First they started with cigarettes....next, everything. Governments are blood suckers.
“First they started with cigarettes”
The purported rationale behind the tax is the same as for cigs, but it actually goes back much further.
The REAL story is the gov could care less about the health (other than what they pay out, which means less for them). They care more about being able to pass a tax bill that people (saps) will support.
The first US excise tax was on alcohol, encouraged by Alexander Hamilton. Not for the reasons of health, but because the gov was strapped for cash and, needing a tax AND considering that a major gripe in the revolutionary cause was taxation, Hamilton felt it was more “tolerable” than other taxes that could be imposed.
Nevertheless, circumvention of the tax began almost immediately, kicking off that fine history of US bootlegging still in existence today.
A more interesting comparison to events of today is the uprisings held in response to the tax. Hamilton and Washington were believers in strong central government and wanted to make sure that the gov presented an “overwhelming force” to deal with it.
Sound familiar? An interesting contrast in the perspective of the founding fathers.
For more, search on “Whiskey Rebellion”. I’d say “google” but I’m afraid using that to search on anything to do with founding fathers might get you on a watch list.
Also, the Ron Chernow biography on Hamilton is excellent, not that I’ve compared others, but I enjoyed it tremendously.
Homeowners who live near the club are letting people park in their yards for a fee.
Allegheny County announced that they will not allow this to happen next time. Basically, they can't collect taxes and they are crying boo-hoo.
Bloodsuckers, yes.