It Begins with Sin

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
1

To the world’s elite, the thing most to be feared is a prosperous and happy middle class. Power is the ultimate drug for the rich, but people who are middle class and well off are much harder to push around. Grinding poverty gives the wealth more power over desperate people.

To make the vast majority of people poor is the goal of super wealthy people. They begin passing laws to nibble away at freedom. They pass ‘sin taxes’. “Its for your own good, don’t you know.”

“They put more on alcohol because they think there’s going to be binge-drinking, but it won’t stop. It just stops people going in pubs,” said Sarah Thomas, 33, a teacher trainer smoking a rolled tobacco cigarette outside The Goose pub in central London.

From this weekend, alcohol duties will rise by 6 percent above inflation �?? meaning an extra 8 cents for a pint of beer, which already costs about $6 in an average London pub.

They will go up around 26 cents for a bottle of wine and a whopping $1.10 a bottle for spirits such as whisky.

The duties will then rise by another 2 percent above inflation in each of the next four years, reversing a trend in previous budgets to keep increases low for most alcohol products. Duties on spirits were frozen for the past 10 years to boost British spirit makers’ competitiveness, accounting for the large jump this year.

A packet of cigarettes, already a steep $11.20, will rise by 22 cents.

The first budget under Prime Minister Gordon Brown also planned to reward ecologically minded voters by imposing higher taxes on heavier polluting cars from 2010."

2

Boo-freakin-hoo.

3

Time to start smoking weed.

4

The black market will expand and people will start making their own alcohol or smoking weed.

The British elites have gone completely off their rockers.

5

[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
The black market will expand and people will start making their own alcohol or smoking weed.

The British elites have gone completely off their rockers.[/quote]

The most smuggled drug is, wait for it …, tobacco in the form of cigarettes.

6

[quote]lixy wrote:
Boo-freakin-hoo.[/quote]

Mr. Density (and I don’t mean muscle-wise):

Have you ever heard of freedom? Do you understand that freedom can be eroded by taxation? I think people should be free to choose to have a smoke, down a pint, or drive whatever car they want and can afford.

Those freedoms are being eroded. What’s next?

Suppose a huge tax was put on prayer rugs. I don’t use a prayer rug, yet I would oppose the tax as a limitation on your freedom of worship.

7

[quote]Headhunter wrote:

Mr. Density (and I don’t mean muscle-wise):

Have you ever heard of freedom? Do you understand that freedom can be eroded by taxation? I think people should be free to choose to have a smoke, down a pint, or drive whatever car they want and can afford.

Those freedoms are being eroded. What’s next?

Suppose a huge tax was put on prayer rugs. I don’t use a prayer rug, yet I would oppose the tax as a limitation on your freedom of worship.[/quote]

So odd - “boo-freaking-hoo” from someone who swears he was a Ron Paul freedomite.

Looks like even that claim was one of mere convenience.

8

[quote]orion wrote:
PRCalDude wrote:
The black market will expand and people will start making their own alcohol or smoking weed.

The British elites have gone completely off their rockers.

The most smuggled drug is, wait for it …, tobacco in the form of cigarettes.

[/quote]

I can’t object to that. Neither could I object to the black market sales of guns to people trying to exercise their God-given right to defend themselves and their families from thugs, government or otherwise.

9

[quote]Headhunter wrote:
lixy wrote:
Boo-freakin-hoo.

Mr. Density (and I don’t mean muscle-wise):

Have you ever heard of freedom? Do you understand that freedom can be eroded by taxation? I think people should be free to choose to have a smoke, down a pint, or drive whatever car they want and can afford.

Those freedoms are being eroded. What’s next?

Suppose a huge tax was put on prayer rugs. I don’t use a prayer rug, yet I would oppose the tax as a limitation on your freedom of worship.

[/quote]

I’d support a ban…

10

[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
orion wrote:
PRCalDude wrote:
The black market will expand and people will start making their own alcohol or smoking weed.

The British elites have gone completely off their rockers.

The most smuggled drug is, wait for it …, tobacco in the form of cigarettes.

I can’t object to that. Neither could I object to the black market sales of guns to people trying to exercise their God-given right to defend themselves and their families from thugs, government or otherwise.[/quote]

I have no problem with that either.

Nor do I have a problem with people who provide drugs, gambling and prostitution. In the end they are all hard working business people that provide services that are in demand under sever personal risk and expect to be compensated accordingly.

I would not like to live in a word with an effective government that is actually able to enforce all its laws.

11

Five quid for a packet of fags? Blimey!

In Japan, a gallon of gasoline is $6.32, but a pack of Marlboros is $3.25, and a pint of Guinness Stout is about the same.

It’s cheaper to drink and smoke here than to drive, which explains the good public transportation, and all the drunks and chain smokers.

12

[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Five quid for a packet of fags? Blimey!

In Japan, a gallon of gasoline is $6.32, but a pack of Marlboros is $3.25, and a pint of Guinness Stout is about the same.

It’s cheaper to drink and smoke here than to drive, which explains the good public transportation, and all the drunks and chain smokers.

[/quote]

Here’s a good question for you, Varq: When you lived in Japan, did you feel more or less freedom than in the United States? I’ve never lived for any amount of time outside the US and have no basis for comparison. We could be exploited serfs for all I know.

13

[quote]Headhunter wrote:

Here’s a good question for you, Varq: When you lived in Japan, did you feel more or less freedom than in the United States? I’ve never lived for any amount of time outside the US and have no basis for comparison. We could be exploited serfs for all I know.

