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Should Taxes Be Raised On Citizens Who Smoke or are Obese?

Should Taxes Be Raised on Citizens Who Smoke or are Obese?

  • Yes for smokers, no for obese

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • Yes for obese, no for smokers

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • Yes for both

    Votes: 7 12.7%

  • No for both

    Votes: 46 83.6%
  • Total voters
    55
AlabamaPaul said:
Point being, it is just as much the result of a person's environment as any other health habits...
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I'll cede the point and go back to my original comments, that being that I'm opposed to any different levels of taxation being levied on individuals based on their habits and/or physicality.
 
JC Callender said:
Wow.....when did you start smoking regularly.
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It was off and on until I was 12 or so. Then it became a regular habit. I did quit once for three years in my early forties...
 
CanadaJohn said:
I'll cede the point and go back to my original comments, that being that I'm opposed to any different levels of taxation being levied on individuals based on their habits and/or physicality.
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And on this, we'll agree...
 
It's insane to tax people who smoke or who are overweight. If you turn the tides, you could ask the same question about taxing people who are vegetarians, who go to the gym to work out several times a week, who have to take prescription medication, etc.

 
We already have a tax on cigarettes. We should tax sugar too, and insurance companies should be allowed to charge higher premiums for smokers and obese people.
 
AlabamaPaul said:
I'm sure you are aware that, in today's environment, your avatar might get you arrested... :twocents:
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LOL. By the way, I love your signature line dude. That's great.
 
How much of every dollar spent on a pack goes towards taxes? I'm pretty sure they already pay their fair share of extra taxes.

I'm a non smoker btw, too damn expensive.
 
ReformCollege said:
Taxes don't need to be raised on them. They just need to be charged higher healthcare premiums.
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That would work if we did not see health nuts in their 40's and 50's dying of heart failure.
 
Rocketman said:
That would work if we did not see health nuts in their 40's and 50's dying of heart failure.
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Are you denying a connection between obesity and heart disease?
 
ReformCollege said:
Are you denying a connection between obesity and heart disease?
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Not at all but I am saying hereditary traits are just as important, so should those people pay more as well?
 
Henrin said:
No, the government should not be meddling in the market to get the results it wants be that peoples buying decisions or anything else.
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Ah, welcome to life in Henrin's world. Where everyone is isolated and we let people die homeless in the streets.

In the real world, governments have meddled in the market every time they make a spending decision. Furthermore, the government should meddle in the market to incentive people and companies to not do certain actions, such as dumping arsenic and mercury into drinking water.
 
obvious Child said:
Ah, welcome to life in Henrin's world. Where everyone is isolated and we let people die homeless in the streets.
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You sound like a woman that remembers things for forever and when their stupid little opinion doesn't get the answer they want they decide to bring it up over and over again in the hopes that it will change the response you give it. The fact remains however they are doing nothing to change your opinion and so your opinion stays exactly the same.

In the real world, governments have meddled in the market every time they make a spending decision. Furthermore, the government should meddle in the market to incentive people and companies to not do certain actions, such as dumping arsenic and mercury into drinking water.
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The point I was making was in relation to the topic of the thread, not waste and how to resolve that problem. I disagree with trying to change people's buying decisions and there is nothing you can say to make me change my opinion on that.
 
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Our tax code isn't used only to provide revenue for our government, it has been designed to promote certain governmental wanted behavior from its citizens. Do as the government wishes, you will get a tax brake, a subsidy, an additional deduction. Do something the government wishes you wouldn't, you get additional taxes thrown on you. ciggerette tax is an ideal example as it has grown 10 fold since the 50's and 60's. Do as the government wishes, you are taxed less, do not behave as the government wants, they tax you more.
 
Henrin said:
You sound like a woman that remembers things for forever and when their stupid little opinion doesn't get the answer they want they decide to bring it up over and over again in the hopes that it will change the response you give it. The fact remains however they are doing nothing to change your opinion and so your opinion stays exactly the same.
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On the contrary, I'm just reminding everyone of why your opinions are of little value. They are birthed in world of fantasy where everyone is isolated and we let people die homeless in the streets. The simple fact of the matter is that your ideas only work there. You have never been able to argue how your beliefs actually function outside of your fantasy land.

It's not my fault that you don't like the inherent absurdity of your beliefs being broadcasted to everyone.

The point I was making was in relation to the topic of the thread, not waste and how to resolve that problem. I disagree with trying to change people's buying decisions and there is nothing you can say to make me change my opinion on that.
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Well, when you live in a fantasy land, sure. Nothing can change your beliefs. Heck, according to your beliefs, Somalia in the 1990s was a paradise eh?
 
joko104 said:
Medical care costs versus total-life costs to the government are not the same at all. A smoker dying in age 60s of a smoking disease is a big medical expense. BUT a person dying of "natural causes" in their 90s cost the government/taxpayers a whole lot more - including 3 decades of social security and medicare/caid, plus their other old age ailments.

Thus, under this theory of costs-per-costs-of-the-person, really there should be an old-age tax in which a person's tax rate goes up every birthday.
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Joko, without digging around to verify your data, I'll gracefully take your word for it.

