To treat one commodity differently from another, and to tax one at a different rate than another is naught but continued social engineering by government nannies. No product that is legal to sell should ever be taxed at a rate other than a standard rate applied to all products. Sin taxes are nothing more than a means of government to gain more wealth from those who can least afford to give it away. Most, but certainly not all, of the users of these products are at the lower end of the economic scale, and are thus the ones who suffer the greatest loss due to onerous Sin taxes.

Amazing, isn't it? By September of 2008, we had a Democrat controlled Congress for a year and a half. All was going pretty well until they took control of Congress and started, again, spending like drunken sailors. And, let us not forget that it was Barney Frank who would not allow the reformation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, those two icons of the financial industry which caused the housing industry to tank, taking the rest of the economy with it. Yes, it was all G. W. Bush's fault, wasn't it? Liberals remind me of "Shallow Hal". They only see the surface, and can't tell that it is a rock under the water that is causing the the whitewater.

You have a really skewed view of marijuana users. Most of those I've met and worked closely with are neither disinterested nor disassociated with respect to the well being of their children. What you are describing is a symptom of the culture these folks live in / belong to mixed with their own natural inclination to focus on their own wants and needs. It is a personality type that can be exacerbated by the use of booze or drugs, but it is not the use of those which is causing the problem. The source of the problem is to be found in the physical/social lack of those folks you point to.

Marijuana doesn't send anyone into a different reality either. Perhaps you're thinking of LSD? Both alcohol and marijuana will fog the brain and cause folks to "loosen up". As with alcohol, it is the amount of marijuana consumed that either gets one a "bit tipsy" or totally smashed. Different reality my butt. Where did you get that idea? Sheesh! BTW, it was proven in a Washington State study, years ago, that marijuana has less effect on cognition and rational thinking that does alcohol, and found that folks driving under the influence of marijuana are much more careful and less apt to make driving errors than someone who is under the influence of alcohol.

Citations, please.

Drink beer, wine or hard liquor? Intoxication is not a sin. Living a life of intoxication is a sin. No one intoxicant is any worse in this light than another. BTW, you do remember that all sin has the same penalty, right? So, if you've told a lie, you are not acting rationally; if you've lusted in your heart (ala Jimmy Carter), you are not acting rationally; if you've every been angry enough at another human being that you'd want to inflict physical harm to them, you are not acting rationally. Do not be so quick to limit another's freedom, or someone holding beliefs different from yours may come along an limit your freedom.

Seriously? You think the Obama connection to Bill Ayers is some ephemeras relationship, akin to two people merely walking past each other? Well, I guess Bill and Obama did pass each other a few times as they moved about Bill Ayers' living room. Or while they sat in the many meetings together for the Annenberg Challenge. Lived in the same neighborhood, just a couple of houses from each other, and yet, still, they were merely two guys who passed on the street. Talk about a GINORMOUS assclown. You would have to represent a whole Circus full assclowns to believe that.

Seriously, why do you hate Catholics so much?

Suspect #2, White Cap, in that profile picture seems to have rather classic middle eastern features. Suspect #1, Black Cap, appears more olive skinned, than white. The contrast to his white tee-shirt would indicate he is a bit "browner" than your average white dude in early New England spring time would. Guess he could be a tanning salon buff, but that would make him a bit of a cream puff. Wish there was a better picture of his face. Almost appears as though he could be Latino. Pure speculation, based on admittedly stereotypical attributes, but that's what I see.

I seem to remember a few Greek gentleman who had similar features. Who knows with all the mixing of peoples over the centuries.

Ol' White Cap seems to have fairly classic Middle Easter facial features. Of course, he could be from anywhere.