Sin taxes

[tri777]

I am quite disgusted by this concept of nailing the lowly tax payer
For buying junk food
When it is simply the absurdly stupid companies that make this food
So dam salty or way to dam sweet!
I mean just take any 3cheezies,chips,tacos an give them a chew an
Well, is it just me or does your stomach scream "no more please" too? Who needs 40+grams of sugar to a flipping can of pop when 32or less would nicely suffice? Why cannot these dullards adjust their salt/sugar content that is making everyone so obese and reduce their recipes by ie:7grams per year less adjusted?
Why is it up to the consumer to pay for the unchangable recipes of the CEO types ?
Sorry had to rant,just sick of everything to sweet an salty like I somehow "require" this crap of high intake offered stuff WHEN '15+grams' less would be much more tolerable for my body. Any comments would be thoroughly read..

[Redfrog]

I agree :argue2:

Why are we forced to eat this stuff?:argue2:

We need to start a snatch the snack coalition or vice versa.:thinking-006:

[expmler]

If the consumer did not demand all of that sugar and salt the junk food companies would adjust there recipes, but as long as they are flying off of the shelves they will continue to give the people what they want.

[HunterDave]

The next thing that you know they'll be taxing the air that we breath. Oh, wait......

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx79/lifetimepassion/1499551_760688524019677_2689605212039065982_n_zpsh zgqvkve.jpg (http://s743.photobucket.com/user/lifetimepassion/media/1499551_760688524019677_2689605212039065982_n_zpsh zgqvkve.jpg.html)

[dumoulin]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

[chasingtail]

These companies are sneaky even when the public stop's demanding the crap they change the name. Take MSG for example, now the food companies disguise it under the names Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Textured Vegetable Protein or Yeast Extract.

North America is the dumping ground for all the chemicals in our foods. Our governments are run by big business. Manufactures will have different recipes in Europe then give us the crap. Jello and the powdered cheese in Kraft dinner along with many others are made different in Europe because certain food chemicals are banned. McDonalds in Europe has less salt and sugar in their food.

[Redfrog]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

Now we have the food police???? Omg! Spit that out!!!!!:angry3:

[HunterDave]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

They already do have a sin tax on tobacco and alcohol.

[chasingtail]

- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

Since when are fats bad for you. Cheap low fat ice cream full of chemicals are ok, but expensive organic real ice cream is bad? Does this include butter or olive oil? Fats are much healthier than simple carbs. We need to get rid of the chemicals in the food not worry about fat content, There is a reason North America has the highest rates of Cancer in the world and it's not fat content.

[Hydro1]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

I dont see why i should have to pay extra taxes for consuming particular products.
I smoke, thats my choice, why should i get screwed because you dont smoke? (cigarrettes)
Only thing i can somewhat agree with in your post is taxing pipes and bongs, lets face it for every 500 people that enter their stores only one or two of them are buying their products for tobacco.

[dgitz]

The whole point of this country is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds and die of a heart attack at 43, you can! You are free to do so. To me, that’s beautiful.
-Ron Swanson

[Richard B.]

apparently the latest sin tax is going to be on healthcare with the return to premiums while the corporations, who are apparently sinless, will not be taxed.

[dodger]

Mmmmmmm Bacon !

Dodger.

[recce43]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)
You must be a liberal or ndp to want to put extra taxes on bacon shame on you

[Salavee]

I am quite disgusted by this concept of nailing the lowly tax payer
For buying junk food
When it is simply the absurdly stupid companies that make this food
So dam salty or way to dam sweet!
I mean just take any 3cheezies,chips,tacos an give them a chew an
Well, is it just me or does your stomach scream "no more please" too? Who needs 40+grams of sugar to a flipping can of pop when 32or less would nicely suffice? Why cannot these dullards adjust their salt/sugar content that is making everyone so obese and reduce their recipes by ie:7grams per year less adjusted?
Why is it up to the consumer to pay for the unchangable recipes of the CEO types ?
Sorry had to rant,just sick of everything to sweet an salty like I somehow "require" this crap of high intake offered stuff WHEN '15+grams' less would be much more tolerable for my body. Any comments would be thoroughly read..

Surely, you jest !
Obviously you're reading the ingredient labels so why are you still pokin' that crap down your neck ? Until the Corporate Junkfood gurus start force feeding you that sweet, salty garbage, leave it alone and quit complaining. Actually, it's all part of a huge plot designed to gradually eliminate those with an IQ deficiency.

[From The Hip]

As soon as Ralph left office and gave up the rudder the money spent on provincial public sector employees went through the roof with the largesse going to pencil pushing bureaucrats who do nothing but line up to the trough.

Health care premiums are not the answer.Nor is a sales tax.The answer is to TRIM THE FAT and axe a lot of useless jobs of overpaid public sector workers and I am not talking about the front line workers that ACTUALLY work for the money.Axe the crapulence and cut it away.Get rid of those leaches.Oh sure people will say "but they have a family to take care of".....well if their services are so valuable they should be able to land a job in the private sector real quick......NOT.

Those people are the root cause of the problem and should be the first to go and WITHOUT any type of cushy severance package.

