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I think it's important to distinguish between sin taxes and externality taxes. Drinking alcohol, for the most part (although not entirely), is purely a sin, an
by lend000 5y ago
I think it's important to distinguish between sin taxes and externality taxes.
Drinking alcohol, for the most part (although not entirely), is purely a sin, and does not inherently affect the public. Smoking does, either in a minor and indirect way due to pollutants entering our shared atmosphere or a much more direct effect if someone is smoking in your local vicinity. I'm all for taxing the thing that affects people but isn't so horrible as to ban outright, but not so much the "sin."
- nobody9999 5y ago>Drinking alcohol, for the most part (although not entirely), is purely a sin, and does not inherently affect the public. Smoking does, either in a minor and indirect way due to pollutants entering our shared atmosphere or a much more direct effect if someone is smoking in your local vicinity. I'm all for taxing the thing that affects people but isn't so horrible as to ban outright, but not so much the "sin." Please define "sin" in this context. According to Merriam-Webster[0], "sin" is: an offense against religious or moral law Depending on who you talk to, divorce is a "sin." As is sex outside of marriage, eating pork or shellfish or cheeseburgers. Shall we implement high taxes on those things too? Please note that my issue is with the term "sin," as it has strong religious implications which, at least in the US, have no place in the operation of our secular government. [0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sin https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sin
- lend000 5y agoYou're preaching to the choir.