Raising taxes on smokes....

[AirForceRocks]

Fine for adults. We still need laws for those under 18.

ITA.

 

[kbeverina]

Sin taxes are wrong--it's wrong for government to make value judgments that legal activities are "bad". It's wrong for government to exploit the fact that there's not going to be a huge protest over raising taxes on "bad" activities.

Most people aren't affected by a 200% tax increase on cigarettes so they don't care. In fact, great--extra revenue. But they'll fight to the death over a half % increase added to your restaurant bill.

There's no thought about whether or not it's fundamentally right or wrong for government to attempt to tax away bad, but legal behaviors.

It won't stop at cigarettes. We've already got sin taxes on liquor and there's been legislation brewing over junk food. If government thinks it's bad for you to eat those french fries, you could be paying higher taxes on the Happy Meal with the fries rather than the apples.

 

[N.Bailey]

As long as their is one accident that someone lived through because they did NOT have their seat belts on, I don't think the government has the right to tell us we HAVE to wear our seat belts. I think we all know there are those cases out there!

I think most of us agree, you have a better chance of survival, in most cases by wearing it, I still don't think they should be able to tell us we have to. Personally, I wear mine and I buckle my kids up. I can go along with the under 18 rule of making sure the child is buckled too. Other than that though, I think it should be a person's right to make whatever choice they wish. Just as some choose to smoke and others choose to eat lots of highly saturated fats. It's all a risk!

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by kbeverina
Sin taxes are wrong--it's wrong for government to make value judgments that legal activities are "bad". It's wrong for government to exploit the fact that there's not going to be a huge protest over raising taxes on "bad" activities.

Most people aren't affected by a 200% tax increase on cigarettes so they don't care. In fact, great--extra revenue. But they'll fight to the death over a half % increase added to your restaurant bill.

There's no thought about whether or not it's fundamentally right or wrong for government to attempt to tax away bad, but legal behaviors.

It won't stop at cigarettes. We've already got sin taxes on liquor and there's been legislation brewing over junk food. If government thinks it's bad for you to eat those french fries, you could be paying higher taxes on the Happy Meal with the fries rather than the apples.

Well said!

 

[jrydberg]

Seat belts in vehicles are an entirely different matter. No one has the right to operate a motor vehicle. It is a privilege. In order to do so, one must obey a zillion rules. You can argue the merits of whether wearing a seat belt should be one of those rules, but it's not really comparable to smoking.

As for taxing people who drive SUVs, we already do that. They consume more gas, they pay more tax as a result.

Personally, I don't think taxes should be raised in an attempt to modify behavior. It doesn't work particularly well and opens up all kinds of cans of worms.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wow! I want a raise like that! Make it a $1 per hour raise!

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by workinggal
I say if you're going to tax something, tax something that doesnt apply to just one particular group of people.

Ok, then don't charge me school tax as I have no kids.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Elwood Blues
Ok, then don't charge me school tax as I have no kids.

Look at it as you're paying tax on all those years that you went through school then.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by Crankyshank
I'm not in favor of mandatory seat belt usage at all.

I really don't like to legislate against stupidity but in the case of the seat belts, it's not just a matter of do I have the right to kill myself because I don't use a seatbelt, it's others that are in the car with you as well as others outside of the car that can be saved by wearing a seatbelt. It's they that should not be subjected to the stupidity of someone else.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by N.Bailey
Look at it as you're paying tax on all those years that you went through school then.

Maybe so, but I'll be in the workforce and paying school taxes for WAY longer and for A LOT more than what it cost to put me through the public school system.

And btw, what did the school taxes that my parents paid go to?

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Elwood Blues
Maybe so, but I'll be in the workforce and paying school taxes for WAY longer and for A LOT more than what it cost to put me through the public school system.

And btw, what did the school taxes that my parents paid go to?

So you're saying that your parents didn't get educated?

How much do you think it cost to educate someone from K-12 th grade? I know state colleges run about what, $15,000 a year? That's about $195,000 per person to get through 13 years and books are included in that as are other fees. How much more than $195,000 do you feel you'll personally contribute to the school district in your neighborhood?