[/quote]

Oh, man, Headhunter. You’ve just asked the $50,000 question. I’m still in Japan, by the way, for the next couple weeks.

But okay, since you asked. Like everything, it’s a tradeoff.

In America, I have more freedom to complain.
In Japan, I have less to complain about.

In America, I have the freedom to own a gun.
In Japan, I have never felt the need to own a gun.

In America we have lots of government services, and high taxes.
In Japan we have fewer government services, and lower taxes.

In America, I have constitutional rights that protect me from government abuse.
In Japan, I have a government that is too ineffective to commit much abuse.

In America, we are kept “safe” by voluminous laws, millions of policemen, and tens of millions of lawyers.
In Japan, people generally get along, lawsuits are practically unheard of, and you can go all day without seeing a cop.

In America, we have the world’s most powerful military, which we need because we have lots of enemies.
In Japan, they have the world’s fifth-most powerful military, but nobody realizes it because it’s hardly ever used.

In America, it is cheap and easy to own and operate a motor vehicle.
In Japan, only good drivers are licensed, and only vehicles in excellent condition are allowed on the road.

In America, food is cheap, and medical care is expensive.
In Japan, food is expensive, and medical care is cheap.

In America, we have Budweiser
In Japan, we have Kirin Lager.

In Japan, I don’t have the right to vote.
In America I do, but all of the candidates suck.

In America, I get free shipment for Biotest products.
In Japan, I don’t.

So I guess America is better.

14

[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Headhunter wrote:

Here’s a good question for you, Varq: When you lived in Japan, did you feel more or less freedom than in the United States? I’ve never lived for any amount of time outside the US and have no basis for comparison. We could be exploited serfs for all I know.

Oh, man, Headhunter. You’ve just asked the $50,000 question. I’m still in Japan, by the way, for the next couple weeks.

But okay, since you asked. Like everything, it’s a tradeoff.

In America, I have more freedom to complain.
In Japan, I have less to complain about.

In America, I have the freedom to own a gun.
In Japan, I have never felt the need to own a gun.

In America we have lots of government services, and high taxes.
In Japan we have fewer government services, and lower taxes.

In America, I have constitutional rights that protect me from government abuse.
In Japan, I have a government that is too ineffective to commit much abuse.

In America, we are kept “safe” by voluminous laws, millions of policemen, and tens of millions of lawyers.
In Japan, people generally get along, lawsuits are practically unheard of, and you can go all day without seeing a cop.

In America, we have the world’s most powerful military, which we need because we have lots of enemies.
In Japan, they have the world’s fifth-most powerful military, but nobody realizes it because it’s hardly ever used.

In America, it is cheap and easy to own and operate a motor vehicle.
In Japan, only good drivers are licensed, and only vehicles in excellent condition are allowed on the road.

In America, food is cheap, and medical care is expensive.
In Japan, food is expensive, and medical care is cheap.

In America, we have Budweiser
In Japan, we have Kirin Lager.

In Japan, I don’t have the right to vote.
In America I do, but all of the candidates suck.

In America, I get free shipment for Biotest products.
In Japan, I don’t.

So I guess America is better.
[/quote]

In Japan, did you ever see or meet Paul Gilbert? The guitarist from Racer X and Mr. Big?

-my appologies for the hijack.

15

[quote]Varqanir wrote:

In America, I get free shipment for Biotest products.
In Japan, I don’t.
[/quote]

Game, set, match

16

[quote]Varqanir wrote:

In America, food is cheap, and medical care is expensive.
In Japan, food is expensive, and medical care is cheap.

[/quote]

Coincidence?

17

It must suck to drink or smoke.

Let’s look at liscensing and registration for a second. We pay a fee for these things in America in order to drive and own/operate a business (I think). Imagine having to do these things in order to comply with a law restricting sexual activity.

Now we’re really talking about taking away our freedoms. Freedom to drink or smoke? Those aren’t freedoms, they are liberties. Since I do neither, I hardly care about taxes on such activities. But a tax on breathing or sex… then you’ll truly have something to complain about.

18

[quote]kroby wrote:
It must suck to drink or smoke.

Let’s look at liscensing and registration for a second. We pay a fee for these things in America in order to drive and own/operate a business (I think). Imagine having to do these things in order to comply with a law restricting sexual activity.

Now we’re really talking about taking away our freedoms. Freedom to drink or smoke? Those aren’t freedoms, they are liberties. Since I do neither, I hardly care about taxes on such activities. But a tax on breathing or sex… then you’ll truly have something to complain about.[/quote]

Give me liberty, or give me death.
Liquor and cigarettes don’t bitch, it likes your folks, doesn’t get fat two years later, doesn’t care if you want to hang out with your friends, and won’t take half your shit in the event of a divorce. It has it’s advantages.

19

[quote]kroby wrote:
It must suck to drink or smoke.[/quote]

You have to suck in order to smoke. Otherwise the cigar will go out.
And you if you don’t suck a little bit when you drink, the whisky just dribbles down your chin.

20

[quote]Varqanir wrote:
kroby wrote:
It must suck to drink or smoke.

You have to suck in order to smoke. Otherwise the cigar will go out.
And you if you don’t suck a little bit when you drink, the whisky just dribbles down your chin.[/quote]

And that will have a negative impact on your love life. Think about it.