Taxes for Your Health. Yeah, Sure.

[admin]

The NY Times published an EXCELLENT op-ed piece on how completely stupid raising taxes on items that are "bad for you" is, and how completely unfair it is. It was in response to the recent vote to increase taxes on tobacco as an "emergency measure" to keep New York's government running.
However, the author's words are applicable worldwide, so I made this new post for it.
I encourage you to read and give the author positive comments so he will continue to speak out for our rights.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/nyregion/22nyc.html

 

[admin]

They do not have comments on this one, but you can email the author.

 

[python]

That is a great article and I must admit that I am surprised that the NY Times allowed it to be printed.
It finally seems that EVERYONE is starting to get really fed up with all of this over taxing of the people and are starting to voice their displeasure with how the government is being run.

 

[admin]

Here is the email I just sent to the author of the article.

Clyde,
Thanks for writing an EXCELLENT piece on how completely stupid raising taxes on items that are "bad for you" is, and how completely unfair it is. I know it was in response to the recent vote to increase taxes on tobacco as an "emergency measure" to keep New York's government running. However, your words are obviously applicable worldwide. There are so many ways that these actions are wrong and illogical, but they never seem to stop. I continue to be flabbergasted nearly every month watching new laws against tobacco being proposed and implemented across the nation, and worldwide.
As a New Jersey native, I love Manhattan, but damn, the politicians are sure screwing it up! Politicians remind me of an old saying about school teachers - "Those that can't DO, teach. Those that can't TEACH, teach gym (Phys. Ed. these days)." Politicians can't do anything else. They can't make it in the real world, and don't live in the real world, so they have to be politicians.
There are so many articles written in support of anti-tobacco legislation. Journalists love to write how it is a good thing to raise taxes on tobacco because it's bad for you and higher taxes will make people quit. I know I don't have to describe the illogic here to you.
I wish more journalists would write from the perspective you did. The NY Times should double your salary, and then you should be elected President of the United States, but that job might suck compared to your current one.
Thanks again. I am looking forward to reading more from you.
By any chance, do you smoke a pipe?
Regards,

Kevin Godbee

Owner / Publisher - PipesMagazine.com

Right Click Media, LLC

 

[pstlpkr]

It finally seems that EVERYONE is starting to get really fed up with all of this over taxing of the people and are starting to voice their displeasure with how the government is being run.

Well said Bob.
Thanks Kevin.

 

[admin]

Here is his answer, printed with his permission:

Many thanks for this note, Mr. Godbee. I appreciate it, especially the part about doubling my salary. (I'll leave the presidency to others.)

I do not smoke a pipe or anything else, for that matter, and haven't done so since 1975, when I had my last cigarette.

Please don't misunderstand my feelings on this subject, though. I think smoking is bad news, and I've no problem with government attempts to discourage it, even if I think that some of the tactics used by Mayor Bloomberg, in particular, are over the top. The point I really was trying to make in this column is that these kinds of taxes inevitably fall most heavily on the least wealthy among us. It's easy for the politicians to go after them because those people are also the least powerful.

Anyway, thanks again for writing.

All the best,

Clyde Haberman

 

[admin]

We had a little further discussion, but he asked me to keep the rest of it private.

 

[pstlpkr]

sent the author Clyde Haberman an email, and he responded.
Subject: Thanks for the correct opinion on sin taxation:

Thank you Sir,
I am somewhat gratified that you didn’t however include pipe smoking in your article.

While we pipe smokers are vastly outnumbered by all other factions of smokers/tobacco users, we have the greatest pride.

After all; pipe smoking is a hobby and a sport. Neither can be said of cigarette smoking, or cigar smoking, or even albeit disgusting tobacco chewing. (the latter does have spitting contests, but are not in the realm of attention to detail nor performance.
His Response:
Thanks for this note, Mr. Whitcomb.

My father smoked a pipe. When I was very young, hoping to look more grown up than I was (or ever would be), I tried a pipe myself. Didn't like it. Sorry.

Thanks again, and the best,

Clyde Haberman

 

[cortezattic]

I just sent off my e-mail thanking Haberman. Thanks also to you Kevin, for bringing this to our attention.