Obama tax pledge up in smoke:

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Personally, I think smoking is an unheathly, disgusting habit. I am an ex-smoker. I hate walking through somebody else's smoke. Sometime I have to work on units where smokers live, and I almost gag. The worst is when I see someone on oxygen therapy who is still smoking. Talk about an accident waiting to happen!

I used to drink. I have lots of friends that drink, and alcohol has ruined their lives. Alcoholics smell.

Drug addiction, especially including marijuana, same thing, see above.

Gambling (been there as well) is an addiction for many folks, and yet we have the lottery big time in California, and Indian gambling.

Is there a moral obligation to mitigate the problems associated with these "sins", or do we just continue to tax the hell out of folks in their weak moments?

Now, just leave porno alone, and I will be happy.

Edited April 2, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[*Robert* 2]

Personally, I think smoking is an unheathly, disgusting habit. I am an ex-smoker. I hate walking through somebody else's smoke. Sometime I have to work on units where smokers live, and I almost gag. The worst is when I see someone on oxygen therapy who is still smoking. Talk about an accident waiting to happen!

I used to drink. I have lots of friends that drink, and alcohol has ruined their lives. Alcoholics smell.

Drug addiction, especially including marijuana, same thing, see above.

Gambling (been there as well) is an addiction for many folks, and yet we have the lottery big time in California, and Indian gambling.

Is there a moral obligation to mitigate the problems associated with these "sins", or do we just continue to tax the hell out of folks in their weak moments?

Now, just leave porno alone, and I will be happy.

I'm with ya brother Bill!!!

[Niels Bohr 72]

This will get my mother to quit smoking. It's a waste of money. Non-essential item for living.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

He's gonna pick pockets like a sloooow drip so people don't feel it all at once and don't raise hell about it.

You shouldn't smoke, it's bad for you.

He's gonna pick pockets like a sloooow drip so people don't feel it all at once and don't raise hell about it.

Yep....same reason we have taxes taken out of our paychecks, instead of getting a lump sum bill due on April 15.

I don't have that; I pay several lumps a year. If the rest of the country had to do that, there would be a revolution in no time!

Thank God the rest of the country isn't like you.

Come on... a sin tax is not the same as an income tax.

Maybe he is trying to create incentives for him to quit smoking?!

Buying cigarettes and booze are a choice. The taxes he was referring to are the ones levied against EVERYONE.

Nice try.... NOT!

[Scott & Lai 12]

He's gonna pick pockets like a sloooow drip so people don't feel it all at once and don't raise hell about it.

Yep....same reason we have taxes taken out of our paychecks, instead of getting a lump sum bill due on April 15.

I don't have that; I pay several lumps a year. If the rest of the country had to do that, there would be a revolution in no time!

Exactly...

[Danno 1,228]

I'm surprised (though I guess I shouldn't be) that so many on the left (who I would think would know better) are willing to let the govt decide what "risky behaviors" they deem taxable.

One person smokes

another drinks

another loves red meat

another climbs mountains

another likes to ski

You think this is going to stop at Cigs and Beer?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'm surprised (though I guess I shouldn't be) that so many on the left (who I would think would know better) are willing to let the govt decide what "risky behaviors" they deem taxable.

One person smokes

another drinks

another loves red meat

another climbs mountains

another likes to ski

You think this is going to stop at Cigs and Beer?

It didn't start with cigs and beer. Social engineering into a nanny state, thru government regulation of personal behavior, has been underway for some time.

[truffles 2]

Come on... a sin tax is not the same as an income tax.

Maybe he is trying to create incentives for him to quit smoking?!

Buying cigarettes and booze are a choice. The taxes he was referring to are the ones levied against EVERYONE.

Nice try.... NOT!

Not sure he made that distinction in his speeches. This is just another avenue to tax and spend......More to come for sure.

But we can't go forever without paying something! We can't keep getting Presidents that claim they will lower our taxes or won't raise our taxes, and then have everyone expect to get all the changes they want.

All these programs people want... COST MONEY!!! How the hell are all the things we love to have getting paid for? People need to start paying their fair share.

That reminds me... who was it who said "Read My Lips... No New Taxes!"

Keep throwing darts people!!! There's a pot out there with your name on it!

Well... I personally prefer a politician who tells the truth - sadly most people who have been honest about plans have found themselves without votes - because they had the courage to be honest - so politicians learn to tell the people what they want to hear to get the votes - then do whatever they want once they are installed. I can live with someone saying " My governemnt will be able to give you XYZ - it will mean an extra tax on XYZ by xyz percentage".

