should the government be allowed to single out a group to pay for child care or other programs?

Question

raising taxes on tobacco products to pay for them

Answer 1

In this case yes.

Government is allowed to discriminate as long as government is not discriminating against a suspect class (i.e. race, gender, etc)

So, can't tax women more (or less) than men. But can tax smokers or bicycle riders etc. more (or less). Of course, it’ll have to make sense whatever Government is doing.

Once Government gets the cash, I don't see why it should be limited to spending it on things related to the tax.

Frankly, this all comes down to your fellow state citizens. if enough of them feel this type of tax is objectionable, they should speak up. If you happen to live in a state where you are outnumbered by people who want to tax you because you smoke, consider moving to another state. Vote with your feet.

Answer 2

To which government are you referring ?Our state government has a tax and spend legislature which latches onto every source of income imagineable. So do other states. The " whipping boy " is tobacco because there are so many against the industry that large raises in our taxes per unit of product produces no great outcry. If the tobacco money goes into the general fund, the greatest beneficiaries are the large cities who squander money like it is going out of style.

Answer 3

Although im against tobacco and smoking, I would probably still say they shouldn't single out a group to pay for something which isnt related to there group. Perhaps if tobacco tax was to be use to treat people suffering from injuries of tabacco. It seems discriminative which is illegal to me. Thats all i have to say since I have no understanding of the law lol bye

Answer 4

No, that is not the role of government. That is why I'm voting for Ron Paul!

Want to smoke? Really bad idea, but the government shouldn't be pushishing anyone because they choose to do so.