Gov. Bredesen says education needs require increasing cigaratte tax
- Thread starter Volitics
- Start date
The answer to this problem is not to raise the taxes. Not every smoker costs the state of TN money. Plenty of smokers have their own health care coverage.
The solution is, stop providing government health care to those who cannot afford it. That is the role of charity, family, friends, etc. It is not the role of government.
hohenfelsvol
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It's funny how some think becuase the gov't taxes tabacco and alcohol heavier then other items it's becuase they have mismanaged other tax revenue. Although the gov't is great at mismanaging the increased tax on tabacco and alcohol is not a result of the mismanagement.
This a subject that is deep and has many levels that someone can take a stand on, i.e. Well burgers and fries are bad for you too then why not tax that higher also. All levels normally have a valid arguement on why they are unhealthly and if you tax that then why don't you tax this. Only thing I can say to this is that tabacco and alcohol have a much longer history and higher risk of causing cancer and just plan poor health.
I don't disagree with the higher tax. Like my drink but don't smoke (Well ok, cigars on occasion). Am wise enough to understand both come with health risks. If I chose to use them then I'll pay the tax to purchase the item. To bitch about the tax and say the gov't is only doing to pay for mismanagement is wrong.
This a subject that is deep and has many levels that someone can take a stand on, i.e. Well burgers and fries are bad for you too then why not tax that higher also. All levels normally have a valid arguement on why they are unhealthly and if you tax that then why don't you tax this. Only thing I can say to this is that tabacco and alcohol have a much longer history and higher risk of causing cancer and just plan poor health.
I don't disagree with the higher tax. Like my drink but don't smoke (Well ok, cigars on occasion). Am wise enough to understand both come with health risks. If I chose to use them then I'll pay the tax to purchase the item. To bitch about the tax and say the gov't is only doing to pay for mismanagement is wrong.
Substances lead to poor health when they are abused. Cigarrettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, alcohol, etc. have no serious health risks when used in moderation. Soft drinks, hamburgers, fries have serious health risks when abused. The government should not tax on the assumption that one will abuse one substance and not the other (I know plenty of people that eat McDonald's on a daily basis, yet have a cigarrette only in a social environment, about once every week or two.)
The bottom line is, the government needs to stop providing free health care. Charities can step in and do a better job than government in caring for the poor and sick, yet many do not donate as much to charity as they otherwise would because they are already forfeiting 40% of their income to government social programs.
The bottom line is, the government needs to stop providing free health care. Charities can step in and do a better job than government in caring for the poor and sick, yet many do not donate as much to charity as they otherwise would because they are already forfeiting 40% of their income to government social programs.
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