Which Currently Illegal Vice Will Be Legal in Most States By 2015?

[clb09]

State politicians, hopeless addicts to their constituents hard earned cash, are seeing their source of reckless spending drying up.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124398568837379031.html


Altogether, states face aggregate budget shortfalls of at least $230 billion from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2011, said Mr. Pattison. For most states, that covers the period from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011.

That aggregate figure is nearly double the roughly $130 billion in federal stimulus funds that states can use flexibly over three years. (About $120 billion in further stimulus funding comes with stricter requirements, and sometimes new, costly mandates.)

When today's federal assistance peters out, a number of state budget officers don't expect new tax revenue to replace it. As the recession grinds on, states are posting significant declines in revenue from their three major sources: sales, personal-income and corporate taxes.

So I ask...which, if any, currently illegal sources of revenue will be legalized, regulated and (of course) taxed by the tax money addicted state capital dwellers by 2015?

http://www.palmettoscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/smoking_money.jpg

[FSP-Rebel]

I presume the answer you're looking for is marijuana. But, I see no poll.

[Dr.3D]

State politicians, hopeless addicts to their constituents hard earned cash, are seeing their source of reckless spending drying up.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124398568837379031.html



So I ask...which, if any, currently illegal sources of revenue will be legalized, regulated and (of course) taxed by the tax money addicted state capital dwellers by 2015?



Well, let's just say, it won't be a cigar that guy is burning.

[BenIsForRon]

Marijuana is the only one that seems remotely possible.

[Natalie]

I don't think any of those are even close to being legal. I think gay marriage will be legalized in most states before any of the options given.

[clb09]

I don't think any of those are even close to being legal. I think gay marriage will be legalized in most states before any of the options given.

Gay Marriage isn't very profitable to state politicians.

I think a total and utter deterioration of state revenue is going to happen between now and 2015.

--Baby boomers hanging it up

--Excess homes and condos sitting on the market or selling way below previous tax assessments

--More and more cash (and credit card swipes) going to the increasing physical ailments of the aforementioned baby boomers

--Compound growth of poorly educated, birth control allergic, undocumented aliens poring into the U.S. for Obamacare

--Complete collapse in American manufacturing and the resulting permanent layoffs

--Dollar dumping by treasury investors who are finally wising up

--Massive (And I mean MASSIVE) corporate and ESPECIALLY government pension liabilities

No I'm pretty sure pot and for profit sex will become less and less "evil" over the next few years in the eyes of money starved politicians. ;)

[FSP-Rebel]

I think that mary legalizing is more profitable to the state than gay marriage will be.

[nate895]

Casinos are the most attractive option for revenue generation. Nevada won't be happy, however.

[Wineman77]

I hope all of the above, but I'm an optomist.

[Kludge]

1, very unlikely.

2, very possible.

3, unlikely.

If only one (or none) were to become legal, I'd give #1 5%, #2 25%, and #3 10%, with 60% going to NotA.

[hawaiisb]

Casino's won't be legal in Hawaii, I know that for sure.

[idiom]

Prostitution usually gets legalised first.

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

Sadly, None of the Above unless something drastic happens to reverse the course this country is heading. If I had to choose, though, I would want Prostitution to be legalized first.

[ChaosControl]

I doubt any will, although I suppose if foreign nations refuse to buy debt and government, since you know they'll never spend less, needs a way to make more money then we might see them legalized with very high taxes associated with it.

Heh, prostitution legal, but 50% tax. At that point just say the money was for the date and the sex was free.

[Working Poor]

I don't think any of these will be legal. Politicians may use these issues to steal vote though.

[Elwar]

You have your poll wrong...it should be:
Of the currently legal vices, which will be made illegal by 2015?
Potato Chips
Fried Food
Porn
Alcohol
Tobacco
Firearms ;)

[acptulsa]

Follow the money. The state will get sick of the Indian nations making money on their casinos and will want in on the action. The other two it makes money on already.

[paulitics]

Follow the money. The state will get sick of the Indian nations making money on their casinos and will want in on the action. The other two it makes money on already.

This is why I chose gambling. There is so much revenue there from taxing the casinos and the proceeds on winnings.

[clb09]

D'oh!

How could I forget to add mixed-martial arts to the poll?!?! :D

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/2009-06-03-2089941342_x.htm


Assemblyman Jonathan Bing of Manhattan says it will bring tax revenue to the state and put controls on a competition that's underground here, but legal in 38 other states.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1730/ginelemarquezmma.jpg

[RCA]

You have your poll wrong...it should be:
Of the currently legal vices, which will be made illegal by 2015?
Potato Chips
Fried Food
Porn
Alcohol
Tobacco
Firearms ;)

I was thinking along these same lines>backwards poll.