Side-trippin'

Last week I made one of my semi-regular trips to Du Page County to buy smokes. The taxes in DuPage, though high enough, are less ridiculous than Cook County where I live nor as obscene as the city of Chicago. I noticed a change in the lay-out of the store and asked the clerk why they had remodeled.

There was a new law, he sighed. "We had to. No more self-service with cigarettes". He went on to explain that the powers that be were concerned about easy access to cigarettes for children but noted that they were allowed to have cigars on display in the store. Like kids wouldn't steal and smoke cigars? Whoever passed the law seemed more concerned with minors stealing smokes than the store owner but, likely, the intent of the law was "out of sight/out of mind". For years now it has been illegal for minors to purchase cigarettes. You would think that were enough. I did not determine if it were a new state law I hadn't heard about but I suspect it was a local ordinance. Illinois, like most states, has a cigarette based economy. This is what our politicians learn while they are in prison: WOO BUDDY- PEOPLE WILL PAY A LOT FOR SMOKES WHEN THEY ARE HARD TO COME BY! The taxes suck but I've heard prison stories and I fear what else they might want from us...

Now, every time the republicans lose an election, they start talking about the evils of 'big government' and how we need 'small government'. The problem is they whine about this at the Federal level. No doubt our Federal government can blow some money on $500 hammers, $1000 toilet seats and wars with countries NOT directly related to 9/11 but, they can also print money whenever they need it so, taxes (though complicated) ain't that bad of a deal. Where government needs to get smaller is at the level where it's already smaller, your state and local idiots. These losers can't print their own money like the feds but they sure can print up ordinances and laws that can be exchanged for money! The Trib this morning (they STILL hate teachers, by the way) noted that a lot of municipalities are getting into the impound business. There is big money in cars. The confiscation of cars, I mean. It turns out that people need them and are willing to pay big bucks to get them back so a lot of towns have made it easier to have their employees gather and hold vehicles for ransom by passing new laws to make it so. It was cute and fun when it was designed to take Corvettes away from drug dealers but, now it's taking away grandma's Buick more often than that.

It's your state and local legislators digging into your pockets far more than the federals. Regardless of which party you worship THEY ALL LOVE TAXES! They just want YOU to pay them rather than their high-rolling friends who can pay but make political donations instead. Cigarettes are the prime example as they are a 'sin tax'. Oh, fuck them smokers- make 'em pay! But, then the states (feds too) discover new things like, say, sodapop leading to obesity. There sure are a lot of fat people. The decent thing to do (knowing that it won't change a thing) is to tax those people who choose to drink Cokes, get fat and walk on county roads (damaging them) to pay to get their impounded cars out hock. It's a two-fer-one deal. The state gets revenue and the fat people get punished like they should because they're porkers. Fuck them fatties!

Do I need to remind you that..."first they came for the trade unionists but, I was not a trade unionist..."?

Republicans (usually not in office) always say: "If I ran my business like the Federal government...yada yada... I'd be OUT of business in no time!"

Disingenuous hyperbole. It shouldn't be but, it is. Every state, county, town, city, village is supposed to have a budget. How about maybe trying to meet that budget? Perhaps, set realistic goals to make meeting that budget easier? Maybe try to do things right rather than print up laws to garner new tax revenue because you can't do things right. And if you can't meet your budget and manage the tax revenue, invade the neighboring town. At least be pro-active...