The Alberta government/public service got infected right after Ralph Klein quit and it spread.In 2007 the Alberta government propped up the teachers pension plan with 1.2 BILLION...they topped it up as it is not sustainable and nor is the pension plan for ALL of Alberta government workers.

The people that complain about austerity are the unions....yeah well I hear another group complaining about austerity measures and that is the country of Greece...all paid for via socialism....except it does not work when the money runs out.

We need serious conservative REFORM in Alberta right now and the pigs at the trough need to be slaughtered.Massive job cuts to useless administration across the board with ALL departments.There is no way any pencil pushing administrator should be payed MORE than the Premiere of Alberta.Public sector wages should be rolled back in general and the public sector pension plans should be changed to a "defined contribution" model instead of a "defined benefit" and that change should be unilateral and also include Civic workers.No company in the PRIVATE sector offers a "defined benefit" pension so why should TAX PAYERS be on the hook for a "defined benefit" pension plan?

As a tax payer Im asick to death of the excuses by both the government of Alberta as well as the City of Calgary with regards to the supposed financial woes they are faced with.Both of them do not have a "funding problem" they in fact have a "spending problem".....and to make it more clear and blunt it is like a guy who makes a good living and goes to MoneyMart on a Friday to cash his paycheck because he wants the money NOW.

Just my .02

FTH

[tri777]

Surely, you jest !
Obviously you're reading the ingredient labels so why are you still pokin' that crap down your neck ? Until the Corporate Junkfood gurus start force feeding you that sweet, salty garbage, leave it alone and quit complaining. Actually, it's all part of a huge plot designed to gradually eliminate those with an IQ deficiency.

So..what magical treat(s) do you give your room full of friends when they come over for the football game? Spinage?green beans..?

[tri777]

The next thing that you know they'll be taxing the air that we breath. Oh, wait......

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx79/lifetimepassion/1499551_760688524019677_2689605212039065982_n_zpsh zgqvkve.jpg (http://s743.photobucket.com/user/lifetimepassion/media/1499551_760688524019677_2689605212039065982_n_zpsh zgqvkve.jpg.html)

That is so hilarious!!thanks!

[rugatika]

I'm sick and tired of people working. They should have a sin tax on employment income to discourage people from working. And to put a fine point on their point, they should pay people to not work. (I know...just a crazy pipe dream that will likely never come to fruition)

[Andrzej]

So..what magical treat(s) do you give your room full of friends when they come over for the football game? Spinage?green beans..?

What about salsa with corn chips ? Home made nachos with ground venison,
Some home made venison "kabanosy" ( pepperoni type sausage ) finger food.
Venison dry sausage . Beer and vodka.

O!!! one would have to go hunting, process those things, make in to home made stuff. It is easier to order pizza and burgers and pop instead make home made yummy elk burgers or venison pizzasteaks?

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/Andrzej77/Wedliny/pizzasteak.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/Andrzej77/media/Wedliny/pizzasteak.jpg.html)

You would have way too many friends watching games at your house.:)

I've been in Canada since 1988. I did order pizza once when we were moving to Alberta in 1999...We would eat burgers when travelling with young kids.
We don't drink pop I have Sodastream + few drops of lemon juice.
We drink regular tea with half tsp of honey not sugar. There is no sugar bowl on my table unless we have friends over.

I lost my faith in government regulating things for us, I make my own choices.
I pay sin taxes buying alcohol, it is my choice.
And I shoot lead free bullets because they make them now.

[Dacotensis]

I agree :argue2:

Why are we forced to eat this stuff?:argue2:

We need to start a snatch the snack coalition or vice versa.:thinking-006:

Whatever you're drinking was probably taxed:)

[amosfella]

SIN taxes?? Ever heard of a SIN number?? They tax that.... lol

[amosfella]

I'm sick and tired of people working. They should have a sin tax on employment income to discourage people from working. And to put a fine point on their point, they should pay people to not work. (I know...just a crazy pipe dream that will likely never come to fruition)

Sounds like something crazy like Atlas Shrugged....

[purgatory.sv]

As soon as Ralph left office and gave up the rudder the money spent on provincial public sector employees went through the roof with the largesse going to pencil pushing bureaucrats who do nothing but line up to the trough.

Health care premiums are not the answer.Nor is a sales tax.The answer is to TRIM THE FAT and axe a lot of useless jobs of overpaid public sector workers and I am not talking about the front line workers that ACTUALLY work for the money.Axe the crapulence and cut it away.Get rid of those leaches.Oh sure people will say "but they have a family to take care of".....well if their services are so valuable they should be able to land a job in the private sector real quick......NOT.

Those people are the root cause of the problem and should be the first to go and WITHOUT any type of cushy severance package.

The Alberta government/public service got infected right after Ralph Klein quit and it spread.In 2007 the Alberta government propped up the teachers pension plan with 1.2 BILLION...they topped it up as it is not sustainable and nor is the pension plan for ALL of Alberta government workers.

The people that complain about austerity are the unions....yeah well I hear another group complaining about austerity measures and that is the country of Greece...all paid for via socialism....except it does not work when the money runs out.

