Imagine the government going to retailers and telling them what is the minimum price they must sell specific goods. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the government says the reason is to bolster competition. I wish it was a thought experiment, but it’s the reality in Tennessee: 

Under a new state law, Tennessee retailers will have to charge smokers at least 15 percent more than the wholesale cost. The surcharge is theirs to keep.
That increase follows last year’s law requiring supermarkets to sell wine at least 20 percent above cost and another longstanding 10 percent markup on milk. State law refers to those margins as “the cost of doing business.”

Before someone starts screaming about liberal Democrats, this is a state with a Republican governor and a Republican controlled legislature. 

Tell me again how different the Republicans are from the Democrats.

H/t Uncle