My Morning InBox -- Oooh...Aahhhh

Now that the Racing and Gaming Commission has closed the book on Iowa's casino expansion era, a reader shoots me this idea:

If the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission won't allow any more casinos in the state for the foreseeable future then we'll have to look at other "untapped" revenue sources.

Legalize fireworks. Why let our neighbors (Wisconsin, South Dakota & Missouri) get all of that cash that leaves Iowa each year? Let our politicians in Des Moines legalize the same kinds of fireworks that Missouri sells, then like any good Iowa politician...tax the crap out of it. Currently Cedar Rapids outlaws "smoke bombs, snaps, and party poppers" (it's a miracle that they allow "pop rocks" as candy-must be the same loophole in the law that the Chicago mafia operated in). Sure, as a state, we'll probably have a few citizens loose a couplea fingers or two, maybe even get their eyebrows singed...but we allow folks to consume alcohol and gamble, and those two have their own set of moral/health dilemma's...though we've found a way to live with them.

 This is all said "tongue in cheek". I really don't want to legalize fireworks, but it strikes me as quite a paradox of what we'll allow as a culture...in what name...so long as it serves the purpose of those who can market it the best

As anyone who has spent time on their deck on July 4th already knows, the fireworks ban is not exactly enforced with an iron fist. Maybe our reader is on to something.

Combine it with legalizing marijuana and you'd have the Pot and Pop Act of 2011, or perhaps Bong and Bang. Either way, I think it's a slam dunk. Think of all the revenue. Candidates, are you listening?

This email also reminds me that my daughters tried pop rocks for the first time on Easter. Rarely have I seen them look more astonished.