping another “Tax for Children’s Health Care” is just such a tax. It seems whenever we Lefties want to get tax money, the easiest way is go after the smokers. Who really likes cigarettes anyway? I know I don’t (although IrishSpacemonk may be seen with a cigarette but that’s because he’s an entertainer.)

Here’s where I get confused. Hear me out. A cigarette tax is a regressive tax, in that it taxes harder the poor in society. The poor in society are often the very people that need health care assistance for their kids. Cigarettes are addictive and getting off the addiction isn’t easy, nor free. We want to have a society free of smokers. But a society free of smokers will not fix the problem that uninsured kids that still need health care. And where does the money come from then? I was reminded of this a month or so back when Hillary Clinton was asked about a ban on cigarettes. There’s no way a lefty could be for such a ban when you think of all the tax revenue that would disappear. That’s the bind.

So here’s my three points against with slapping smokers with another cigarette tax to pay for kid’s health care.

1. The tax is regressive, taxing the poor more heavily than the rich
2. The tax takes advantage of an addiction that we are trying to fight, and when the fight is successful, tax revenue declines, despite the remaining need for health care of kids
3. Increased prices for cigarettes will not make the use of cigarettes go down - look at illegal drugs for a perfect example

In Oregon, this tax attempt is called, the “Healthy Kids Initiative” (Measure 50). I’m not for big tobacco. In fact why not cap the price of cigarettes and tax the tobacco companies instead? Make it come from their bottom line. What I’m against is an $0.85 per pack tax on the poor, to pay the health case expenses of the poor….what do you think? Give me an argument to the contrary and I might change my mind.

Good Fences and Good Neighbors by the Doze…n

If you live in the suburbs of Portland like I do, you know that Measure 37 is bad policy. Just this week, on my way to work, convoy of 8 dump trucks barreled by on the way to some field that’s being cleared for development. It’s crazy! And what’s bad - this was on a narrow, 2-lane road - testament to the fact that home development is far out pacing the development of new roads and infrastructure.

And so this Friday’s Drawing for a Reader comes at the request of Measure37watch.com. Check out who’s really behind Measure 37 claims (as if it’s any big surprise).

Oregon Ducks Open The Flood Gates on Michigan in the Big House

I’m not a college football fan, but I can’t pass up a chance to root for the underdog, especially when they’re from Oregon.

And thanks to Dale for the caption he provided for the cartoon. It adds a bit of literacy to my often otherwise plain-spoken ‘toons.

Measure 37 Media Darling Dorothy English Continues Quest for Millions

A few years back, when Oregon’s Measure 37 was being pushed through, I remember feeling a tinge of sympathy for poor Dorothy English, an old lady in her 90’s who just wanted to build on her land.

Well, Measure 37 passed, and Dorothy can build her houses, but she’s not satisfied. She’s still suing for $1.5 million. And she’s not the only one wanting huge amounts of money for land with commercial viability only in their dreams. Check out these other Measure 37 claims.

By the way, if you’re from California, and you have a state issue you’d like to see in a cartoon, email me at drawmesomething@pixelmarx.com. Every Tuesday I’m going to be working my way around the States, starting at my hottest markets (most visitors) and moving to areas that seem to have yet found the internet.

Hello…North Dakota?

Oh well, perhaps ND is just too red for my blog.

‘Sheed May Have Been Right All Along About NBA Refs

A break from politics is sometimes in order. And that’s why some of us find ourselves drawn to sports.

What’s funny is how similar modern politics is to modern sports. Justice, fairness, and the people (fans) play second to the money. Scandal after scandal seems to rock the world of sports, and now the NBA is being shaken up by gambling, game-fixing NBA referee, Tim Donaghy, with the potential of up to 20 more referees implicated in the scheme.

Being an Oregonian and an ex-Trail Blazer fan, I always admired Rasheed, even when so many fan’s were against him. His passion for fighting the injustices of refereeing was unmatched. And it didn’t matter how many technicals he received, it was more important to fight for what was right. Isn’t this how the public should have been a few years back, before the Iraq war was ever launched? Calls for impeachment seem a bit late today. Why not a few years ago? Instead, too many in the media, and public remained spectators, while the Bush administration was able to pursue any agenda they wanted.

While I doubt many will side with me on my support of ‘Sheed, I do think we’d benefit from a little of his passion in our fight against injustice. Because eventually you’ll be proven right.