We need serious conservative REFORM in Alberta right now and the pigs at the trough need to be slaughtered.Massive job cuts to useless administration across the board with ALL departments.There is no way any pencil pushing administrator should be payed MORE than the Premiere of Alberta.Public sector wages should be rolled back in general and the public sector pension plans should be changed to a "defined contribution" model instead of a "defined benefit" and that change should be unilateral and also include Civic workers.No company in the PRIVATE sector offers a "defined benefit" pension so why should TAX PAYERS be on the hook for a "defined benefit" pension plan?

As a tax payer Im asick to death of the excuses by both the government of Alberta as well as the City of Calgary with regards to the supposed financial woes they are faced with.Both of them do not have a "funding problem" they in fact have a "spending problem".....and to make it more clear and blunt it is like a guy who makes a good living and goes to MoneyMart on a Friday to cash his paycheck because he wants the money NOW.

Just my .02

FTH




This part is true.

[BootScoot]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

You win "the dumbest statement on the internet" award....congrats

[BootScoot]

I dont see why i should have to pay extra taxes for consuming particular products.
I smoke, thats my choice, why should i get screwed because you dont smoke? (cigarrettes)
Only thing i can somewhat agree with in your post is taxing pipes and bongs, lets face it for every 500 people that enter their stores only one or two of them are buying their products for tobacco.

Who cares what they're buying it for? So you want to tax things that you personally find distasteful? Mind your own damned business. Your opinion is just a bad as that guy's and it is completely contradictory.

[HyperMOA]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

I understand why you would think these deserve a sin tax. Except the vitamin waters. I personally have never looked at the nutrition info, are they more than water and vitamnins? That one just kinda went over my head.

[Hydro1]

Who cares what they're buying it for? So you want to tax things that you personally find distasteful? Mind your own damned business. Your opinion is just a bad as that guy's and it is completely contradictory.

No need for attitude.
I said I somewhat agree with that part. I then said the reasoning why IN MY OPINION. It would be different if those products were being used for legal reasons. That's as much as I'm going to derail the O.P's thread.
Have a good one, happy hunting. :)

[amosfella]

As soon as Ralph left office and gave up the rudder the money spent on provincial public sector employees went through the roof with the largesse going to pencil pushing bureaucrats who do nothing but line up to the trough.

Health care premiums are not the answer.Nor is a sales tax.The answer is to TRIM THE FAT and axe a lot of useless jobs of overpaid public sector workers and I am not talking about the front line workers that ACTUALLY work for the money.Axe the crapulence and cut it away.Get rid of those leaches.Oh sure people will say "but they have a family to take care of".....well if their services are so valuable they should be able to land a job in the private sector real quick......NOT.

Those people are the root cause of the problem and should be the first to go and WITHOUT any type of cushy severance package.

The Alberta government/public service got infected right after Ralph Klein quit and it spread.In 2007 the Alberta government propped up the teachers pension plan with 1.2 BILLION...they topped it up as it is not sustainable and nor is the pension plan for ALL of Alberta government workers.

The people that complain about austerity are the unions....yeah well I hear another group complaining about austerity measures and that is the country of Greece...all paid for via socialism....except it does not work when the money runs out.

We need serious conservative REFORM in Alberta right now and the pigs at the trough need to be slaughtered.Massive job cuts to useless administration across the board with ALL departments.There is no way any pencil pushing administrator should be payed MORE than the Premiere of Alberta.Public sector wages should be rolled back in general and the public sector pension plans should be changed to a "defined contribution" model instead of a "defined benefit" and that change should be unilateral and also include Civic workers.No company in the PRIVATE sector offers a "defined benefit" pension so why should TAX PAYERS be on the hook for a "defined benefit" pension plan?

As a tax payer Im asick to death of the excuses by both the government of Alberta as well as the City of Calgary with regards to the supposed financial woes they are faced with.Both of them do not have a "funding problem" they in fact have a "spending problem".....and to make it more clear and blunt it is like a guy who makes a good living and goes to MoneyMart on a Friday to cash his paycheck because he wants the money NOW.

Just my .02

FTH

my own opinion is along you lines, but the first step I see is missing... One has to unseat the unions for their position of power for any of the above to work. Once that is done, trimming that fat becomes easy...

[Redfrog]

Anyone find it odd that the guy who ponies up the money to keep things running is the guy who is told to pay more and get less.

[midgetwaiter]

I understand why you would think these deserve a sin tax. Except the vitamin waters. I personally have never looked at the nutrition info, are they more than water and vitamnins? That one just kinda went over my head.

33g sugar / 500ml. Less than Coke at 53g but about the same as Gatorade.

[midgetwaiter]

I dont see why i should have to pay extra taxes for consuming particular products.
I smoke, thats my choice, why should i get screwed because you dont smoke? (cigarrettes)

Ok, no taxes on your tobacco but when you end up with a stroke, lung cancer or emphysema you get no health care.

Deal?

[Hydro1]

Ok, no taxes on your tobacco but when you end up with a stroke, lung cancer or emphysema you get no health care.

Deal?

Tobacco is already taxed out the a**.

