How do you feel about smokers?

[808blogger]

Re: How do you feel about smokers?

Heh. Yet, I'm not even sure I was being sarcastic.

Smokers are already taxed a pretty penny, though. They're a demographic that politicians are no longer particularly afraid of pissing off. Wonder if there's an AASP (American Association of Smoking People) out there, lobbying lawmakers against smoking bans and the like.

possibly the idea of social taxation is insane. The idea of the government trying to INFLUENCE your behavior through a TAX.... is that what the tax system is for? I always thought the TAX system was to finance the governement, not a social leveraging tool. to me it seems like an abuse of governement.... sort of oh say SOCIALIST.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: How do you feel about smokers?

The idea of the government trying to INFLUENCE your behavior through a TAX.... is that what the tax system is for? I always thought the TAX system was to finance the governement, not a social leveraging tool. to me it seems like an abuse of governement.... sort of oh say SOCIALIST.

Tax law is used for social purposes all the time. The tax exemption for home mortgage payments is a HUGE example of the tax code being used for a social purpose, i.e. to encourage people to own their own homes. And don't get me started on tax-exempt religious institutions.

[dick]

Re: How do you feel about smokers?

Going down the tax line... I love those so-called 'sin taxes.' Should all of us 'sinners' stop 'sinning,' where would all the money come from?