Monday, November 20, 2006

Alcohol tax hike can help face hard issues

Steve Blow, columnist for the The Dallas Morning News, has identified a cause (Dallas' mental health system), is motivated to do something (do-gooderism), and has a way to pay for it (taxes on alcohol sales).

Trey Garrison, wannabe-journalist for Dallas Blog, agrees with the cause (treatment of the mentally ill), but differs on the motivation (he wants to save money on police calls) and the way to pay for it (he says it should be paid for out of general revenues).

If you think Mr Garrison might seize the opportunity provided by Mr Blow to downplay their differences in order to promote a public good that both of them value, you'd be... well, wrong. Read Mr Blow for thoughtful consideration of a public health need. Read Mr Garrison for... well, other things.

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