I'm curious as to Kossacks' opinions on Proposition 86, which quadruples the state cigarette tax, with much of the funding going for various types of health care programs. I'm currently leaning against the proposition, but I want to see what everybody here thinks.
Let me start off by discussing my politicial philosophy: I am a "Libertarian Democrat". I believe that the government shall not ban almost anything that doesn't harm others. I also believe the government has a right, almost a duty, to provide goods and services that can not be provided adequately provided by the public sector, and to charge a reasonable level of taxation to pay for such goods and services.
I therefore am in favor of legalizing drugs. However, I can see the state not wanting to be advocating the use of such drugs, however, and one way to show the state's displeasure for such is to charge high levels of taxation on such, provided such levels of taxation aren't so excessive to come close to defacto banning such. I consider tobacco to be merely such a drug (it's use hurts nobody but the user if used in private).
So, my main question becomes, is raising the level of taxes on cigarettes from $8.70 a carton (plus Federal taxes of $3.90 per carton plus 7.25% state sales tax plus local sales tax in many areas) to $34.70 a carton (plus Federal taxes of $3.90 per carton plus 7.25% state sales tax plus local sales tax in many areas) constitute "excessive" high taxes? This would be the highest cigarette tax in the nation, and the highest state wide tax by more than ten dollars a carton. I probably would support "merely" doubling the tax, but quadrupling it strikes me as excessive. Basically, they tried to shoot the moon, and they may have lost my vote because of it.
There is a related problem in that this would probably cause very high numbers of people to dodge the tax, either by buying thier cigarettes over the internet, or driving to an Indian reservation, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, or Mexico to buy thier cigarettes.
Another problem here is that the tax is so high, that the combination of people quitting or dodging the tax may actually result in lower tax revenue for the state of California. Of course, part of the point of the proposition is to encourage people to quit.
Current cigarette taxes throughout the country: http://www.discount-cigarettes.org/...
Official ballot description of the proposition:
http://www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov/...
Website in favor: http://www.yesprop86.com/
Website opposed: http://www.86facts.org/