We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:57:57 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...the things stay the same. Nanny-minded politicians never learn. A potential tax of $10... per cigar. And, btw, it would apply to current inventory as well - which is one thing if it were to be collected at the point of sale... a pessimistic reading of the bill would have it be paid up front by the merchant. All for the children, of course. To fund their health care, we'll use sin taxes which, if they have the desired effects, will be a self-defeating tax (i.e., people will quit smoking cigars) leaving us with an unfunded program... which means we'll... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html Wed, 18 Jul 2007 06:37:14 -0600 Ah, clever woman! Your offer of assistance arrived... (well, was read) after the last bale was stacked. Next time, we'll make a party of it. This time, I'm kinda glad we did it ourselves - to prove to myself that those things which cause the VA to pay me can be worked through doing this sort of thing, and I have a much better appreciation of what needs doing for next time. Like the amount of beer/Powerade/water per person we'll have to lay in, based on my personal consumption rates. And we'll have a bigger trailer. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62331 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62331 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 05:38:38 -0600 You need help with hay baling and removal? I am currently available on certain days of the weeks and weekend, barring angeling activities, particularly in the evening or early morning hours when it is cool. And, I need to lose some weight. ;) What do you need? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62321 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62321 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:05:44 -0600 not an easy mark to hit.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62317 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62317 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:09:25 -0600 I was having this dicussion with the CLU#1 about three weeks ago, and raised the first half of the issue which was if you discourage a vice through a tax, and do it well enough that the money drops off, then you have an unfunded program and either have to promote the vice or find another source of revenue. He asked me about the black market then...so he took it to your conclusion and well, I am so proud of the lad! We were talking about Richard Mayberry's excellent economics primer 'Whatever Happened To Penny Candy?' I highly recommend that one as an introduction to government meddling and taxes. Thanks again John for having a blog with high quality content. I hope you don't mind, but I do use yours and Cass's blog to teach writing. No, I don't even dare print it out, but they have to read it and look up the relevant sources used to sustain cause and effect in lawmaking and politics. WOO HOO!!!! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62309 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62309 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:39:02 -0600 Yes, how to fund health programs through the sin tax...discourage the sin but don't outlaw it to keep revenue going...but don't be seen as promoting it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62306 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62306 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:24:41 -0600 I agree, John. As long as there is a demand, there will be a supply .. most usually provided by violent criminals in the black market, aided and abetted by authority elements in the political and law enforcement class who profit from corruption and kickbacks. The best way to reduce these types of "sins" is to come up with better ways to reduce the demand for them. We need to stop glorifying and promoting their use/abuse in media and entertainment, better educate people on the negative consequences of using them, offer alternative "escapes from reality" that aren't as harmful, and address those issues and needs that compel people to "escape from reality" in the first place. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62298 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/heh_the_more_th.html#comment-62298 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:48:37 -0600