Please Oppose Alcohol Tax Increase!

I'm fine with the taxes on alcohol, tobacco and junk food all being raised. No one has to have them, they are simply indulgences.

I suggest a 20% restaurant tax. After all, no one has to eat out, its simply an indulgence. No one here would possibly object to that, right?

Yes and if you cant afford it then you make food at home. It's that simple. Although there's a bigger argument to be made against one on restaurants than on alcohol.

And save me the studies show alcohol can be part of a healthy lifestyle crap. You dont have consume alcohol to survive in any capacity, there are documented cases where people need medicine to live.

Bottom line yeah it sucks to raise taxes on this, but you know what, that money has to come from somewhere and it makes more sense to put it on a luxury item than a flat out necessity.

I'm fine with the taxes on alcohol, tobacco and junk food all being raised. No one has to have them, they are simply indulgences.

Sin taxes as a whole are a joke. The government can hide behind cries of "We're increasing the taxes for your own good," when in fact their purpose is to generate more revenue for a system that is already swollen with money. No business could get away with being as inefficient and irresponsible as our government, because eventually people would stop investing and stop buying the products. Sadly, we don't have a choice when it comes to the government.

The idea that 'the money has to come from somewhere' is exactly what's wrong with this country for two reasons. First of all, the government has plenty of money if they would spend it wisely. Second,why not put more money in the hands of individuals and let us take care of our own needs instead of running to the government for everything. Heed the words of Thomas Jefferson: "History shows that as government increases, liberty decreases."

I'm fine with the taxes on alcohol, tobacco and junk food all being raised. No one has to have them, they are simply indulgences.

Sin taxes as a whole are a joke. The government can hide behind cries of "We're increasing the taxes for your own good," when in fact their purpose is to generate more revenue for a system that is already swollen with money. No business could get away with being as inefficient and irresponsible as our government, because eventually people would stop investing and stop buying the products. Sadly, we don't have a choice when it comes to the government.

The idea that 'the money has to come from somewhere' is exactly what's wrong with this country for two reasons. First of all, the government has plenty of money if they would spend it wisely. Second,why not put more money in the hands of individuals and let us take care of our own needs instead of running to the government for everything. Heed the words of Thomas Jefferson: "History shows that as government increases, liberty decreases."

You can turn that around on the people who are blowing money on these things. If they've got that much money that they are buying junk food, gambling, or drinking all the time, then their money could be better used elsewhere.

I've emailed my representative now. Personally I find sin taxes to be extremely distasteful, because they're nothing more than a thinly veiled effort of the government to capitalize on the unfortunate addictions of its constituents.

I've emailed my representative now. Personally I find sin taxes to be extremely distasteful, because they're nothing more than a thinly veiled effort of the government to capitalize on the unfortunate addictions of its constituents.

If you cant pay the fine dont do the crime.

Speaking of I'm hope everyone is watching their speed, I'm sure speeding citations will be on the rise to help over shore up budget shortfalls.

You can turn that around on the people who are blowing money on these things. If they've got that much money that they are buying junk food, gambling, or drinking all the time, then their money could be better used elsewhere.

I think you're missing the fact that many people who smoke and drink regularly are not doing very well from an economic standpoint. I agree that people who are relatively poor could fin better outlets for their money than gambling and cigarettes. However, these practices represent an addiction that isn't easily overcome. Additionally, I don't think its my place, your place, or the government's place to tell them how to spend their money. If smoking means a great deal to them, then they should be allowed to indulge themselves. Just because they're bad for you doesn't mean they should be more heavily taxed.

You're also forgetting about all of the jobs at stake. Farming, factory, and service industry jobs are all created because of these industries. If we tax it too heavily, and sales decrease, then people will lose their jobs, end up on unemployment, and be worse off than before the government intervened. Every action has its reaction, so lets fully consider all of the consequences before we readily hop on the bandwagon for perceived 'moral' reasons.

If you cant pay the fine dont do the crime.

Sorry, but last time I checked drinking isn't a crime. That pesky 18th amendment was overturned.

You can turn that around on the people who are blowing money on these things. If they've got that much money that they are buying junk food, gambling, or drinking all the time, then their money could be better used elsewhere.

I think you're missing the fact that many people who smoke and drink regularly are not doing very well from an economic standpoint. I agree that people who are relatively poor could fin better outlets for their money than gambling and cigarettes. However, these practices represent an addiction that isn't easily overcome. Additionally, I don't think its my place, your place, or the government's place to tell them how to spend their money. If smoking means a great deal to them, then they should be allowed to indulge themselves. Just because they're bad for you doesn't mean they should be more heavily taxed.

You're also forgetting about all of the jobs at stake. Farming, factory, and service industry jobs are all created because of these industries. If we tax it too heavily, and sales decrease, then people will lose their jobs, end up on unemployment, and be worse off than before the government intervened. Every action has its reaction, so lets fully consider all of the consequences before we readily hop on the bandwagon for perceived 'moral' reasons.

Again if they cant afford them, then they need to find other outlets for their addictions. There's also a lot of exploitation by corporations of said addictions to keep people poor.

As for farming and production, they can farm things besides tobacco on that land, it's not JUST for tobacco. Factories can be refitted to produce other goods. As I think since you're Mr Libertarian you know full well that if the free market will just adjust and job will be provided by whatever industry sprouts up to fill the void left behind by this.

Yes, the free market will adjust, but you're missing a few central tenets of libertarianism. First, government meddling unbalances the market. It can adjust in the long term, but the government has no right to destabilize it in the short term. Second, the government also has no right to tell us what we can and can't do with our bodies and our property, provided we don't harm others. Sin taxes let the government legislate morality without banning these purportedly 'immoral' practices outright. The role of the government is to protect us from each other, not interfere in our lives.

The role of the government is to protect us from each other, not interfere in our lives.

Insert picard-facepalm.jpg here.

Yes, the free market will adjust, but you're missing a few central tenets of libertarianism. First, government meddling unbalances the market. It can adjust in the long term, but the government has no right to destabilize it in the short term. Second, the government also has no right to tell us what we can and can't do with our bodies and our property, provided we don't harm others. Sin taxes let the government legislate morality without banning these purportedly 'immoral' practices outright. The role of the government is to protect us from each other, not interfere in our lives.

Quit going off half cocked and just be an anarchist.

Insert picard-facepalm.jpg here.

Quit going off half cocked and just be an anarchist.

Ah, the ad hominem attacks. So much for good, friendly, spirited debates.

Again if they cant afford them, then they need to find other outlets for their addictions.

Not to discount the seriousness of alcohol abuse and dependence (especially amongst young men), but I hate to see this discussion revolve around addictions. According to NIH statistics only about 5% of the population are alcohol abusers.

This tax increase will affect all Kentuckians who benefit from the responsible use and enjoyment of alcoholic beverages.

Insert picard-facepalm.jpg here.

Quit going off half cocked and just be an anarchist.

Ah, the ad hominem attacks. So much for good, friendly, spirited debates.

If by "debates" you mean "long-winded lone Libertarian ranting," of course. If you actually want to debate your poorly-made points, I might be game, but c'mon. That sentence you wrote is nonsense.

If by "debates" you mean "long-winded lone Libertarian ranting," of course. If you actually want to debate your poorly-made points, I might be game, but c'mon. That sentence you wrote is nonsense.

For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest; and this he is induced to do by the same prudence which in every other case advises him, out of two evils to choose the least. - Thomas Paine