Thread: Cigarette Tax

Sure, increase the cig tax. Cut down on smoking-related illnesses and wait for obesity-related illnesses to bloom in their stead.

So . . . sit back and do nothing . . . the be castigated for doing nothing? Typical.

Originally Posted by panama hat

So . . . sit back and do nothing . . . the be castigated for doing nothing? Typical.

Do nothing about what?

According to the OP these taxes will go to help finance health care for children. All I am saying is if the feds need more money to cover these types of costs then they should look at more broad based taxes, rather than targeted taxes.

My reply was in reference to the previous post.

I understand what you are saying, but I fail to see what is wrong about targeted taxes. In effect they have been around for a very long time and should be viewed as 'user-pays', much better than broad-based taxes in many instances.

^
The problem here being that this is singling out certain groups of people in a negative way PH. which is basically wrong and something most society's try to avoid for obvious and historical reasons. Once we start where does it end ?

We could put an extreme "HIV risk tax" on gay men, or-

In my Country 5 % of the population is foreign, but they stand for extremely disproportionate social and police/prison costs ( for instance: prison population 35%), so what if we slap a extra tax on them we could call it the "antisocial behaviour tax"

All people over 50 utilise the healthcare system (which in my country is tax payer financed) much more than any other group of the population, so why don't we put an "getting old and frail tax" on them.

I think it is wrong and a bad idea, our tax systems are based on that we all together lift the burden as evenly and fairly spread out as possible, with out singling out any special groups in a negative and hateful manner. And at least in my country it seems to work because although we have some of the highest taxes in the world my Country consistently is number 1 on the world population happiness barometer.

I am convinced that the extreme capitalist American system have proved to be wrong, the right to contribute as little as possible to soceity, only the strongest survive and to hell with the rest, the right to go under and rot without anybody reaching out trying to help you back on your feet.
The almost moral duty to cheat and scheme as much as possible no matter how much damage you cause, as we see now where the whole economic system based on these ideals is breaking down.

Maybe the US for once should stop picking fluff in their navel and try to look outwards and see how others have done, I know it to the US mind is unthinkable to even contemplate, but just maybe others could teach US a thing or two about running a good society where the emphasis is not just on the concept of "eat or be eaten" "advance never mind the method's" aso.

It is actually possible to have capitalist society's with a tax system based on solidarity.

So no individual group punishment taxes if you please.

Originally Posted by larvidchr

It is actually possible to have capitalist society's with a tax system based on solidarity.

Oh, you are so Scandinavian . . . Whatever happened to rape and pillage. or is that pillage and rape? (I presume you don't rape your fridge before or after pillaging!)

Originally Posted by larvidchr

Maybe the US for once should stop picking fluff in their navel and try to look outwards and see how others have done, I know it to the US mind is unthinkable to even contemplate, but just maybe others could teach US a thing or two about running a good society where the emphasis is not just on the concept of "eat or be eaten" "advance never mind the method's" aso.

Short answer: No


I fully understand what you are saying, larvidchr, but in this case I do believe that it is warranted. I even find it weird saying it myself, but if someone knowingly endangers his/her health by smoking or drinking copiously then why should the rest of society pay for this indulgence.
I know it is difficult to quantify, and there are many examples you could throw at me that would negate my position . . . like people who eat too much cheese, eggs, shrimp etc . . . and have high cholesterol and the ensuing arterial damage etc etc.

Here we have two items that have always been singled out simply because there is a direct correlation to illnesses due to consumption.

We have taxes based on income, so a broad-tax system makes little sense there as well . . . though the idea of a flat tax doesn't sound too bad on the surface.

I am fidning it difficult to justify my view, but I just feel that with cigs and booze there is no crime in incraesing taxes.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Oh, you are so Scandinavian . . . Whatever happened to rape and pillage. or is that pillage and rape? (I presume you don't rape your fridge before or after pillaging!)

I know I know no fun any more PH everything have become very civilised with us and my fridge have proved to be cold and hard

Alcohol, cigarettes and high cholesterol food should be cheap and untaxed. Those who fail to understand the dangers will die young and not be a burden to healthcare. The population will decline and survivors will be more intelligent and healthier.

Subsidize alcohol production with higher cigarette tax. Make it graduated. Start selling cigs in elementary school corridor vending machines. Increase the tax as they become addicted. Allow tobacco companies to sponsor middle school sports teams and social events.

Wack 'em hard with taxes when they're hopelessly hooked.

Send all the money directly to breweries for cheaper beer.

It's only fair!

A friend sent me a clipping from the Akron Daily Beacon (1 April 2009). Sorry, I can't access the archive for a linkie.
A chart shows the old and new cig taxes. Check out this one:
roll-you-own tobacco (per lb): old tax: $1.10 New tax: $24.78 % increase: 2,159%

Oh, brother!