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I have no problem with taxes on harmful products like tobacco and alcohol since they are a harm to society and a burden on society.

inimino 10y ago
How about sugar?
- LeifCarrotson 10y ago
  Sugar does cause some harm (obesity and associated health costs). Its tax should be commensurate with this harm. However, it is used in both healthy and unhealthy foods, so perhaps the tax should be on unhealthy foods rather than on the sugar itself.
  - hueving 10y ago
    I don't believe wine is considered unhealthy in small amounts either.
CaptSpify 10y ago
I have no problem with taxes on them for a different reason: They are a luxury good. Nobody needs them.
- mwfunk 10y ago
  You could say that about almost anything though. I don't need to post on HN, but that fact alone wouldn't justify a tax on HN posting.
  - CaptSpify 10y ago
    That's a heavy apples-to-oranges comparison. Finite goods != publicly accessible web-pages.
syshum 10y ago
That is a slippery slope, if you want to talk about products or activities that "harm society" Further then you have to define what "harm" it is doing. I also suspect part of that "harm" you talk about is Costs associated with healthcare that is paid for by the taxpayer, meaning you likely support government run socialized health services. I do not.
- brokenmachine 10y ago
  Are you seriously requesting an explanation of what harm cigarettes are doing to society? I suggest you have a trip to to a respiratory ward sometime.
  - syshum 10y ago
    I do not question the harm cigarettes do to individuals, but individuals make choices every day that cause harm to themselves. That is not a reason for government involvement I do not believe it is my place to tell individuals what chemicals they can or can not consume I am 100% against the War on Drugs as well, and believe that all drugs, including crack, cocaine, and all prescription drugs should be legal to buy if the person desires it. I am an individualist, not a collectivist

inimino 10y ago

How about sugar?

LeifCarrotson 10y ago
Sugar does cause some harm (obesity and associated health costs). Its tax should be commensurate with this harm. However, it is used in both healthy and unhealthy foods, so perhaps the tax should be on unhealthy foods rather than on the sugar itself.
- hueving 10y ago
  I don't believe wine is considered unhealthy in small amounts either.

CaptSpify 10y ago

I have no problem with taxes on them for a different reason: They are a luxury good. Nobody needs them.

mwfunk 10y ago
You could say that about almost anything though. I don't need to post on HN, but that fact alone wouldn't justify a tax on HN posting.
- CaptSpify 10y ago
  That's a heavy apples-to-oranges comparison. Finite goods != publicly accessible web-pages.

syshum 10y ago

That is a slippery slope, if you want to talk about products or activities that "harm society" Further then you have to define what "harm" it is doing. I also suspect part of that "harm" you talk about is Costs associated with healthcare that is paid for by the taxpayer, meaning you likely support government run socialized health services. I do not.

brokenmachine 10y ago
Are you seriously requesting an explanation of what harm cigarettes are doing to society? I suggest you have a trip to to a respiratory ward sometime.
- syshum 10y ago
  I do not question the harm cigarettes do to individuals, but individuals make choices every day that cause harm to themselves. That is not a reason for government involvement I do not believe it is my place to tell individuals what chemicals they can or can not consume I am 100% against the War on Drugs as well, and believe that all drugs, including crack, cocaine, and all prescription drugs should be legal to buy if the person desires it. I am an individualist, not a collectivist