We're Almost There: Voting and Taxes

No matter how hard
The task may seem
Don't give up our plans
Don't give up our dreams

No broken bridges
Can turn us around
Cause what we're searchin' for
Will soon be found

California voters narrowly rejected a ballot measure that would have added a $1 tax to a pack of cigarettes in the state's primary election Tuesday, an outcome observers attributed to a $47 million ad blitz by the tobacco industry.

The measure, known as Proposition 29, was defeated 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent on a day of light voter turnout, according to election results posted on Wednesday by California's secretary of state. Some absentee and other ballots remained to be counted.

The result reflected a long-standing political divide in California, with San Francisco Bay area counties heavily supporting the measure, while conservative suburban counties in more populous Southern California overwhelmingly opposed it.

I lost my grandfather to his long-term smoking habit. I never had the chance to meet him. He passed away before my father hit his teen years. We know that smoking kills. I don't want to sugar-coat that fact. Many of taxpayers' money is going to fund cancer treatments. The cigarette industry needs to pay. It is sad that low voting turnout prevented California to increase taxes on cigarettes.

COME ON PEOPLE.....GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!

This is my rant of the week.