Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009

Sin taxes show hypocrisy with government

I gave up smoking when premium cigarettes were 60 cents a pack at the convenience store.

I gave up alcohol a little over a year and a half ago for health and spiritual reasons.

I have never been a gambler.

Our state government is caught in a moral dilemma. On the one hand, our socialist brethren would legislate what and how much of any "bad" thing we might consume. On the other hand, they lust after higher revenues.

In typical fashion they spend money on "anti-XYZ education programs" but can't bring themselves to outlaw the vices, or separate themselves from the cash. Who are really the addict and hypocrite?

Washington has raised cigarette taxes repeatedly believing huge revenues would follow. Each year receipts go down and we raise taxes again. The same strategy is being used on spirits. Now we will get a $3.70 "surcharge" on each bottle beginning August.

It seems to me they got part of what they wanted: I am getting healthier by the day. However, there may be a downside. I will be around that much longer (God willing) to editorialize on this foolishness.

Konrad Lau

Whatcom County