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Cimarron29414 · 03-30-2010, 06:25 AM

So, I read an editorial this weekend of someone who contends that the new tanning bed tax is, at its essence, a race/gender tax - a tax levied directly on a particular race/gender. Apparently, almost 99% of their customers are from a single race. Furthermore, the industry sales statistics show that it effectively targets a particular gender, with 98% of the clientele being of one gender.

The question for discussion is whether a tax of this nature is unfair or even in violation of the law?

So, here's my opinion: I honestly don't know if it is against the law. I don't think the tax was written with the intent to target a race/gender, but a side effect of the legislation is that it does target race/gender. I can't think of another example of an excise tax which effectively targets/race gender - but I'd bet they exist. Can anyone think of others?

I do know that it is a usage tax, and one can avoid the tax by simply not participating in the activity. It's essentially the cigarette tax. But every race/gender combination smokes, unlike here. My inclination is to shrug since I don't use the service (I'm not in the demographic either), but what if I did use it? I suppose I would want this assertion to be...what's the best word...vetted, perhaps? So, pasty girls unit!

03-30-2010, 06:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cimarron29414 Still Free Location: comfortably perched at the top of the bell curve!	Race/Gender Tax? So, I read an editorial this weekend of someone who contends that the new tanning bed tax is, at its essence, a race/gender tax - a tax levied directly on a particular race/gender. Apparently, almost 99% of their customers are from a single race. Furthermore, the industry sales statistics show that it effectively targets a particular gender, with 98% of the clientele being of one gender. The question for discussion is whether a tax of this nature is unfair or even in violation of the law? So, here's my opinion: I honestly don't know if it is against the law. I don't think the tax was written with the intent to target a race/gender, but a side effect of the legislation is that it does target race/gender. I can't think of another example of an excise tax which effectively targets/race gender - but I'd bet they exist. Can anyone think of others? I do know that it is a usage tax, and one can avoid the tax by simply not participating in the activity. It's essentially the cigarette tax. But every race/gender combination smokes, unlike here. My inclination is to shrug since I don't use the service (I'm not in the demographic either), but what if I did use it? I suppose I would want this assertion to be...what's the best word...vetted, perhaps? So, pasty girls unit! __________________ Gives a man a halo, does mead. "Here lies The_Jazz: Killed by an ambitious, sparkly, pink butterfly."