We are hoping to be number one in the world for sin taxes. With all the
revenue coming from cigs, gambling, gas, and liquor we will soon be
hopelessly dependent upon sin. Of course politicians have no problem with
this since they just love contradictory policies. They can virtuously
condemn sin while making money from it.
I think such vices as you mention are their own punishment except that
they tend to have negative impacts upon others as well. These are all legal
activities so it is hardly appropriate for the state to punish them. As for
health care it should be based upon need not moral desert. The state is
entitled to discourage unhealthy choices etc. and encourage healthy ones.
However, discouraging unhealthy choices through a tax imposes more of a
burden on smokers and other sinners who have limited income while causing no
real monetary hardship to the well off. In one of your earlier posts you
made the same or a similar point, one that many left liberals conveniently
ignore. Reactionaries too have always favored healthy living for the
proletariat and Church instead of opium.
Cheers, Ken Hanly
----- Original Message -----
From: Yoshie Furuhashi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> You mean that Canadians tend to fall for the idea that since the
> state provides for health care, the state is entitled to punish
> unhealthy choices, behaviors, activities, etc.?
>
> Yoshie
>
