General Discussion

stopbush

(24,407 posts)

20. So, sin taxes, depending on who decides what is a sin.

Tue Mar 14, 2017, 05:02 PM

Mar 2017

Last edited Tue Mar 14, 2017, 06:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Yeah, your idea just won't work. Start taxing beer and wine at higher levels and - again - you impact people at the bottom end of the spectrum disproportionately. Do you really think people are going to avoid beer and wine because it has a tax on it? Why should people who drink occasionally and who don't abuse it have to pay the same tax on the same item as a billionaire? So, a couple of scolds get to sit around and tell people it's their own fault for paying a tax on products they shouldn't be using in the first place?

With a sin tax, the only people who can enjoy the occasional beer are - again - the wealthy, who don't care about use taxes.

Obamacare had it right with a surcharge on the wealthy. That raised billions to pay for insurance for the less fortunate. Payroll, income and luxury taxes are progressive. Use taxes in general are regressive.

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Why not let people buy into Medicaid? [View all] Yavin4 Mar 2017 OP

I think you mean Medicare. Medicaid is intentionally designed for poor. KittyWampus Mar 2017 #1

Yes. I'm saying expand it to people who don't qualify because of income, and Yavin4 Mar 2017 #5

The ACA is designed to cover people that make too much Blue_true Mar 2017 #21

They are on Medicaid in the first place because they don't have the means. Not to be sarcastic, but still_one Mar 2017 #2

Okay. What I am saying is this.... Yavin4 Mar 2017 #7

Most of the Trump states were against expanded Medicaid, even though their respective states would still_one Mar 2017 #8

Because the Pubs would never vote against that GREAT CORP. PROFIT CENTER! napi21 Mar 2017 #3

Great question. Cary Mar 2017 #4

Yep. Medicare, too. n/t Orsino Mar 2017 #6

Indeed. Let people 50 and over buy into Medicare TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #17

Technology likely will eliminate 90% of jobs. Blue_true Mar 2017 #23

Oh, I'm for GBI too TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #24

Although a 'dream' ATM, it's not a bad idea IMO. I'd actually prefer to see either... WePurrsevere Mar 2017 #9

There is not going to be any medicaid...and the Tyrantcare Demsrule86 Mar 2017 #10

For one thing, while Medicaid is free while you are on it, the State can ask stopbush Mar 2017 #11

Here's how I imagine it working. Yavin4 Mar 2017 #12

The question is: how much is the increase in the payroll tax? stopbush Mar 2017 #13

It would not be soley a payroll tax. Like I said, it would be a combination of Yavin4 Mar 2017 #14

The problem with national taxes like a sales tax stopbush Mar 2017 #16

The national sales tax would be on non-essential items Yavin4 Mar 2017 #19

So, sin taxes, depending on who decides what is a sin. stopbush Mar 2017 #20

Not "sin" Yavin4 Mar 2017 #27

Raising taxes on things like alcohol doesn't accomplish anything stopbush Mar 2017 #29

Agree 100%. Sin taxes do not work. We will need a VAT type tax to pay for universal beaglelover Mar 2017 #30

I advocated for a VAT tax with a slightly higher tax on cigarettes and alcohol. n/t Yavin4 Mar 2017 #31

Taxes. Blue_true Mar 2017 #25

Pence had an expanded Medicaid with a fee scale LeftInTX Mar 2017 #15

I'd like to start hearing this refrain from the Democrats RussBLib Mar 2017 #18

Well there is the medicaid works program standingtall Mar 2017 #22

That's what Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion already does. procon Mar 2017 #26

In New York State choie Mar 2017 #28

The insurance companies would never allow the Republicans, and some Dems, vote yes. Exilednight Mar 2017 #32