From: Dave Champion Subject: A few mildly interesting facts Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:13:03 -0800 HIDDEN TAXES Remember that Ft Worth gas station I told you was selling gas at 77.9, = including tax? This week they dropped another 2 cents, to 75.9, making = the tax mark-up over 100%! 37.5 for private enterprise and 38.4 for = govt.=20 TOBACCO DEAL Along with a new 50 cents surtax on cigs in Calif, this week the "cigar = tax" will be increased to over 61%, "to help the children". Of course, = they raise these taxes with a not-so-hidden agenda to make people quit = smoking, which if successful, would kill the proverbial goose who laid = the golden weed. It's a bonanza for tobacco mail order and the black = market. Ever hear of Omaha cigarettes?=20 ECONOMY After telling us for a month what a great Christmas season it was, the = media is now "reporting" that the after-Christmas bargain hunters saved = the bottom line. Me thinks their shopping polls are no better than the = prez popularity polls. Figures don't lie, liars figure.=20