However this current president will continue to break his promises as time progresses, and pointing fingers at what a previous president did or did not do isn't constructive - it merely points out that both sides are as bad as each other !

[natty bumppo 297]

He's gonna pick pockets like a sloooow drip so people don't feel it all at once and don't raise hell about it.

Yep....same reason we have taxes taken out of our paychecks, instead of getting a lump sum bill due on April 15.

I don't have that; I pay several lumps a year. If the rest of the country had to do that, there would be a revolution in no time!

Thank God the rest of the country isn't like you.

You want people to be poor?

[NickD 203]

I don't give a damn about other peoples kids, if they cannot support them shouldn't have them, it sure isn't every difficult to have a kid. Wife and I have eight kids between the two of us, still supporting two of them, and we are being taxed to death already. To get that money, both of us have to work our butts off, only to have a huge share of it taken away for these lazy bastards. Fvcked them.

I am really pissed off now on these low caps on such things as college tuition and property taxes, those caps are 40 years old already, so we end up paying additional income taxes on taxes. College tuition rates also covered under our property taxes with a 20% increase this last year are adding to our overall yearly budget. So we have to work even longer hours to make those payments, then have to pay income taxes on top of that.

If Obama and congress want to take care of these kids, that is fine with me, let them pay it out of their pockets, not mine. Was discussing taxes with my wife this morning, she can quit her job, and we can enjoy earned income credit, get free health insurance for our dependents, and even free tuition. With these present policies, why in the hell should people work?

[Danno 1,228]

The Joke (on us) behind this whole tax Cigs thing is this.

-Liberals want to graft more people into the pool of people getting Govt health insure. (this program goes beyond helping the poor).

-Liberals only place to get funding is to tax smokers.

-The higher cigs are the few people smoke.

-As the cost of this heathcare program grows and the pool of smokers paying shrinks, the cost will then become another expensive program with no way to pay for it.

-Then what do we do?

* What is the next "target group"?

[SaadBell 0]

I'm surprised (though I guess I shouldn't be) that so many on the left (who I would think would know better) are willing to let the govt decide what "risky behaviors" they deem taxable.

One person smokes

another drinks

another loves red meat

another climbs mountains

another likes to ski

You think this is going to stop at Cigs and Beer?

I think we should tax the hell out of beer, I bet that would raised some hell. Also tax the hell out of the sex industry, and yes if you like to do sports that might cause you to be injured, like mountain climbing, skiing, skating, even playing weekend football, hell even walking, tax tax tax, don't just focus on one group, there are plenty of bad habits so be fair level the tax field, and implant chips in everyone and when you are doing what is something not really healthy, like eating fast food, not sleeping enough, or even driving a little over the speed limit, we zap the hell out of you. You will also get a tax bill in the mail, and the payment will depend on how dangerous the behavior is considered to be.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

He's gonna pick pockets like a sloooow drip so people don't feel it all at once and don't raise hell about it.

Yep....same reason we have taxes taken out of our paychecks, instead of getting a lump sum bill due on April 15.

I don't have that; I pay several lumps a year. If the rest of the country had to do that, there would be a revolution in no time!

Thank God the rest of the country isn't like you.

You want people to be poor?

No. I prefer people who aren't full of themselves. And plenty of people pay quarterlys. It doesn't put one above the general population.

[natty bumppo 297]

He's gonna pick pockets like a sloooow drip so people don't feel it all at once and don't raise hell about it.

Yep....same reason we have taxes taken out of our paychecks, instead of getting a lump sum bill due on April 15.

I don't have that; I pay several lumps a year. If the rest of the country had to do that, there would be a revolution in no time!

Thank God the rest of the country isn't like you.

You want people to be poor?

No. I prefer people who aren't full of themselves. And plenty of people pay quarterlys. It doesn't put one above the general population.

you didn't say "No. I prefer people who aren't full of themselves" in your earlier post. Now you want to change the message ...

[*Robert* 2]

The Joke (on us) behind this whole tax Cigs thing is this.

-Liberals want to graft more people into the pool of people getting Govt health insure. (this program goes beyond helping the poor).

-Liberals only place to get funding is to tax smokers.

-The higher cigs are the few people smoke.

-As the cost of this heathcare program grows and the pool of smokers paying shrinks, the cost will then become another expensive program with no way to pay for it.

-Then what do we do?

* What is the next "target group"?

Then where is the tax supposed to come from?

What is the Conservative's solution?

Are we supposed to continue increasing the deficate?

It is not just the "Liberals" who support sin taxes... not even close.