Let's naively assume that the tax on cigarettes wasn't because it was a sin, but because smokers get cigarette-related illness and burden the health-care system.

By that reasoning, in Louisiana violent games cause kids to come down with The Fat, in Wisconsin it leads to kids going to juvvie, and in Corpus Christi, violent games lead to high property-taxes!

There are some answers for you about the demographics here (legislation bit is interesting).

The Charter of the French Language is the law one people usually complain about (particularly when dealing with public signs). So, not a Luddite thing.

I second the prime UID achievement. We should be rewarded for dumb luck!