Bravo! Californians Reject Tobacco Tax Increase

A Supposedly Good Cause And 
Prominent Supporters Was Not Enough

Common sense prevailed!

Reuters News reports that Californian voters narrowly rejected Proposition 29, which would have raised the current tax of $0.87 by $1 to $1.87 (a 114% increase) for each packet of cigarettes. However, final results will not be in before early July.

The revenue raised from Proposition 29, estimated to be $735 million annually, would be used to fund cancer prevention and research initiatives.

Mr. Bloomberg was reported to have donated half a million dollar to advance this proposition. Lance Armstrong, a testicular not lung cancer survivor, promoted it with about $1.5. million

Smokers As Easy Prey

As if smokers have not already been hunted like witches for decades. Even if all smoking voters (about 14% of California’s adult population) and their families had objected, the much larger majority of non-smokers could have easily defeated them (tyranny of the majority).

Why should smokers be singled out to fund cancer research?

Who will be the next group to be so targeted?

If you want to make smokers pay, e.g. raise health insurance premiums.

Timing Is Everything

The ballot took place at a minor election date, which likely contributed to low voter turnout.

Sin Taxes Are Sin

Any tax that is as narrowly defined as a tobacco tax or alcohol tax ought to be abolished. Many of them are arbitrary and the result of particular historical events.

Sin taxes are highly regressive and have little purported effect. On the contrary, e.g. high alcohol taxes promote dangerous, unhealthy moon shining.