Cannabis

JimB · May 23, 2016

My tax dollars go to feed the children of addicts, and my tax dollars go to provide heath care to addicts, and my tax dollars pay for EMS, etc. so do you support pricing/taxing mj (and alcohol) to the point that taxes from users fund all this stuff so as to not infringe upon the freedoms of those that choose not to partake?

If you do, does that price it out of the market and just lead to a black market which we then get to have a war against? Push users towards other unregulated and untaxed drugs?

BTW, I'd be happy to support this approach to taxing smoking and food/drink with lots of sugar. Heck if I was king I'd give out tax credits for being in shape, and I'm not in good enough shape to qualify! Can you imagine a voluntary annual physical assessment, your performance on which determines the amount of a tax credit?

NonamehaveI · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
My tax dollars go to feed the children of addicts, and my tax dollars go to provide heath care to addicts, and my tax dollars pay for EMS, etc. so do you support pricing/taxing mj (and alcohol) to the point that taxes from users fund all this stuff so as to not infringe upon the freedoms of those that choose not to partake?

If you do, does that price it out of the market and just lead to a black market which we then get to have a war against? Push users towards other unregulated and untaxed drugs?

BTW, I'd be happy to support this approach to taxing smoking and food/drink with lots of sugar. Heck if I was king I'd give out tax credits for being in shape, and I'm not in good enough shape to qualify! Can you imagine a voluntary annual physical assessment, your performance on which determines the amount of a tax credit?

Taxation is theft

Cape Fear · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
My tax dollars go to feed the children of addicts, and my tax dollars go to provide heath care to addicts, and my tax dollars pay for EMS, etc. so do you support pricing/taxing mj (and alcohol) to the point that taxes from users fund all this stuff so as to not infringe upon the freedoms of those that choose not to partake?

If you do, does that price it out of the market and just lead to a black market which we then get to have a war against? Push users towards other unregulated and untaxed drugs?

BTW, I'd be happy to support this approach to taxing smoking and food/drink with lots of sugar. Heck if I was king I'd give out tax credits for being in shape, and I'm not in good enough shape to qualify! Can you imagine a voluntary annual physical assessment, your performance on which determines the amount of a tax credit?

I hope you're trolling here. I DON'T "support pricing/taxing mj (and alcohol) to the point that taxes from users fund all this stuff so as to not infringe upon the freedoms of those that choose not to partake?" - I support not coercing your money out of your pocket, and demanding personal responsibility from everyone.

JimB · May 23, 2016

NonamehaveI said:
Taxation is theft

Income tax, or consumption taxes, or all?

If all, then how does the state fund the activities for the common good, say a municipal water supply just to be generic.

Or is some level of theft acceptable?

FWIW, I agree with some taxation to meet common goals, but I think we've got too many such goals.

JimB · May 23, 2016

Cape Fear said:
I hope you're trolling here. I DON'T "support pricing/taxing mj (and alcohol) to the point that taxes from users fund all this stuff so as to not infringe upon the freedoms of those that choose not to partake?" - I support not coercing your money out of your pocket, and demanding personal responsibility from everyone.

Not sure that we're following each other. My argument is that the cost of a pack of smokes should include a hefty tax for your future healthcare needs IF society is going to be responsible for your future healthcare. If you opt out of socialized medicine, then you can smoke cheaper.

I'd be happy with the personal responsibility angle, but it'd take a few more hits for me to see how we get from where we are in the US today to anything that approaches personal responsibility.

Cape Fear · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
Not sure that we're following each other. My argument is that the cost of a pack of smokes should include a hefty tax for your future healthcare needs IF society is going to be responsible for your future healthcare. If you opt out of socialized medicine, then you can smoke cheaper.

I'd be happy with the personal responsibility angle, but it'd take a few more hits for me to see how we get from where we are in the US today to anything that approaches personal responsibility.

Yes re-reading your post I see now that your opening statement "My tax dollars go to..." qualified the rest. Sorry, RIF.

I got excited when I read "I'd be happy to support this approach to taxing smoking and food/drink with lots of sugar." - I just default to ending government assistance altogether.

Silver_Bullet · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
Income tax, or consumption taxes, or all?

If all, then how does the state fund the activities for the common good, say a municipal water supply just to be generic.

Or is some level of theft acceptable?

FWIW, I agree with some taxation to meet common goals, but I think we've got too many such goals.

Water supply can be and in some areas is provided by private companies.

Activities for the common good leaves too much open, like social programs. Mostly what the federal government needs funds for is defense of the nation, not to be confused with a wasted military budget and world policing / nation building. Basically taxation is theft because our money is taken and redistributed. Just look at the non discretionary budget.

JimB · May 23, 2016

Silver_Bullet said:
Water supply can be and in some areas is provided by private companies.

Activities for the common good leaves too much open, like social programs. Mostly what the federal government needs funds for is defense of the nation, not to be confused with a wasted military budget and world policing / nation building. Basically taxation is theft because our money is taken and redistributed. Just look at the non discretionary budget.