[dumoulin]

You guys are just upset that I've included bacon...lol

[Skybuster]

Mmmmmmm Bacon !

Dodger.

^^ This gets my vote.

[Skybuster]

You guys are just upset that I've included bacon...lol

Yes!

[dumoulin]

You win "the dumbest statement on the internet" award....congrats

What dumb about it? Explain...

[Mhunter51]

Yes, Bacon. I hate it when they force me to eat bacon-- and chips, and pop. Not to much into gatorade. I feel like a chicken, force fed with no way to stop it !!! On another note of fat, next time your in a grocery store check out the Johnsonvile ( brand) Bratwurst sausages. A whopping 54% fat content in the family/value pack but you can save a whole 4 or 5% by buying the regular size pack at only 49% or so. Same sausage, same flavour, same brand but 5% less fat. Makes sense??? Couldn't even FORCE me to eat that, not even at a football game.

[Leeper]

While I have no real objection to the taxation of tobacco, I do think it should be taxed at the source. In fact, if it is so damn bad, why not outlaw the production altogether? The way it is now, the consumers are still addicted and pay more than ever, the company execs still make the big bucks, the government cashes in through taxation of the addicts and the addicts carry the whole load on their backs whilst being vilified by one and all.
I look at junk food suppliers and buyers in the same way, if it's all that bad, tax the suppliers and ban imports. In truth, I would hate to see this since I eat a fair bit of unhealthy snack food and like it fine! Leeper

[HalfBreed]

Is this along the same lines as Colorado has done with the THC thing? Despite charging more than what the street peddlers do, their state is raking in the loot. I'm still on the sidelines about the health ramifications but trust there must be something there since burn victims are using it for pain alleviation.

Gov't could make some money on that tax. I wonder if there is any truth to the stories that cotton back in the day was threatened by hemp? I know a farmer in Wainwright has a hemp farm going, not the same thing, but close. Would it be a threat to local agriculture? I'm wondering if it's similar to prohibition which ultimately did not work?

I know it's a gateway drug and anyone doing it ends up in back alleys with needles in their arm, but surely not all go that path. If it was so terrible, why did other states follow? I'm not up to snuff on American political structure and don't understand how a country big on the war on drugs can allow a state to break with that war.

On the surface it looks like a good tax generator. Flame away.

[The Elkster]

If we are moving to taxes based on risk/cost to the system we may as well just abolish those taxes and universal healthcare and let it be a 100% user pay system. That is basically what you are creating. At least that way people pay based on actual healthcare usage rather than an "estimated" risk/cost.

I'd say the #1 risk to health in todays technological society are health problems caused by inactivity. I know plenty of people that hardly do a speck of exercise in a day that are generally unhealthy. Overweight, back problems, circulation problems, aches and pains, depression, diabetes. They spend plenty on drugs and hospital visits. How do you account for that risk fairly? TV/internet tax?

[Redfrog]

Young minds should not have anything to eat except dehydrated, liver and rice snacks.

I saw on the internet that Cheetos are a gateway to much nastier things. A cheese curl today and a pork rind tomorrow. Who knows what's next.

If the gubmint got out of the babysitting business, they could not only not raise taxes, they could reduce them. But then They would actually be doing what gov't should do. Stay the heck out of my fridge.:angry3:

[HyperMOA]

Ok, no taxes on your tobacco but when you end up with a stroke, lung cancer or emphysema you get no health care.

Deal?

That is an angle I have often wondered about actually. Not taking a side, and I have never smoked. However if a smoker dies of a massive heart attack at age 65 how much extra taxes did he already contribute and he has cost the healthcare essentially nothing in the end. Now take a non-smoker who never paid extra tobacco taxes lives to be 101 suffers many ailments and needs to be housed in a care facility for the last 17 years of their life. In a scenario like this who actually was the tax burden?

I know that those are only 2 scenarios and many smokers will face lung cancer treatment, or emphasima. Both can be costly but I have often wondered if smokers don't actually pay for their healthcare in the end.

[amosfella]

Is this along the same lines as Colorado has done with the THC thing? Despite charging more than what the street peddlers do, their state is raking in the loot. I'm still on the sidelines about the health ramifications but trust there must be something there since burn victims are using it for pain alleviation.

Gov't could make some money on that tax. I wonder if there is any truth to the stories that cotton back in the day was threatened by hemp? I know a farmer in Wainwright has a hemp farm going, not the same thing, but close. Would it be a threat to local agriculture? I'm wondering if it's similar to prohibition which ultimately did not work?

I know it's a gateway drug and anyone doing it ends up in back alleys with needles in their arm, but surely not all go that path. If it was so terrible, why did other states follow? I'm not up to snuff on American political structure and don't understand how a country big on the war on drugs can allow a state to break with that war.

On the surface it looks like a good tax generator. Flame away.

I tried doing this by PM. But it didn't work. Dad and I are looking at growing hemp this year, and we've been trying to figure out what is needed to make that work. Any chance you could get me the name and contact info of the hemp farmer in Wainwright??

[Fredo]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

Jawohl mein Führer.

Next we will tax toilet paper, because it is a luxury that damages the environment. Who need TP when you got 2 hands and some water?!?

