Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Russian Plan to Convert Citizens into Keynesians

Russia's finance minister Alexei Kudrin urged citizens on Wednesday to smoke and drink more, explaining that higher consumption would help lift tax revenues for spending on social services.

"If you smoke a pack of cigarettes, that means you are giving more to help solve social problems such as boosting demographics, developing other social services and upholding birth rates," Kudrin said, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

"People should understand: Those who drink, those who smoke are doing more to help the state," he said.

Of course, this does nothing to "stimulate" the economy. It is simple consumption. The tax revenue is simple income transfer. But I will keep my mouth shut up so that the Russian people can enjoy themselves and so that they can tell anyone who wants them to stop smoking and drinking that they are doing it for "the good of the economy."

(Thanks to Ash Navabi)

2 comments:

  1. It also decreases healthcare costs. Smokers don't tend to linger until they're 90-something. Win-win. Just one step away from soylent green.

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  2. "People should understand: Those who drink, those who smoke are doing more to help the state," he said.

    This is true. They are doing more to help the state. It does not mean it helps themselves or the rest of the people.

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