| Subject: Sharing ideas on "sin" taxes |
Author:
Betty
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Date Posted: 11:36:15 03/10/04 Wed
In reply to:
Betty
's message, "Smokers are an easy target, but are they a fair one?" on 11:18:25 03/10/04 Wed
When it comes to naming people who should bear the burden of taxation, the list never seems to end.
Maybe, smokers and drinkers should not be the only group singled out to pay for rising health care cost.
Maybe people using snowmobiles, four-wheelers and dirt bikes should be taxed for joy riding.
Maybe prostitutes, dirty needle users and people who practice unsafe sex should be targets for taxation for their reckless behavior.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposal to raise cigarette taxes by 75 cents and mark up liquor by 14 percent to balance a $1.3 billion deficit has people wondering who should be next.
Here are some suggestions off the net news on which other undesirable behaviors could be taxed -- following the governor's line of thinking that higher taxes on cigarettes and liquor might motivate some people to reduce or eliminate those habits from their lifestyles:
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"We could tax all of the people that don't eat right, take vitamins or exercise daily, resulting in unnecessary health care costs,"
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"We could tax people that use wood burners or kerosene heaters in their homes, resulting in respiratory problems.
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"Our country was founded because of unfair taxation and restrictions to our personal freedoms and rights. We call ourselves 'The land of the free.' Soon it will be 'The land of control freaks.' That is sad."
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Lawmakers must make sacrifices themselves to aid the current budget crunch.
Instead of taxing specific groups, officials should give up a portion of their pay, as other state employees have done.
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"Reading and hearing that further tax increases and cuts are looming over our heads just makes my head want to pop off," he said. "... Before we need to look at increases in taxes or other budget cuts, we need a commitment from our lawmakers."
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Other residents agree that raising taxes on "sinners" should come to a halt.
The government targets smokers and drinkers simply because they are easy targets.
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"I believe the excess taxation has got to stop," she said. "Are people really so concerned with smokers bleeding Medicaid dry? What about all of the young, single nonworking women out there having kids out of wedlock? How much do they bleed Medicaid. Are they taxed extra for their sins? The answer is no ...
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"Unfortunately the government will attack smokers and drinkers because they can get away with it. These people have become almost outcasts in our society ... but others don't mind spending the free money made off these people's backs.
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"The government gets more than enough taxes, but to them it's never enough and never will be. When will people start demanding that they cut back? I don't manage my household like this. If I did, I would have been out on the street years ago."
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I agree with the government taxing liquor because if used in excess, innocent people possibly could be killed.
However, there's another tax she said would be more appropriate for all Michigan residents.
"Why doesn't the government put toll roads up in Michigan?" she said. "Our roads are traveled daily by thousands of people and I think it would be fair to everyone in Michigan. I don't think that people in Michigan would have a problem with that. It is fair to all of us. I also think that our deficit would be paid off a lot faster and we could eventually be where we need to be."
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