Then we'll tax Marshmallows. Because we can!

A tax on intolerance will solve the debt problem of the whole country.

[HalfBreed]

I tried doing this by PM. But it didn't work. Dad and I are looking at growing hemp this year, and we've been trying to figure out what is needed to make that work. Any chance you could get me the name and contact info of the hemp farmer in Wainwright??

I don't like giving info out online, but this should help:

Ag-Info Centre 310-FARM (3276)

They would have many answers to your queries.

[Rockman]

Is this along the same lines as Colorado has done with the THC thing? Despite charging more than what the street peddlers do, their state is raking in the loot. I'm still on the sidelines about the health ramifications but trust there must be something there since burn victims are using it for pain alleviation.

Gov't could make some money on that tax. I wonder if there is any truth to the stories that cotton back in the day was threatened by hemp? I know a farmer in Wainwright has a hemp farm going, not the same thing, but close. Would it be a threat to local agriculture? I'm wondering if it's similar to prohibition which ultimately did not work?

I know it's a gateway drug and anyone doing it ends up in back alleys with needles in their arm, but surely not all go that path. If it was so terrible, why did other states follow? I'm not up to snuff on American political structure and don't understand how a country big on the war on drugs can allow a state to break with that war.

On the surface it looks like a good tax generator. Flame away.

There's a LOT of misinformation surrounding marijuana. If you read up on what is scientifically known about it (benefits and drawbacks), and how it was originally banned, it's an eye opener.

Our mindset and information on it nowadays is largely based on hearsay and misinformation originally used to ban it due to commercial competition (back in the day). That includes such unfounded ideas as "gateway drug." I believe the only popular notion with real merit to it is that it does kinda make you lazy and dumbs you down, generally speaking. IDK if permanently or not.

Personally, I wouldn't use it ever. I just don't like the reported effects and have enough other things to do with myself. But there are no real health reasons to ban it, considering alcohol and tobacco aren't banned. And generally banning things for health reasons is not at all proven to be worth it.

Consider the drug war and the crime $$ and violence it generates, as well as gov corruption. Consider a country like the Netherlands and its permissiveness, and how that turned out for them. Looking at it like that, it becomes hard to say that even "bad" drugs should be banned (crack, heroin, etc.). But regardless of that, marijuana should not have been banned any more than alcohol should.

As to sin taxes, I agree that given that taxes cover healthcare, certain items WELL and FULLY proven to be harmful should be taxed higher. Banning brings a host of problems and is inherently wrong, IMO. Gov should not have a say in what people do to themselves, even if they are harming themselves. But once those lung problems cost the health system, then yeah, a sin tax to help cover costs makes sense. Gotta stay reasonable, though.

[NEWB]

There's a LOT of misinformation surrounding marijuana. If you read up on what is scientifically known about it (benefits and drawbacks), and how it was originally banned, it's an eye opener.

Our mindset and information on it nowadays is largely based on hearsay and misinformation originally used to ban it due to commercial competition (back in the day). That includes such unfounded ideas as "gateway drug." I believe the only popular notion with real merit to it is that it does kinda make you lazy and dumbs you down, generally speaking. IDK if permanently or not.

Personally, I wouldn't use it ever. I just don't like the reported effects and have enough other things to do with myself. But there are no real health reasons to ban it, considering alcohol and tobacco aren't banned. And generally banning things for health reasons is not at all proven to be worth it.

Consider the drug war and the crime $$ and violence it generates, as well as gov corruption. Consider a country like the Netherlands and its permissiveness, and how that turned out for them. Looking at it like that, it becomes hard to say that even "bad" drugs should be banned (crack, heroin, etc.). But regardless of that, marijuana should not have been banned any more than alcohol should.

As to sin taxes, I agree that given that taxes cover healthcare, certain items WELL and FULLY proven to be harmful should be taxed higher. Banning brings a host of problems and is inherently wrong, IMO. Gov should not have a say in what people do to themselves, even if they are harming themselves. But once those lung problems cost the health system, then yeah, a sin tax to help cover costs makes sense. Gotta stay reasonable, though.

Nailed it!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033467/

"The War on Drugs has become the longest and most costly war in American history, the question has become, how much more can the country endure? Inspired by the death of four family members from "legal drugs" Texas filmmaker Kevin Booth sets out to discover why the Drug War has become such a big failure. Three and a half years in the making the film follows gang members, former DEA agents, CIA officers, narcotics officers, judges, politicians, prisoners and celebrities. Most notably the film befriends Freeway Ricky Ross; the man many accuse for starting the Crack epidemic, who after being arrested discovered that his cocaine source had been working for the CIA. AMERICAN DRUG WAR shows how money, power and greed have corrupted not just dope fiends but an entire government. More importantly, it shows what can be done about it. This is not some 'pro-drug' stoner film, but a collection of expert testimonials from the ground troops on the front lines of the drug war, the ones who are fighting it and the ones who are living it.

- Written by Kevin Booth "

[CanuckShooter]

Is this along the same lines as Colorado has done with the THC thing? Despite charging more than what the street peddlers do, their state is raking in the loot. I'm still on the sidelines about the health ramifications but trust there must be something there since burn victims are using it for pain alleviation.

