Don't tax it and they will come?

Here in the U.S. it seems that everybody and their brother have an opinion when it comes to taxes. How much is enough? How much is too much? Who should pay more or less? On and on and on. For the record, I am not a big fan of taxes. Of course, they are necessary but at the end of the day, the lower the better. It seems that I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Louisiana Alcohol Taxes Low

From the Washington Post, no less. I can only hope this sparks something with 'my friends' in D.C. Apparently, Louisiana has some of the lowest taxes on all things alcohol in the entire country. And what's more, they collected more tax revenue per resident than any other state.

From the article:

"I'm surprised we're that high" in alcohol tax collections, LSU economist Loren Scott said. "It must be a function of the quantity consumed, not the tax rate, because the rate is very low."

I'm no economist, but it sounds like Loren Scott is. I'm curious if this is the finest that LSU can scratch up or if the 'economist' is stating the obvious for John Q. Sixpack.

And so what does all this mean? Well, if some people have their way, they will likely kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

"Coincidentally, the U.S. Census Department released the report on state tax collections just as Louisiana legislators were opening a session in which they'll consider Gov. Kathleen Blanco's proposal to increase so-called "sin" tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products.

Blanco's tax plan would add another 50 cents to the state's cigarette tax and raise alcohol taxes for the first time in decades as part of a package that the governor estimates would generate about $120 million to pay for teacher, college professor and school employee pay hikes."

First off, the idea that we are talking about a 'sin tax' is kind of funny.

A. I don't consider drinking and smoking to be sinful.

B. Since when was there anything remotely related to a 'sin' in Louisiana.
Have you ever been to New Orleans?