I agree. However, it seems more pragmatic in the current environment to argue that we should add consumption taxes to certain items which are known to have long-term health consequences than to argue that we should reduce the redistribution being performed by the government. I mean, great objective and all, but it ain't happening, whereas you can easily imagine the educated liberals sitting around talking about managing the sheeps' diet through taxes.

B00GER · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
I agree. However, it seems more pragmatic in the current environment to argue that we should add consumption taxes to certain items which are known to have long-term health consequences than to argue that we should reduce the redistribution being performed by the government. I mean, great objective and all, but it ain't happening, whereas you can easily imagine the educated liberals sitting around talking about managing the sheeps' diet through taxes.

You mean the same liberals who think it is greedy for an oil company to earn 4% in profit on gas, but not greedy for the government to tax the same gas at 30%?

htperry · May 23, 2016

New York City police commissioner says marijuana is responsible for the 'vast majority' of violence in the city

William Bratton criticized states that have legalized the substance
NYPD refused to provide statistics to support commissioner's comments
In 2014 mayor Bill de Blasio loosened cannabis possession restrictions

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ioner-says-marijuana-responsible-vast-majority-violence-city.html#ixzz49Vt70uxN
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

JimB · May 23, 2016

B00GER said:
You mean the same liberals who think it is greedy for an oil company to earn 4% in profit on gas, but not greedy for the government to tax the same gas at 30%?

No opinion on the accuracy of your numbers, I think the oil company margins are better than 4% and I believe that they get some very lucrative tax breaks, but yes, the same ones.

B00GER · May 23, 2016

According to Forbes, between 2006-2007 the largest oil companies averaged a profit margin of around 6.5%. The government, on average, gets 48 cents per gallon.

SPST · May 23, 2016

htperry said:
New York City police commissioner says marijuana is responsible for the 'vast majority' of violence in the city

William Bratton criticized states that have legalized the substance

NYPD refused to provide statistics to support commissioner's comments

In 2014 mayor Bill de Blasio loosened cannabis possession restrictions

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ioner-says-marijuana-responsible-vast-majority-violence-city.html#ixzz49Vt70uxN
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Just like easily available guns from Indiana are responsible for Chicago's gun violence?

Silver_Bullet · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
I agree. However, it seems more pragmatic in the current environment to argue that we should add consumption taxes to certain items which are known to have long-term health consequences than to argue that we should reduce the redistribution being performed by the government. I mean, great objective and all, but it ain't happening, whereas you can easily imagine the educated liberals sitting around talking about managing the sheeps' diet through taxes.

Actually a consumption tax would be more fair than the current socialist income tax system where they automatically take part of everything you make to give to someone else.

The Fair Tax, which has a lot of research behind it, is a consumption based tax. Everyone would be paying, and most of us would pay less and save more.

Silver_Bullet · May 23, 2016

htperry said:
New York City police commissioner says marijuana is responsible for the 'vast majority' of violence in the city

William Bratton criticized states that have legalized the substance

NYPD refused to provide statistics to support commissioner's comments

In 2014 mayor Bill de Blasio loosened cannabis possession restrictions

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ioner-says-marijuana-responsible-vast-majority-violence-city.html#ixzz49Vt70uxN
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

He also thinks soda companies are responsible for people choosing to drink sugar and become fat......wants to limit that. Oh and gun companies are responsible for violence, not individuals who make choices.

sr30 · May 23, 2016

Hapax said:
Care to explain what that means? Not good at riddles. You're not seriously implying I'm some sort of mole, are you?

Am I?

Armorpl8chikn · May 23, 2016

JimB said:
If all, then how does the state fund the activities for the common good, say a municipal water supply just to be generic

Ever heard of water rates? That is paying for a service, not a tax.
Nothing pisses me off quicker than arguing with people why it is I DONT work for the taxpayers.
Cities have no business in the water business, ever hear of Flint Michigan? City councils raid the coffers of water and sewer budgets all over the country.
In a phrase, you are in over your head. Private utility commissions have always been the most successful and best maintained. That is no coincidence.
Not every water or sewer system are controlled by government. Government can advise, but they should never have access to the purse.

Armorpl8chikn · May 23, 2016

Thanks @Silver_Bullet
I didn't see your post.

Silver_Bullet · May 23, 2016

Hapax said:
You're confusing the police commissioner with Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor.

Yes I was thinking of the Mayor, but I imagine the appointed police commissioner in NY shares those same New York values.

Lawless · May 24, 2016

Armorpl8chikn said:
Not every water or sewer system are controlled by government. Government can advise, but they should never have access to the purse.

When Smithfield annexed the West Smithfield Sanitation District they stole the money, equipment and infrastructure that the residents paid for and owned. When the WSSD folks saw that the annexation was happening and the appeals were denied, they tried to distribute the cash to the residents...the city got wind and a judge and law enforcement stopped it. They just took what was built and started charging 3 times the price for the service. A pox on those $%^&birds

Cannabis

JimB

NonamehaveI

Cape Fear

JimB

JimB

Cape Fear

Silver_Bullet

JimB

B00GER

htperry

JimB

B00GER

SPST

Silver_Bullet

Silver_Bullet

sr30

Armorpl8chikn

Armorpl8chikn

Silver_Bullet

Lawless

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