Solving the budget crisis
Budget concerns exist at local, state, and federal levels. No one wants to raise taxes but vital programs report a lack of funds.
Howard Collett, who is a Marion County commissioner, has solved the problem in brilliant fashion. It's so brilliant, he probably won't get anyone to listen to him. That happens a lot to geniuses.
Collett noted that government loves "sin taxes." These are the various extra sales taxes added to tobacco and alcohol products. The name comes about because using them either is, or leads to, sinnin'.
But even sin taxes have detractors. One legislator said the government was taxing addiction, not tobacco. Others say higher sales taxes don't reduce use, it just sends people to an adjoining state every couple of weeks to re-stock their supply.
For what it's worth, statistics show higher alcohol and tobacco prices directly reduce youth experimentation and use of these products. But that's beside the point.
Collett's brilliant idea is this:
Tax soft drinks, sweet rolls, candy, and all those other pre-packaged, high-fat, empty-caloried products.
Two things will happen: First, the budget crisis will be solved, because most of us still will buy enough sweets to take care of every financial problem this state faces.
Second, some people will reduce their consumption of these items, thereby improving their health, which leads to the added benefit of fewer medical bills and lower insurance costs.
Fruits, vegetables, and good Kansas beef and pork wouldn't face the fat tax. People with strained finances could save money simply by improving their eating habits. Only the rich will be dying of clogged arteries.
There are negatives. We would be the target of attack ads by the Coalition Hoping to Undermine Better Bellies for Youth (C.H.U.B.B.Y). And who knows what type of lobbying expertise Little Debbie or Dunkin' Donuts have at their disposal? It might make campaign finance reform look like a tea party.
Another concern is organized crime. I have no doubt there will be pipelines smuggling bear claws from Canada and cheesecake from Eastern Europe. How about loyalty? Let's face it, there's a certain stereotype about cops and donuts. Will underground confectioners suck law officers into the buying and selling of people made of gingerbread?
Clearly there are many ramifications in this debate. I think I'll pick up a sack of sour cream donut holes from Carlsons' and chew on this idea some more.
— MATT NEWHOUSE
