Measure 50

In Oregon we will be voting on Measure 50 which is a constitutional change that places a large tax on tobacco to pay for a health plan for children. I sincerely wish that the tobacco companies would have taken all the money they are putting into fighting this campaign and put it into a medical trust to pay for the medical bills of indigent children.

All this posturing aside Measure 50 is flawed and it deserves to fail for several reasons. Most of all it is basing its income on smokers. I think it was aimed as a deterrent; making smoking too expensive to afford. But a constitutional amendment that creates a new department will need to continue being funded even if no one purchases tobacco in Oregon until another constitutional amendment comes around to relieve the tax payers. A Constitution is a sacred document. It reflects the rules by which we govern our selves. It should not be used as a shill for taxation.

I am all for socialized medicine, but only if paid for by all the people. It is unfair to place this expense on the back of the addicted and the under educated citizens of the state. That’s what the lottery is for.

Now if someone were to come up with a measure to reduce tobacco use in Oregon by banning all tobacco sales in the State, I would be on board with that and I bet it would pass by a 60% margin. It is a dangerous product and should be banned along with high fructose corn syrup and any product made by Monsanto.