You bring up a good point, and it reminded me of an issue which I’ve often thought about in the past.
Regarding medical insurance, people should have to pay for it. Some can’t pay, so, some kind of assistance might be offered.
HOWEVER....
And as you reminded me...
People should have to pay for their bad habits and their risky behaviors.
So, an alcoholic should have to pay for the costs incurred by him and every other alcoholic, by taxing alcoholic drinks at a level that will cause them to drink less, while at the same time helping to pay for the medical bills that he/she will incur in the future. The taxes should be held in a “kitty” for the sole purpose of paying for the bills that alcoholics incur, and for the bills that the cause other people to incur (like from accidents).
Likewise for marijuana use, and for heroin use, and for tobacco smoking, and any other illegal substance. Like I said before, those kind of habits should be taxed at a rate that makes people think twice and more about how expensive those habits have become for them. In any case, taxes collected for each of the bad habits should be held in medical accounts (expense accounts) to take care any bills that are incurred by “users” and other victims.
It would be the same for other risky behaviors, such as mountain climbing or parachuting (which I’m sure people already get insurance for those out-of-the-ordinary activities), etc.
People who are overweight are also paying for their over-eating, but they’re not paying for the health issues which accompany their “unfortunate” weight gains. So, should “regular” folks who don’t have the weight issues have to pay for those who “suffer” from obesity and other weight-related issues?
In any case, there was a time when people “paid a price” for their own bad behaviors and risky behaviors. We should be able to find a way to have people pay for their own “mistakes”, and not put the burden on those who don’t share the same bad habits or behaviors.
Alcohol & tobacco taxes hurt victims. It does not discourage behavior, it hides & substitutes worse behavior.
Taxation destroys, get used to it. The only question is how.
How do you know who is and who isn’t an alcoholic so you know who to tax more ? does an alcoholic get an ID card ?
how does that work ?
remember the tobacco industry finally lost in court and
states shared a bazillion dollars
https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0365.pdf
The hype at the time was, the states were going to set aside the money to help pay for smoking cessation programs and programs to prevent\reduce tobacco use.
Money mostly went into general revenues to be used as the legislature sees fit.
Let me know when the tax people come for whatever floats your boat
Are you serious?
Do you really think “sin taxes” would be used for the medical bills of the “sinners”?
.