Taxation without......other people paying their share?

Here's an email I received from a woman here in Portland who is heavily involved in sticking her nose into the goings on of other people:

Good Afternoon Senator Peter Courtney and Representative Karen Minnis:

Like me, it is my understanding that the two of you also pay state taxes into the general fund; and the net dollar on our paychecks is not so surprisingly smaller do mainly to those who abuse alcoholic products.

Did you know that Oregon's beer tax has been frozen at less than a penny per drink since 1977? I truly believe it is time the beer industry pays its fair share of the social and economic cost of its product. Their alternative "ice" malt products are hold fruit flavors with vodka? Hard liquor products are sold in OLCC outlets, why not this one? Because if it were sold in OLCC outlets, Oregon's general fund would earn more than the current 3/4 penny. We would get 4 cents per 12-ounce container. For every bottle sold we lose 3 1/4 penny and out of state breweries laugh all the way to their bank(s). There is something wrong with this picture.

Remember $900 million of your state dollars are paid into human services each year because of alcohol and other drug problems...must recently meth. Raising Oregon's frozen 1977 beer tax from 3/4 penny per 12-ounce container to a dime could provide more than $80 million a year in targeted funds for substance abuse, prevention, treatment and recovery, and law enforcement programs. The young people I talk with when standing in line at Fred Meyers report they don't care if the beer tax is twenty-five cents, they will continue to drink beer. Did you know that Oregon ranks #50 in the lowest beer tax?

Blessings,

mas
503.236.**** (edited to protect the idiot)

Those individuals receiving a BCC: ...please stay tuned and keep the pressure going on Senator Peter Courtney and Representative Karen Minnis to support Senate Bill 1049. Fax as many letters as possible to them in support of the 10 cent a drink county authorization.

Thank you.

I haven't substantiated any of her 'facts', but Oregon ranks #50 with respect to the lowest beer tax? Hey...GREAT!!!!! LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY!!!!

And what a shitty argument. If she wants the beer industry to pay "its fair share of the social and economic cost of its product", then why suggest penalizing (read: taxing) the portion of the public that drinks that product. Why? Probably because that's the easiest route for the politicians to take. I can't wait for her response.