smokers tax

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Lady Brave

If smokers are such a burden on the healthcare system, then you can say the same thing about overweight and obese people. Let's tax the crap out of high fat and fast food as well.

My point is that the people who are over weight can be for many reasons. Some out of their control. Even the "bad foods" that some of them eat to become overweight are inherently bad for you. A "bad food" is only so when consumed in indulgent quantities. The problem of overweightness(not a word I know) is not one directly attributed to the food being bad as much as it is to genes and behavior. The bahavior is one of necessity too. We all have to eat. Some of us simply are able to control our behaviors moreso than others. I don't see how taxation is fair in this case.

As for cigartettes, they ARE inherently bad. They offer no reasonably positive attributes. They are not part of some necessary behavior. There isn't even a glint of positiveness associated with them. Ridding society of them is only positive(economic issues aside). I see no good reason not to tax the hell out of them. I see plenty of reason not to tax overweight people.