Pubdate: Mon, 10 Dec 2012
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Allmen Quester

HOW TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING

British Columbia currently has a debt of about $1.5 billion.

On Nov. 30, Global reported that if B.C. were to build all the 
hospitals it currently needs by 2020, that is, in the next seven 
years, the cost would be about $80 billion.

The news reporter questioned how anyone could imagine the B.C. 
government acquiring enough money to pay for it all.

I think I can answer the question.

The government needs to cultivate, sell and tax marijuana.

They should raise the taxes on tobacco and alcohol, then start a 
distillery to make cheap liquor for poor people. The rich people 
would not mind paying the extra tax, because buying government liquor 
would have a stigma attached to it. The government should also allow 
gambling on individual sports games and tax that spending/winning.

I think my ideas would raise the necessary funds to build those 
hospitals. They might also lower the crime rate and would keep money 
out of the hands of the criminal gangs that currently collect all the cash.

Allmen Quester, Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom