September 17, 2003

STRIKE FOUR:

Seattle voters reject espresso tax (AP, 9/17/03)

Voters in this caffeine capital have rejected a proposed 10-cent tax on espresso drinks after the initiative jolted an otherwise sleepy, off-year primary with a double shot of controversy.

With 58% of precincts and all the mail-in ballots counted late Tuesday, the tax was opposed by 68% of voters.


The Democratic presidential contenders are being driven by four key beliefs that resonate with the party faithful:

(1) George W. Bush stole the 2000 election.

(2) The projection of US. cultural beliefs, particularly by way of war, is inherently wrong.

(3) Moral standards need to be more permissive, allowing for things like gay marriage and abortion on demand.

(4) Taxes are too low.

There's fairly little evidence that the American people agree with them on any one of these Democrat fundamentals.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 17, 2003 9:12 AM
Comments

A dumb tax, but it would have been a good deal for my anti-tax, conservative Mormon uncle and his family. I wonder how my liberal, coffee-fueled schoolteacher Aunt and her family voted? After all, it was for the kids.

Posted by: Jason Johnson at September 17, 2003 9:51 AM

I'm pro-sin taxes. Anyone who doesn't drink Folger's (or whatever's cheaper) black deserves to be taxed.

Posted by: oj at September 17, 2003 10:02 AM

Ack. Why must the mass-produced sins in the country (i.e., Folgers) be so bland? Sin's supposed to be rich!!

Posted by: Twn at September 17, 2003 10:18 AM

Don't forget:

-The public sector trumps the private sector.
-All earnings left in private hands are a cost to government.
-Business as well as most private activity is inherently suspicious and must be regulated by the central government.
-Citizen activity must be regulated and taxed as far away from it's source as possible since the people are basically incompetent if not stupid.

Of course, I could go on an on...

Posted by: Tom C., Stamford,Ct. at September 17, 2003 11:01 AM

Orrin, you've just articulated the Dem platform better than any of the Nine Dwarves so far! I understand Cabana Boy has an opening or two for campaign staff. Maybe you should send a resume? :)

Posted by: kevin whited at September 17, 2003 11:49 AM

And to think there's been such historical success taxing Americans' caffiene sources...

Posted by: Mike Earl at September 17, 2003 12:47 PM

Heck, I wanna work for his wife. There are 57 million reasons to love her.

Posted by: oj at September 17, 2003 1:23 PM

A Photo Shop jockey could probably combine a "Got Milk?" type ad with a fellow holding a latte, and come up with "Read My Lips - No New Taxes".

The rest of this post strikes me as unfairly insightful. Why do the rest of us bother to watch the campaign, or blog about it?

Posted by: Tom Maguire at September 17, 2003 6:02 PM

I imagine even a pro-tax voter might have disliked this proposal. A sin tax on a mere peccadillo doesn't make the blood boil.

It violated the fairness test.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at September 18, 2003 6:20 PM

Your comments are not quite right.

point #1 please add...and is a cabal of oil interests more nefarious than the nazi's.

point #2 please replace with...defense of US cultural beliefs in any way including moral suasion is evil.

point #3 please replace with...there are no moral standards.

point #4 please add ...they must be increased to decrease the material well-being off everyone until we are equal (think green suits, little red books)

Posted by: BG at September 19, 2003 11:40 AM
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