Gov't could make some money on that tax. I wonder if there is any truth to the stories that cotton back in the day was threatened by hemp? I know a farmer in Wainwright has a hemp farm going, not the same thing, but close. Would it be a threat to local agriculture? I'm wondering if it's similar to prohibition which ultimately did not work?

I know it's a gateway drug and anyone doing it ends up in back alleys with needles in their arm, but surely not all go that path. If it was so terrible, why did other states follow? I'm not up to snuff on American political structure and don't understand how a country big on the war on drugs can allow a state to break with that war.

On the surface it looks like a good tax generator. Flame away.

Gateway? 99% of the kids I went to school with should be in the alley with a needle in their arm then, you must be joking. :)

I don't believe in sin taxes, or any tax beyond income tax. And I don't like it when they disguise a tax as a user fee either. A person in this country shouldn't have to pay tax if they are living hand to fist already. These types of taxes are just another way to transfer tax from the wealthy to the working people, and politicians push them because it's hard for us to track how much we are paying. How much tax do you pay on a fill up for your vehicle?

[dumoulin]

Jawohl mein Führer.

Next we will tax toilet paper, because it is a luxury that damages the environment. Who need TP when you got 2 hands and some water?!?

Then we'll tax Marshmallows. Because we can!

A tax on intolerance will solve the debt problem of the whole country.

Other countries have banned foods with 30% fat content altogether. Those who have, their general population have suffered 50% less heart diseases and decreased obesity by 10%. If we followed suit, but through discouraging these kinds of foods, we would be promoting healthier lifestyles, tying up less hospital beds and saving money. Dictatorship, maybe...but a healthy one! lol

Food companies need to produce better alternatives AND producers needs to find a better way to make staple foods more affordable for low income families. As it stands, eating junk food is currently more affordable than eating a balanced diet as per the Canadien Food Guide. You can feed a family of 4 at McDonald's for 25$, but you certainly can't make a balanced meal at home for the same price unless portions are reduced. That said, cheaper staple foods may never be available since they are costly to produce and harvested.

Foods, drinks and behaviors (smoking and drinking alcohol) that cost the general public billions in healthcare every year need to be taxed. Not necessarily taken of the shelves, but taxed nominally.

[Redfrog]

Did you say you can't make a healthy meal at home for a family of 4 for $25?

"You can feed a family of 4 at McDonald's for 25$, but you certainly can't make a balanced meal at home for the same price unless portions are reduced. That said, cheaper staple foods may never be available since they are costly to produce and harvested. "

[Hydro1]

Did you say you can't make a healthy meal at home for a family of 4 for $25?

"You can feed a family of 4 at McDonald's for 25$, but you certainly can't make a balanced meal at home for the same price unless portions are reduced. That said, cheaper staple foods may never be available since they are costly to produce and harvested. "

5 pack of chicken breast 10$
1.5 cups of rice. 50 cents maybe a dollar for organic wild grain stuff.
Couple heads of broccoli for 5$.
All in under 20$ and seems like a pretty healthy meal to me.
On the other hand i have never paid 25 dollars to feed 4 people from mcdonalds without coupons.

I dont think mcdonalds makes it money because its cheaper than making food at home.
They make the money because it tastes good and its convenient.

[dumoulin]

Did you say you can't make a healthy meal at home for a family of 4 for $25?

"You can feed a family of 4 at McDonald's for 25$, but you certainly can't make a balanced meal at home for the same price unless portions are reduced. That said, cheaper staple foods may never be available since they are costly to produce and harvested. "

My point is eating crap is cheaper than eating healthy and we all pay for healthy eating.

[dumoulin]

5 pack of chicken breast 10$
1.5 cups of rice. 50 cents maybe a dollar for organic wild grain stuff.
Couple heads of broccoli for 5$.
All in under 20$ and seems like a pretty healthy meal to me.
On the other hand i have never paid 25 dollars to feed 4 people from mcdonalds without coupons.

I dont think mcdonalds makes it money because its cheaper than making food at home.
They make the money because it tastes good and its convenient.

If you think Macdanald is good, you have problems! lol

[HalfBreed]

Gateway? 99% of the kids I went to school with should be in the alley with a needle in their arm then, you must be joking. :)


I was hoping that came across tongue in cheek, it's hard to make internet talk convey what is meant.

[rugatika]

Ok, no taxes on your tobacco but when you end up with a stroke, lung cancer or emphysema you get no health care.

Deal?

So anything that may cause the use of healthcare should be taxed? In addition to all the other taxes we already pay? I'd like to see the gov't tax people having sex, which can lead to hospital use for pregnancies etc.


I'll never understand people's infatuation for having someone else control their lives or the lives of others.

[Hydro1]

If you think Macdanald is good, you have problems! lol

Maybe... :thinking-006: haha
I like the big mac's and their fries.

[doetracks]

Pertinent article from south of 49.

http://freebeacon.com/issues/feds-america-should-adopt-plant-based-diet/

As for me, I am quite capable of making my own decisions regarding "sins". I don't need bans or nanny states dictating.

