Hey Bill Godshall,
It is only a start as they do things in small increments to get their foot in the door. Believe me, they know what they are doing. Give them time and they will tax it all.... no question about it. Look at the seatbelt law in MA. It started of as an optional seatbelt law whereby you could not be pulled over for not wearing it.... now they can pull you over if they see you do not have it on. They got their foot in the door and keep on taking more and more liberties.
Look at smoking. You could smoke in bars and restaurants before and even on an airplane back in the days as they had smoking seats on the airplanes. Now, no more smoking at all. For smoking in restaurants and bars here in MA they were able to pass no smoking laws by allowing certain sections of the bar or restaurant to have smoking and non-smoking sections. The owners had to install expensive special filtering systems to allow for this. Many years later now.... Now, NO SMOKING allowed in any bars or restaurants in the entire state. They got their foothold and continue to expand and pass small incremental laws until they get what they originally wanted. They like to take your liberties away and very good at doing it.... a little bit at a time, step by step, inch by inch.
How about the income tax passed in 1913 it was originally designed for only the very, very wealthy like the Vanderbilts and Rockerfellers, and JP Morgans at the time and no one else was required to pay this income tax. Slowly the bar was lowered and the amount of money you made even though not a million dollars was included and you had to pay the income tax on your earnings. Now add inflation to the picture and you see how they work. One dollar in 1913 is now worth about $23.00 in 2012. It is a game that is very difficult to win.
Some places now do not allow you to smoke in your own home if it is an apartment complex. When will they start banning smoking or e-cigs while driving? It will only get worse.... give it time as this will be the same with taxing and banning e-cigs in places. You can not even smoke outside on some beaches or even in some parks.... give me a break. The rule makers or politicians are very predicable and still use the same game plan as it has not changed in many, many years..... Doc S
