The Week contest: Vice Tax - October 8, 2010

Legislators have begun imposing "sin taxes" on smoking, drinking — even sugary sodas. Come up with another vice to be taxed, and give it an appropriate name

Sinful soda: legislators tax your right to guzzle.
(Image credit: Corbis)

Welcome to The Week's "What Next?" contest, an invitation to test your powers of imagination with challenges inspired by current events.

Click here for results of last week's contest: Food Name

Results: In desperate need of cash, the nation’s legislators have slapped ever-escalating "sin taxes’" on smoking, drinking — even sugary sodas. We asked for the next vice to be taxed, and the new tax’s name. You filed:

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How to enter:

THE WINNER: Tax on Excessive Texting: Thumb Tax

Rick Simpson, Sacramento, CA

SECOND PLACE: Tax on Adult Entertainment: Pornogra-Fee

John MacMillan, St Augustine, FL

THIRD PLACE: Tax on Ending a Sentence with a Preposition: SynTax

Sheldon D. Malett, Rochester, NY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Tax on Condoms: Lay-tax

Lydia Lundeen, Alameda Las Cruces, NM

Tax on Condoms: Stimulus Charge

Ted Cohen, Staten Island

Tax on Breath Mints: Tic-Tax

Alan Parven, Commerce Twp, MI

Tax on Bad Karaoke: Justin TimberTax

Jeff Sawyer, Mt. Horeb, WI

Tax on Bottled Water: Aqua Fine

Roger Selsback, Burlingame CA

Tax on Adult Magazines: Nudie Duty

Tracy Shenton, Garrison NY

Tax on Marijuana: 50 Bucks a Head

Bobby Schackow, Gainesville, FL

Tax on Exotic Reptiles: Value Adder Tax

John Wallington, Key Biscayne, FL

Tax on Plastic Surgery: Bo-Tax

Jeff Semion, State College, PA

Tax on Super-Sizing: Excess Tax

Sue LeMontre, San Diego

Tax on Breath Mints: Tic-Tax

Alan Parven, Commerce Twp, MI

Tax on Viagra: Inflation Tax

Richard Koretz, Kenwood, CA

Tax on Strip Clubs: Pole Tax

Frank Kilcoyne, San Diego

Tax on Prostitution: Booty Duty

Farley Bolwell, Eagle, CO

Tax on Wearing Animal Skins: Furcharge

Sean Braswell, Chapel Hill, NC

Tax on Hard Work: Income Tax

Russell Frank, Gorham, ME