When Authoritarians Whip You, It's Always For Your Own Good

Struggling Governments Get Creative to Raise Income

"France, promising to improve the environment, is planning to introduce a carbon tax. In Finland, where the government says it wants to improve diets, taxes are back on candy and soft drinks. Similarly, Denmark added tobacco and some fatty foods to the list.
All these taxes may be presented as serving virtuous ends, but they also share something else in common: they help plug budget holes swollen by a severe recession, big bailouts and billions in stimulus spending intended to ease the pain."
"As a result, analysts say, taxpayers from California to Copenhagen should brace themselves for more “stealth taxes” — indirect levies like sales taxes, or micro-charges on services once provided free or at low cost, like registering a pet."