Why is Alcohol NOT included in the proposed tax for uninsured children?

[devilgrrl]

Fine, tax tobacco but why stop there? Why not Alcohol? Why not the food industry? :shrug:

Also, the tax is an obvious incentive to get people to quit smoking. If it indeed works and everyone quits, where will the funds then come from?

You tell me.

[napi21]

1. Why are you picking on ME????

Yes I smoke, and I drink beer! Why should "I" have to pay for everything that's deemed good?

[devilgrrl]

3. I think the whole concept is ridiculous. Tax McDonald's, Tax RJ Reynolds, Tax the Corn Lobby....

I'm so sick of the average citizen having to foot the bill.

[depakid]

11. How is that the average citizen?

Those are "sin taxes" that people have a choice whether to pay (by consuming) or not pay, by refraining.

In economic terms, they serve a dual purpose, to discourage unhealthy behavior- and to fund programs by assigning a portion of the funds to externalities that are caused by those businesses (and their customers).

A single payer system would likely be funded to some extent in the same sorts of ways.

Is it regressive- yep, and that's an argument that also can be made, depending how the taxes are assigned and collected.

[JDPriestly]

14. Alcohol abuse is involved in a lot of health problems

as is tobacco and smoking. Alcohol abuse is also involved in a lot of crime and abuse of children. Note I don't say that alcohol causes these things. Increasing the tax on alcohol to moderate use is a good idea. We all pay for the police and health care costs of alcohol abuse.

If you don't abuse alcohol, an additional tax won't cost you that much.

Food should not be taxed. It is a necessity. Alcohol and tobacco are not necessities. Anyone who thinks they are has a problem and should see a doctor.

After all, we pay a tax to on our cars and on gasoline. We need those items more than alcohol or tobacco.

[SoCalDem]

20. Because it's always "safe" to levy "sin-taxes" on the group that's currently out of favor

and goodness knows, our legislators would never just do something because it's the decent thing to do.

This is what always happens when they feel as if they dare not raise taxes to pay for something that's needed. They think that whenever something needs to be funded, the money to pay for it simply MUST come from some other program. At the same time they go on and on about how our economy is expanding, but Ole Uncle Sam seems to be living on a very fixed income when it comes to infrastructure and socially necessary programs.

:grr:

[pnb]

2. Too many drinkers

Smokers are enough of a minority in this country now that you can get away with it without losing votes. Too many drinkers in America for that to be a safe move.

Besides, they know this will not cause many people to quit smoking...they know they are guaranteed funding, again from a small group no one gives a damn about.

And yes, I am a smoker. :)

[devilgrrl]

4. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - yeah, that ain't a problem

Drunk driving

alcoholism

domestic violence.

Nah, leave the boozers alone.

[AngryAmish]

6. FAS is not a big problem in the vast majority of the country

In order to give a kid FAS their mommy has to drink a lot, like Charles Bukowski amounts.

[napi21]

13. OH get real! Yes there are some individuals who are stupid!

LAWS won't ever change that! There are also lots of responsible smokers & drinkers!

I have 2 sons. I quit smoking and drinking as soon as I got pregnant! Both of those boys are adults today. One is 42 the other 39! They have NO problems and both quite smoking quite a few years ago.

Driving drunk is ALREADY illegal! So is cocain and meth, but that doesn't seem to stop some people from using, does it?

And you reference domestic violence. Violence is a mental problem with some people. Yes, alcohol aggrivates it, but is sure is NOT the cause!!!!

[devilgrrl]

15. You get real!

:nuke:

Just because you're responsible doesn't mean everyone else is.

Get real! :eyes:

[napi21]

17. Yes you're right, but you can't legislate OR TAX morality or responsibility. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Alcohol, in reasonable amounts, is good for you.

:shrug:

[devilgrrl]

7. Yes, but if abused - which it often is - it can cause serious health problems too.

:shrug:

[Clark2008]

8. Agreed.

I abhor sin taxes because, eventually, you tax it so much people either quit buying it and/or purchase it through the black market or online (sans taxes) and then the funds aren't available for whatever they were intended for.

It's a stupid idea.

We should care enough about peoples' health, especially children, that we include EVERYONE in the tax.

[dorkulon]

9. I think they should tax pot--after they legalize it.

I'm patriotic enough to shoulder that burden.

:hippie:

[Sapere aude]

10. I am a non smoker but I appose taxes on cigarettes to raise money for non smoking

issues.

If the issue is a good one we all should pay for it.

[BringEmOn]

12. It's easier to collect sin tax than to cut the Pentagon budget or to rescind tax cuts for the

have-mores.

[napi21]

21. Yea that's right, but the other pot is SO MUCH BIGGER!!!!! n/t

[Yavin4]

16. Alcohol and Cigarettes CAUSE Major Health Problems

Esp. for the poor. So, they should be taxed in order to pay for the health care of the poor.

When Alcohol and Cigarettes are not taxed, then we pay for the health care of the people who use these products and develop the inevitable health problems.

[taterguy]

18. Because tobacco is produced in relatively few areas

Tax tobacco and you'll piss off people in Louisville, Richmond and Winston-Salem. Tax alcohol and you'll annoy folks in countless congressional districts: Several major beer manufacturers and God knows how many distilleries

The fact that is possible to use alcohol safely but the same can't be said for tobacco also plays a role.

[SoCalDem]

19. Because alcohol is good for you.

:shrug:..

Driving is more FUN when you're drunk
Kids behave better when Dad's lit up
Wives pay attention to a drunk husband
Drinking makes potential lovers more attractive
People dance better when they are drunk
Drunking excuses bad behavior

did I leave any out?

[Swamp Rat]

22. The authors of the bill are alcoholics?