When you're looking at a couple of billion dollars of deficits, you can't just cut your spending to get out of it. Decreasing revenues from a decade-long recession were the cause, so besides right-sizing government, a way must be devised to create a stable revenue base again.
Current back room chatter in Lansing says some of the players want to see an increase in Michigan's 'sin taxes'- the various excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products to be precise. The current excise tax on beer and cigarettes would be increased to net in millions of dollars of badly needed revenues.
But some are complaining, stating that this will hurt our economy. They cite our tobacco taxes as being among the highest in the country already, and are concerned about our alcohol taxes driving more consumers to smuggle in these products from our lower-tax neighbors.
However, I'm no politician. I'm not a vested lobbyist. Nor am I a member of a trade organization. I'm just a simple citizen of Michigan who wants to see his state succeed. Oh, and drink lots of beer and have some fine cigars along the way too.
My vote is: tax 'em. Tax the booze and the cigs and let's talk about things that DO matter in this state.
I know alcohol has its dangers: when abused, it can destroy lives in an instant, both the abuser and innocents. Even when consumed in moderation, it's loaded with carbs and leads to long term medical complications such as liver disease. Smoking - I think everyone can readily acknowledge those risks. The problem is, when all these costs come up, whether it be a crash witha drunk driver today or a liver transplant for an alcoholic in 20 years, the cost is at least partially bore by the public. The excise 'taxes' therefore are the way that users of these products can help to bear their end of the bargin.
How much of our beer money is at stake in this? After all, this is a recession, right? Why should we pay more for the things we enjoy. Well, the tax on beer would increase by pennies. Mere pennies. The same for cigarettes. Now I know things are tough, but I sincerely every beer drinker can spare a shiny Thomas Jefferson every once in a while to help out our fellow man.
It's not a burden to pay this increased tax, and it's not even really more taxation, but more responsibility. Last time I checked, responsibility was common sense. So let's not call this a 'sin tax', but a 'common sense' tax. And that makes me a Beer Drinker for Common Sense.
