Replies

"If I could live in a world without taxes that'd be great, but it's not realistic. The two certainties in life are death AND . . ."

I agree.

"Furthermore some taxes are moral -"

Wrong. Any and all money not earned, yet confiscated/stolen is immorally gained. However, the use of that money may be necessary. i.e. defense of the nation.

"because the government is the objective agency that sees that legal contracts between free moral agents are carried out in full."

Wrong again. The only thing the government can do is make a ruling. The actual adherence to a contract is between the two private entities. If one party breaks the contract, doesn't pay for products/services, the other party is free to withhold their products/services.

"Government, unfortunately, is a necessary evil .........Therefore not all taxes are immoral."

Evil is always immoral, regardless of necessity.

"Like I said it could happen - I admitted that - but currently . . . nada. I'll make you a deal, when they start taxing haircuts so bad that I can't afford to get my hair cuts anymore, I'll get back to you (we'll make signs and protest!). Remember a haircut is not a vice - this is the distinction. A haircut is not a habit. Haircuts do not contribute to healthcare costs of people who get haircuts. There's a difference."

How about protesting the average $0.60 government taxation on gas? How about protesting the cost of a gallon of gas? We all know that government regulation at the fed and state level is the real reason the cost is going up. The environmentalist wackos have been successful and now we are paying the price.

Let's try and wrap this up - point, counter point, is starting to take up too much time (it's my obsessive compulsive personality)

I support an added tax on cigs and alcohol (other drugs as well, if made legal) to help financially support the healthcare problems that each toxin created. While I don't buy your slippery slope argument (taxation of cigs/alcohol will lead to a tax of haircuts and water), the argument is not without logic. I think you have a real concern here outside of having a "cheap habit" (although I don't think you would mind if smokes costed less either). The governmet's misuse of these funds is an entirely different issue IMhO.

The reason gas prices are high in the first place is because of taxes and added extra ingredients, especially in Kali (I paid $2.22/gal when I filled up on Sunday). However, the current rise in gas prices more closely relates to increased demand, less supply, and a weak dollar. I don't expect gas prices to come down too much - we're running out.