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pan6467 · 04-02-2005, 11:25 PM

The biggest problem with "sin taxes" is they are aimed at products lower classes buy.

An upper class Heineken drinker isn't going to really notice 18-20 cents increase, whereas the person who buys Busch is far more likely to notice the increase.

Same with cigarettes. The upper class Dunhill/ Nat Sherman smoker won't notice a 50 cent increase whereas the lower class Marlboro smoker will.

Same as Gas Taxes that in Ohio are 44 cents per gallon. The upper class driving that brand new SUV that gets 10 MPG doesn't miss that 44 cents/gallon, yet the guy driving the beat up 10 year old car does.

These taxes by ANY study shows that the lower clases spend more money on and buy more of these products than the upper classes.

Yet, they keep cutting capital gains taxes, inheritence taxes and luxury taxes, where the upper classes have more disposable money.

So tax wise the beer drinking cigarette smoker that makes $30,000 a year pays far far more of a percentage in taxes than the upper class does. But those who support these taxes (usually the GOP) do not mention that, and will change the subject as to how the upper class pays more in income taxes. Yet, the poor are in fact paying a higher percentage.

The right also argues that these people choose to drink and smoke. True, but to say that while you drive a new luxury SUV that gets 10 MPG is hypocritical.

In essence these taxes afford the right to cut the upper class taxes. And yet looking at how inflation is soon coming, gas prices are soaring and the stock markets running flat at best, the LIES that those cuts help the economy are bullshit. What they are allowing is for the rich to save up for the serious recession/depression we are about to hit into.

Call me a pessimist, but watch gas prices and gold..... I lived through the mid 70's to early 80's and the trends today are exactly the same as the trends that caused that. But the worst part is there is a smaller middle class, more wealth is owned by the very very rich, government is running up heavy debts and putting less and less into true growth projects such as education and small businesses, and people make less, survive on credit and have fewer otions for jobs. We won't even get into the trade deficit.

So unless we find a way to even out taxes, rebuild a true decent paying manufacturing sector and middle class growth instead of loss, our country is living on seriously borrowed time.

The right will argue, cry scream and shout but they will not argue with facts about why the taxes on the rich should be lower and that it promortes growth.

The 3 fastest growing employment sectors in the past 10 years have been: temp. jobs, Wal*Mart and other discount retailers and the fast food industry..... which of those actually pay decent, liveable wages and give benefits?

While the top 1% have seen their personal wealth grow exponentially. Don't believe me look how much Bill Gates, the Walton family, Warren Buffett, etc were worth 20 or even 10 years ago and compare how much of the GDP and percentage of wealth the "middle classes" held 20 years ago, 10 years ago and now. Then see where the wages have gone..... compare how the worker wages have held steady or gone down, benefits have seriously declined, while again, the CEO's wages and benefits have increased exponentially.

AGain, the right will never aknowledge this, show facts or even truly debate this, all they can do, however, is keep claiming they pay too much in taxes.

04-02-2005, 11:25 PM	#65 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	The biggest problem with "sin taxes" is they are aimed at products lower classes buy. An upper class Heineken drinker isn't going to really notice 18-20 cents increase, whereas the person who buys Busch is far more likely to notice the increase. Same with cigarettes. The upper class Dunhill/ Nat Sherman smoker won't notice a 50 cent increase whereas the lower class Marlboro smoker will. Same as Gas Taxes that in Ohio are 44 cents per gallon. The upper class driving that brand new SUV that gets 10 MPG doesn't miss that 44 cents/gallon, yet the guy driving the beat up 10 year old car does. These taxes by ANY study shows that the lower clases spend more money on and buy more of these products than the upper classes. Yet, they keep cutting capital gains taxes, inheritence taxes and luxury taxes, where the upper classes have more disposable money. So tax wise the beer drinking cigarette smoker that makes $30,000 a year pays far far more of a percentage in taxes than the upper class does. But those who support these taxes (usually the GOP) do not mention that, and will change the subject as to how the upper class pays more in income taxes. Yet, the poor are in fact paying a higher percentage. The right also argues that these people choose to drink and smoke. True, but to say that while you drive a new luxury SUV that gets 10 MPG is hypocritical. In essence these taxes afford the right to cut the upper class taxes. And yet looking at how inflation is soon coming, gas prices are soaring and the stock markets running flat at best, the LIES that those cuts help the economy are bullshit. What they are allowing is for the rich to save up for the serious recession/depression we are about to hit into. Call me a pessimist, but watch gas prices and gold..... I lived through the mid 70's to early 80's and the trends today are exactly the same as the trends that caused that. But the worst part is there is a smaller middle class, more wealth is owned by the very very rich, government is running up heavy debts and putting less and less into true growth projects such as education and small businesses, and people make less, survive on credit and have fewer otions for jobs. We won't even get into the trade deficit. So unless we find a way to even out taxes, rebuild a true decent paying manufacturing sector and middle class growth instead of loss, our country is living on seriously borrowed time. The right will argue, cry scream and shout but they will not argue with facts about why the taxes on the rich should be lower and that it promortes growth. The 3 fastest growing employment sectors in the past 10 years have been: temp. jobs, Wal*Mart and other discount retailers and the fast food industry..... which of those actually pay decent, liveable wages and give benefits? While the top 1% have seen their personal wealth grow exponentially. Don't believe me look how much Bill Gates, the Walton family, Warren Buffett, etc were worth 20 or even 10 years ago and compare how much of the GDP and percentage of wealth the "middle classes" held 20 years ago, 10 years ago and now. Then see where the wages have gone..... compare how the worker wages have held steady or gone down, benefits have seriously declined, while again, the CEO's wages and benefits have increased exponentially. AGain, the right will never aknowledge this, show facts or even truly debate this, all they can do, however, is keep claiming they pay too much in taxes. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"