So you think taxes are moral. How about a tax so large it creates a black market?
Context, please. I think a discussion of taxes being moral or immoral a much deeper subject than just that. For this discussion how about we simply agree they are a reality?
As to the tax being 'so large' that it creates a black market. Of course you realize a black market would probably exist regardless of the difference in tax rates between neighboring states; but that the different rates simply make for a more obvious niche.
The real question would be is a large tax on cigarettes moral? If the people of the state are of the mind to try and reduce cigarette smoking to as much of an extent possible (for the obvious reasons) then one could argue that such a sin tax is indeed moral (where I live in Washington State said sin tax is even higher on cigarettes and alcohol, even though it is considered a very liberal state).
Why would you consider the tax itself immoral? Because of how much it is? What if the neighboring state had a similar sized sin tax? Still immoral? Or does it become moral by virtue of being similar in value to its neighbors?
I guess my opinion is that such a tax is neither really moral or immoral - it just is. And since its overall objective appears to be in reducing smoking in the citizenry (something generally considered a moral cause by the vast majority) and it presumably achieves that end (as it has here where I live) then most would probably argue it being a moral law.
Question, if reducing smoking is moral, then couldn't it be the state with the low tax on cigarettes having the immoral tax?
Black markets are created by laws that violate our freedom - this country and its main religion were founded by lawbreakers.
By definition black markets are created by far more than that.
He died because politicians imposed such a heavy tax on New Yorkers poor people got into selling "illegal" cigarettes and those politicians told cops to arrest them. Thats the problem, more laws, more taxes - the triumph of the political class over morality and common sense.
No, he simply died because he resisted arrest and was in bad health.
And it wasn't the politicians that told the cops to arrest them - its the local shop owners that called the cops, not the politicians.
Never thought MobBoss was pro-union. All workers should be able to do so to their CEOs.
I'm not pro-union, I'm pro freedom of speech. Blasio threw his own people under the bus, so there should be little surprise at their reaction to him.
I've thought that the Onion was the only satire site worth following.