[dumoulin]

Maybe... :thinking-006: haha
I like the big mac's and their fries.

Lol😄

[HalfBreed]

Actually their fries with McChicken sauce is a good fat to calorie snack. Those things are like crack.

[BlackHeart]

If politicians spent their time trying to control the size of govt and limit its growth, versus dreaming up ways to spend on legacy projects, art installations, useless grants and ineffective programs, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Also we now have politicians that keep expanding their mandate.
We have politicians that profit from conflict of interest and openly thumb their nose at the taxpayer.
We have politicians that believe it's their right to rule and spend.
We have politicians that jet-set around the world and spend lavishly on travel.
We have politicians that buy their way into power by promising unions raises regardless of affordability.
We have politicians spending millions on a bunch of chrome balls by a freeway or a blue arch. What the .....! 50years ago, we'd have hung them from that arch. Today we are ineffective in holding them accountable, because the idiot running against them is just as intellectually bankrupt.

We have a political ruling class, unaccountable for their mismanagement, incompetence and wasteful disregard for hard earned income taxes.

AND THEIR ANSWER to this downturn is??????....more taxes!!!

Get me a rope. Somebody should hang! Is that a good enough sin tax!??!

[doetracks]

^^^Works for me :D

[Dynamic]

IIRC there are places like holland where any food prepackaged is heavily taxed. A can of coke is crazy expensive over there so the idea of taxing bad foods is not new. It is not a good situation when someone allows themselves to balloon up to 400 pounds. We are all on the hook for these people who inevitably need hospital care which is expensive.

I'm not perfect. I eat crap sometimes but I try to do it in moderation and also exercise regularily and generally make healthy decisions. I would gladly pay a tax on crap foods.

[chasingtail]

My point is eating crap is cheaper than eating healthy and we all pay for healthy eating.

I don't believe that's true at all. Eating crap is easier but not cheaper. Takes a little work to make a healthy meal, often poor people eat crap food/fast food/Pizza hut because there to lazy to make a salad or peel a potato. Most veggies and fruit range from $1-2 a pound, buy the frozen veggies and it's about a buck a kg. Beans, Rice and Potatoes the same. Meat can be pricey but stick to cheaper cuts on sale and it really isn't that bad. Meal planning and cooking is time consuming but never in history has good food ever been cheaper. The TFW's making this crap in the fast food restaurants don't eat, they buy a sack of beans and rice.
Now I may agree buying crap in restaurants is cheaper than buying good food in restaurants but cooking at home isn't.

[Trout Man 82]

Since when are fats bad for you. Cheap low fat ice cream full of chemicals are ok, but expensive organic real ice cream is bad? Does this include butter or olive oil? Fats are much healthier than simple carbs. We need to get rid of the chemicals in the food not worry about fat content, There is a reason North America has the highest rates of Cancer in the world and it's not fat content.

X2. Yep, but that's not what the Canada Food Guide Says... brought to you by Kellogg's, sponsored by Kraft.

[HalfBreed]

X2. Yep, but that's not what the Canada Food Guide Says... brought to you by Kellogg's, sponsored by Kraft.

Glad I have a keyboard cover.:)

[dumoulin]

I don't believe that's true at all. Eating crap is easier but not cheaper. Takes a little work to make a healthy meal, often poor people eat crap food/fast food/Pizza hut because there to lazy to make a salad or peel a potato. Most veggies and fruit range from $1-2 a pound, buy the frozen veggies and it's about a buck a kg. Beans, Rice and Potatoes the same. Meat can be pricey but stick to cheaper cuts on sale and it really isn't that bad. Meal planning and cooking is time consuming but never in history has good food ever been cheaper. The TFW's making this crap in the fast food restaurants don't eat, they buy a sack of beans and rice.
Now I may agree buying crap in restaurants is cheaper than buying good food in restaurants but cooking at home isn't.

You are right by saying that there's a connection between poverty and lack of education concerning food preparation.

Consider this, many people buy canned veggies (waxed green and yellow beans, pees etc) which are high in sodium next to fresh or frozen alternatives. But these canned products cost as little as .99 cents per can whereas the fresh alternative is closer to 1.50$ for the same portion, 1.75$ if it's certified organic. A young mom on welfare who might have a very limited budget will likely choose the cheapest product. This translates into a less favorable eating habit.

Too bad fewer people (although perhaps not the norm on AO) cultivate gardens from which they can nurture themselves at a reasonable price. Again, low income families don't have access to gardens, wealthier people who have acces to land do.

I wonder if having local municipal land plots where anyone could seed a garden for non commercial consumption would work? Although, lower income earners may not have the time...

[Ricktye]

Well, this may be a bit simplistic, but bear with me....

Remember, the government (at any level) is by the people, for the people etc. In other words we are their bosses, not the other way around, although our present PC party seems to have lost sight of this fact with their sense of entitlement....

Now, compare the government to a family.....

Now as head of your family (premier), go to your boss (the public) and demand a higher wage (taxes) because you screwed up your family budget..... You overspent, didn't plan ahead and the like....

