The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I see SCHIP is back in the news.

Somehow last time around I failed to notice that it was slated to be funded by another cigarette tax.

I have a real issue with that. With funding things with cigarette taxes in general. Doesn't that, you know, leave our government with a vested interest in keeping the number of smokers high?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I have a real issue with that. With funding things with cigarette taxes in general. Doesn't that, you know, leave our government with a vested interest in keeping the number of smokers high?

I think it simultaneously encourages smokers to quit (because their habit is getting more expensive) and achieves some public good from those who don't. The problem comes when enough smokers do finally quit, or die, and then these programs wither because their funding has dried up.

Which is (one reason) why I think most recreational drugs should be legalized, regulated and taxed.

[Alex]

I don't think the government should be encouraging people to stop smoking, so to the extent that taxes exist for that reason, I oppose them.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I think it simultaneously encourages smokers to quit (because their habit is getting more expensive) and achieves some public good from those who don't. The problem comes when enough smokers do finally quit, or die, and then these programs wither because their funding has dried up.

Which is (one reason) why I think most recreational drugs should be legalized, regulated and taxed.

I don't get your logic here. "...their funding has dried up." That was my point. We're creating programs that rely on smokers, a system where every time someone quits smoking, a kid doesn't get health insurance (an exaggeration, obviously, but it makes my point). It doesn't sit well with me, and it makes me question how committed government is to discouraging regulating the dangerous business practices of the smoking industry.

[Alex]

GD, just so you know, you're in bed right now with George Will. That has been his oft-taken point of view on smoking taxes (it seems to be more muted for other sin taxes where he is more strongly opposed to the sin).

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've seen the argument before, but I've mostly overlooked it because I connected the cig. taxes to the anti-smoking propaganda programs. And whether or not I agree with those programs, at least it was a fairly closed system in that if tax revenue dropped due to successful deterrence, then need for that tax revenue would also drop since less propaganda would theoretically be needed.

But seeing it linked to SCHIP got under my skin because it's so removed. The "smoking=2nd hand smoke=need for child health insurance" link is tenuous at best. If all smokers were to suddenly quit, that would not make the need for SCHIP disappear, so it doesn't seem to make sense to me to link the funding so directly to it.

And while I'm not necessarily in favor of government being responsible for discouraging smoking, I'm uneasy about creating a motivation for encouraging it.

[Alex]

I just wanted to plant the image of you in bed with George Will.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hey, if he's sexy enough for Kramer...

[Ghoulish Delight]

"You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions."


Willing to make them? As opposed to what? Curl up in a fetal position and cry? Umm, okay, sure, I agree that you maintained at minimum a level of consciousness that allowed you to decide one way or another on something. Now, can we get back to talking about HOW you made those decisions and whether they were good or not?

[SacTown Chronic]

My favorite 'it-takes-special-balls-and-W-has-'em' tough decision?

The tough decision to invade Iraq after spending months leading all the intelligence and public opinion down that path.