smokers tax

[saden1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Yes but the context here is whether fatty food is inherently bad. It is not. Cigarettes are inherently bad. There's no realistic argument being made or that can be made that they are unharmful and even healthy in one way or another. Fatty food on the other hand can sustain you and can be part of a well balanced diet It is not needed but it is not simply bad unquestionably. Cigarettes are.

SSG. To me cigarettes are more analogous to illegal drugs than to fast food.

I believe anything that contributes to premature death is inherently bad. I think the movie Super Sized Me showed us how bad fatty food really is. As always moderation is key to life. The more you smoke the sooner you die, the more crap you eat the sooner you die.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Schneed,

You raise all fair points. I don't pretend to know all of the answers and I never said the study's conclusion was 100% accurate (though it might be). I just think that before people start making arguments as to why smoking should be heavily taxed on economic/tax grounds, we should know that it causes a net increase in government spending.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Schneed,

You raise all fair points. I don't pretend to know all of the answers and I never said the study's conclusion was 100% accurate (though it might be). I just think that before people start making arguments as to why smoking should be heavily taxed on economic/tax grounds, we should know that it causes a net increase in government spending.

True, but I'm assuming that we the people derive some sort of benefit from that increase in spending. That money either goes to reduce the deficit or funds government programs. Sure, all government spending is inefficient, but inefficient is not synonymous with worthless.

[FRPLG]

BTW. I gotta say this is a fantastic discussion. I see a lot of SSG's points and some of them are compelling. I certainly have been swayed at least a little.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I surrender jsarno, fried chicken, french fries, whoppers and mcnuggets are essential to life, healthy, have contributed immemsely to this nation's great diet and health, and will make your manhood grow 12 inches. Thank you for showing how I am "grasping for straws" and how my argument was "weak at best."

I have said from the get-go that fast food and cigarettes are not identical. But, to say that one can draw no comparisons whatsoever between the two is, in my mind, more than stubborn and intellectually dishonest. I guess I don't get the "cede no ground to 'the other side'" approach to discussing things.

In any event, has the pre-season started? I can't wait to start talking about football.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I surrender jsarno, fried chicken, french fries, whoppers and mcnuggets are essential to life, healthy, have contributed immemsely to this nation's great diet and health, and will make your manhood grow 12 inches. Thank you for showing how I am "grasping for straws" and how my argument was "weak at best."

If you're gonna give up, then fine, but at least quote me correctly. I referred to a FLAME BROILED burger, and a GRILLED chicken. I said nothing of French Fries and McNuggets.
If you actually understood your argument was weak, then we'd be on the right path, but you can't say all fast food is bad, nor can you refer to something that is essential for life with something that is a detriment to life. It makes no sense.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by jsarno

If you actually understood your argument was weak, then we'd be on the right path, but you can't say all fast food is bad, nor can you refer to something that is essential for life with something that is a detriment to life. It makes no sense.

Again....the whole fast food (which is what we are discussing) is essential to life argument is making me chuckle. Sorry to be an ass, but I feel I am responding to an arrogant tone. I'll just peace out from here.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Again....the whole fast food (which is what we are discussing) is essential to life argument is making me chuckle. Sorry to be an ass, but I feel I am responding to an arrogant tone. I'll just peace out from here.

But I corrected my point to say that not all fast food is bad.

I apologize if my tone seems arrogant, that was not my intent.