Tax burden should be on the rich

To the editor:Saturday's editorial cartoon about a 156 percent cigarette tax increase for children's health care exemplifies the consistent hypocrisy of the Wall Street Journal-lite Opinion page.

I too find it ridiculous that rudimentary social-justice legislation can only have a chance if funded by taxes on cigarettes, the lottery and casinos. The money must come from anywhere but the obvious, just place. It should come from those who have it to spare. Those such as the Rusts, Limbaughs and Bushes. The cigarette tax is regressive and will fall on many who will smoke regardless and who badly need that money. Of course, sin taxes are a good tax source to a point. Luxury cars, homes and playthings should be taxed heavily so the tax burden falls on those who have rather than the have-nots. Alcohol also should be taxed heavily, but the right wing Coors and Busch empires prevent that. Luxury consumers hoarded loot through the 1990s and have received huge tax cuts since. The war enriches them further while the war costs are put on the credit card for future cigarette taxes and cuts in Social Security and Medicare.

The richest nation in history with an economic elite living in opulence greater than Nero's places the tax burden on the smoker and the laborer -- everywhere but on the have-plenties. The Opinion page promotes this ideology while having the gall to place a prayer above it.

ROBERT EDWARDS, Cape Girardeau