Wisconsin Beer Tax

As a former homebrewer and still enjoying a beer now and then, I have to differ. If you lost family due to a drunk driver, as I have, that was left free to drive impaired again, I think you would look at it different. I don't think this has been handled the best way but if this is how we are going to pay for better law enforcement, so be it. I pushed for more efforts to enable responsible drinking but the govenment can't see any solution other than more taxes. The Tavern League could have self-policed this problem but they fell way short so we now have the tax. So be it.

sbukosky: I am sorry for your loss.
That being said, I think the loss of a family member may have clouded your judgement with wishful thinking. To think that the additional tax is going to stop anyone from drunk driving is naive. The money will be wasted away like every other tax dollar. The taxes will go into the same leaky bucket, in an economy when we should be lowering the tax burden. The middle class is trying to 'make it' on wage reductions while Government continues to spend and waste 'our' money.
Speed kills more people each year than drunken driving- should we also place a tax on all caffienated products? Should we tax fast food because it will offset the costs of healthcare for fat people? (national health care is around the corner- don't think it won't happen if the Government is managing our medical care)
There is only one solution to the drunk driving issue: get the legislature to change the laws. Many drunk drivers are repeat offenders, making it a felony would make people "think" and at the very least lower drunk driving by locking them up so they can't repeat offend.
Clinton added cops to the road when he took office- did that lower crime? Bush promised no child left behind- did that increase SAT scores? Obama was given a credit card with no limit on it- will that make any of us better off?
Based on your words "the drunk driver who killed your family member was left free to drive impaired again."
It is up to the people we elect to handle issues like flaws in the law- Wisconsin is one of the most forgiving states in the US when it comes to Drunk Driving. I honestly thought it was a felony to kill someone...maybe it is time we push the Legislature??

I know Mark Benson.

In my opinion, NO amount of taxation would have stopped him from doing what he did. The only solution was prison and it is too late for that to have saved lives. The "beer" tax will be just like the "utilities for the poor" tax on your electric/gas bill. Now it is going to pay for district attorneys.

Re: Mark Benson
Too bad he wasn't locked up before. At least he won't be able to drink and drive at anytime in the near future. Again, drunk driving should be a felony- three strikes and you're out is not a good policy here. The beer tax is a tax on the poor more than anyone, just like the cap and trade tax that will be coming. This affects the lowest wage earner's much more. It just doesn't work for anyone's benefit.

Craig. Agreed on all accounts. In the early 70s while living in Germany my friend, a German citizen would refuse to drive even 3 miles when we had a lot to drink. At the time I asked what the big deal was and he replied if he were convicted of driving over a certain limit, he would serve mandatory prison time. I think it was about 7 months. He also said that prison is never a good place to be, but German prisons are uniquely horrible. I won't go into the reasons here.

What part of my response wasn't clear?

sbukosky: I think you were clear enough but I interpreted your comment to be: "the tax won't do much to improve the situation but it is better than nothing." Is that correct? Also, my impression of the tax is that it will help pay for rehab services not more enforcement.

Too bad there was a survey by your own website that stole your thunder on this same subject. I think you would have had 100's of posts if it weren't for the big neon sign saying click here!!!