Now think what your boss would say to you if you made the same demand! In all likelyhood, he/she would tell you to go pi** up a rope! A really benevolent employer may tell you to show him how you plan to control your money in the future and then maybe come back and talk...

Think about it... If you screw up your budget, the bank comes and reposes your truck... If your employee (the government) screws up, they demand you, as the boss, give them more money!

If politicians spent their time trying to control the size of govt and limit its growth, versus dreaming up ways to spend on legacy projects, art installations, useless grants and ineffective programs, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Also we now have politicians that keep expanding their mandate.
We have politicians that profit from conflict of interest and openly thumb their nose at the taxpayer.
We have politicians that believe it's their right to rule and spend.
We have politicians that jet-set around the world and spend lavishly on travel.
We have politicians that buy their way into power by promising unions raises regardless of affordability.
We have politicians spending millions on a bunch of chrome balls by a freeway or a blue arch. What the .....! 50years ago, we'd have hung them from that arch. Today we are ineffective in holding them accountable, because the idiot running against them is just as intellectually bankrupt.

We have a political ruling class, unaccountable for their mismanagement, incompetence and wasteful disregard for hard earned income taxes.

AND THEIR ANSWER to this downturn is??????....more taxes!!!

Get me a rope. Somebody should hang! Is that a good enough sin tax!??!

[mich]

Maybe it is just me but I hate social engineering, I'm able to make decisions as to what is in my own best interests or not. If someone does not like what I ingest, what I drive, where I live,how I live...... too fkn bad...... mind your own business and live your life the way you see fit. That goes for all the wannabe do-gooders out there..... you want to pay more tax? Nothing is stopping you from writing a cheque to Jimbob McClueless in Edmonton, they will spend it and more. The next step is Communism, I would rather be free

[amosfella]

Well, this may be a bit simplistic, but bear with me....

Remember, the government (at any level) is by the people, for the people etc. In other words we are their bosses, not the other way around, although our present PC party seems to have lost sight of this fact with their sense of entitlement....

Now, compare the government to a family.....

Now as head of your family (premier), go to your boss (the public) and demand a higher wage (taxes) because you screwed up your family budget..... You overspent, didn't plan ahead and the like....

Now think what your boss would say to you if you made the same demand! In all likelyhood, he/she would tell you to go pi** up a rope! A really benevolent employer may tell you to show him how you plan to control your money in the future and then maybe come back and talk...

Think about it... If you screw up your budget, the bank comes and reposes your truck... If your employee (the government) screws up, they demand you, as the boss, give them more money!

Public is legally defined as 'of or pertaining to the government'.

[Ricktye]

Public is legally defined as 'of or pertaining to the government'.
Semantics. You don't have to agree to my opinion, after all it is just that, an opinion.

I'm sure lots of the public want to pay more to support the lack of efficiency or responsibility presently exhibited by the PC's.

[GWN]

I think they should tax (beyond the GST):
- energy drinks and vitamin and fortified water drinks too. I'd also like to see them made totally unaffordable to young people.
- all tobacco products.
- everything sold out of a "pot store" (pipes & bongs, etc). None of these items are useful to anyone.
- foods containing more than 15% fat or 500 calories per serving. (bacon, whipped creme, ice creme, some fast food choices, etc)

Blasphemy!

Be gone ye heathen devil! Back to your Prious and Al-Vente-Grande, wearing your pastel cardigan draped over your shoulders and and talking nonsense with your jet-setting carbon footprint,

Here's betting you are 110 pounds, unlike the full-figured men who stalk these woods.......http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Sneeze]

I'm not perfect. I eat crap sometimes but I try to do it in moderation and also exercise regularily and generally make healthy decisions. I would gladly pay a tax on crap foods.

So by the same logic - we should also have special taxes on:

Skateboards
Dirt Bikes
Street Bikes
Roller Skates
Horses
Rock Climbing Equipment
Cars over 250 HP
Power tools
Stairs
bicycles
etc.

All those things are can be dangerous - result in costs to the tax payer via health care costs. Would you be glad to pay a tax on these items as well?

[HyperMOA]

So by the same logic - we should also have special taxes on:

Skateboards
Dirt Bikes
Street Bikes
Roller Skates
Horses
Rock Climbing Equipment
Cars over 250 HP
Power tools
Stairs
bicycles
etc.

All those things are can be dangerous - result in costs to the tax payer via health care costs. Would you be glad to pay a tax on these items as well?

I know what you are saying, but why 250 HP? There are idiots among us that could injure themselves and others with a 7 HP car. :)

[tri777]

So by the same logic - we should also have special taxes on:

Skateboards
Dirt Bikes
Street Bikes
Roller Skates
Horses
Rock Climbing Equipment
Cars over 250 HP
Power tools
Stairs
bicycles
etc.

All those things are can be dangerous - result in costs to the tax payer via health care costs. Would you be glad to pay a tax on these items as well?
May as well throw in a 'Sun Tax' for good measure while all the pigs at the trough are dreaming up this [censored] insanity..all those not applying sunscreen are contributing to the cancer department expenses. I think 2015 will be the year 'stupid' runs rampant on planet earth, starting with intentional 'internet slow down' coming by summer..