However, IMHO, anything the government does is always on the cutting edge of corrupt or extremely corrupt.

Personally, I think that anybody who believes that we have a government that is actually working for "We The People"...needs to be doubly taxed and 1/2 of the tax collected from those folks will go for prosecuting government officials, whether they be elected or appointed to high level positions in bureaucracies, for racketeering and embezzlement. It wouldn't be all that hard to prove...before an unpurchased jury. I admit, jury selection might be hard, but I say...anybody who says they support the "Tea Party"...select'em.

Thanks...
 
obvious Child said:
On the contrary, I'm just reminding everyone of why your opinions are of little value. They are birthed in world of fantasy where everyone is isolated and we let people die homeless in the streets. The simple fact of the matter is that your ideas only work there. You have never been able to argue how your beliefs actually function outside of your fantasy land.

It's not my fault that you don't like the inherent absurdity of your beliefs being broadcasted to everyone.
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Yawn...I'm not sure what my view on SS and your absurd conclusion on it has anything to do with the topic.

However, lets people do die in the streets. Is that my problem? No, not all. Call it cold hearted, say that I believe everyone is living in vacuum, but the fact is IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, and while I could be better off if they weren't dieing in the street it matters not to me where they are or what they are doing. The fact is using me to hold these people up is not justified and the stupid ass drama about them dieing if you don't use me doesn't justify ****. Obviously, my idea would "work" in the real world and your stupid point like always falls on deaf ears.

Well, when you live in a fantasy land, sure. Nothing can change your beliefs. Heck, according to your beliefs, Somalia in the 1990s was a paradise eh?
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It seems like at least half of what you do is drama. Care to back up your claim with something that doesn't involve drama this time?
 
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Henrin said:
Yawn...I'm not sure what my view on SS and your absurd conclusion on it has anything to do with the topic.
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Standard Henrin argument. It's absurd...because I say so.

However, lets people do die in the streets. Is that my problem? No, not all. Call it cold hearted, say that I believe everyone is living in vacuum, but the fact is IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, and while I could be better off if they weren't dieing in the street it matters not to me where they are or what they are doing. The fact is using me to hold these people up is not justified and the stupid ass drama about them dieing if you don't use me doesn't justify ****. Obviously, my idea would "work" in the real world and your stupid point like always falls on deaf ears.
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tell me, if you actually believe that, why didn't you move to Somalia in 1993?

It seems like at least half of what you do is drama. Care to back up your claim with something that doesn't involve drama this time?
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Care to back up anything you say with something other than "I say so?" You're close to 3 years with nothing but "I say so"
 
MarineTpartier said:
I saw this article and thought it would be a good poll. Personally, I don't see an issue with taxing smokers more especially. The article even points out that the poor smoke more than the rich.........how stupid is that? If you don't have any money, why are you doing something that is totally detrimental to your health and costs an arm and a leg? Full disclosure, I was a smoker and I dipped. I quit cold turkey in Afghanistan. By choice, not by circumstance. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But I'm so glad I did it.
As far as obesity, it would have to be a little to technical to work. Personally, I don't accept any excuse for obesity other than a medical condition such as thyroid problems. It doesn't matter what your physical capabilities are. If you manage calories effectively, you can lose weight or at least maintain your current weight. You can call that harsh if you want and it may be. But it's true.
Do penalties for smokers and the obese make sense? | Fox News
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Call me back when it is YOUR ox being gored, and we'll see if you still agree.
 
obvious Child said:
Standard Henrin argument. It's absurd...because I say so.

tell me, if you actually believe that, why didn't you move to Somalia in 1993?
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Because in 1993 I was eleven. ;)


Care to back up anything you say with something other than "I say so?" You're close to 3 years with nothing but "I say so"
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What is there to back up? Lol.
 
Henrin said:
Because I have no reason to do so??
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On the contrary, your beliefs fit into an ideal world of essentially Anarchy. And the last time any nation on the planet had that was the 1990s in Somalia.

Ok, and what am I supposed to be looking for?
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The supreme lack of any thing resembling reason, logic or facts. :)
 
obvious Child said:
On the contrary, your beliefs fit into an ideal world of essentially Anarchy. And the last time any nation on the planet had that was the 1990s in Somalia.
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What? I don't practice anarchy and not believing in SS doesn't make it so either.

The supreme lack of any thing resembling reason, logic or facts. :)
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So basically you just feel like insulting me.
 
Henrin said:
What? I don't practice anarchy and not believing in SS doesn't make it so either.
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Ah but your beliefs require it. You want no government programs to exist that will help those who fall on hard times. You want no government programs to exist to help people save money for the future. You want essentially no government anywhere to incentivize people to do certain behaviors or help people at all. You essentially want a government that will let you die in the streets homeless for potential reasons that you had no control over. And you want no government programs to help people prevent themselves from ending up there at all. Essentially you want no social services outside of firefighters and police (and even then that's questionable as you are against being forced to pay taxes to pay for services others use). Granted, not entirely like 1990s Somalia, but that's the closest thing.

So basically you just feel like insulting me.
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Merely stating the truth.
 
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