Press Release Libertarianz Party Life's Little Pleasures

Abolish Sin Taxes - Enjoy A Drink Instead!

"Wowserism rules in the Labour, Progressive, Greens, and United Future parties," observed Libertarianz Deputy Leader Peter Osborne this morning as he reflected on the late night smash-and-grab on drinkers' wallets in Parliament last night. "By raising taxes on sherry, port, and other light spirits, MPs are getting a political two-for-one deal - they are pandering to the teetotalling, joyless ascetics who would dearly love all of us to stop drinking alcohol, and Cullen and co. get more of other people's money to spend," declared Osborne.

Osborne observes that "the usual tired old excuse has been trotted out that you have to steal more money out of the pockets of everyone consuming some sinful product to discourage a small number of irresponsible people from being stupid. Yet, it never seems to have occurred to Cullen and co. to ask themselves three simple questions: 1) why should free people be deprived of their chosen pleasures simply because a bunch of wowsers thinks they should be; 2) why should all of us be punished in order to punish a stupid few; and 3) if taxing people's pleasures is truly successful in diminishing the consumption of said pleasures, then what does a tax on productivity do? Apparently these questions are too difficult for the current crop of parliamentarians to work out," he says. "No surprise there!"

Meanwhile, taxes on all forms of pleasure are increasing rapidly. "Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, fast food, gambling, and anything else that people get joy out of is either taxed or banned. I expect Labour are only interested in legalising prostitution so that they can take a cut out of prostitutes' earnings," says a sickened Osborne.

"In its first term, Libertarianz would abolish all taxes on alcohol, giving millions back to consumers and letting people know that they themselves are responsible for their consumption. People concerned about alcohol abuse, like the Greens, can contribute however much of their own money they would like towards whatever awareness and alcoholism programmes they wish to fund; and meanwhile the rest of us could all have a few drinks and get on with our lives with a smile on our dial."

Libertarianz: More Freedom - Less Government

ENDS

For more information contact: Peter Osborne LIBERTARIANZ DEPUTY LEADER Phone: 0274 326 005, e-mail: ospar@xtra.co.nz

www.libertarianz.org.nz www.libz.org

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