Comments on: What’s It Worth to You? http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/ tax news, tax info and tax policy Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:12:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Michael http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1157 Michael Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:11:02 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1157 To be fair, since I don't smoke, drink, watch TV, or overeat, I'll take a gas tax increase, since I consider it immoral to raise taxes that only apply to other people. When I was 12 years old, I gave up Catholicism for Lent. By the time Easter came, I decided to make it permanent. To be fair, since I don’t smoke, drink, watch TV, or overeat, I’ll take a gas tax increase, since I consider it immoral to raise taxes that only apply to other people.

When I was 12 years old, I gave up Catholicism for Lent. By the time Easter came, I decided to make it permanent.

]]> By: McMansions = Tax Headache? http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1156 McMansions = Tax Headache? Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:07:47 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1156 [...] Dingell claims that these large homes waste energy and contribute to climate change. And of course, as previously discussed, tax is really all about driving policy. [...] [...] Dingell claims that these large homes waste energy and contribute to climate change. And of course, as previously discussed, tax is really all about driving policy. [...]

]]> By: Should we pay for the mistakes of others? http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1155 Should we pay for the mistakes of others? Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:16:59 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1155 [...] some more. The context of my discussion, before the mortgage deduction came up, was this issue of the government encouraging or discouraging certain behaviors through its tax policy. And clearly, the government wants to discourage this sub-prime mortgage [...] [...] some more. The context of my discussion, before the mortgage deduction came up, was this issue of the government encouraging or discouraging certain behaviors through its tax policy. And clearly, the government wants to discourage this sub-prime mortgage [...]

]]> By: Fat? It’s Gonna Cost You. http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1154 Fat? It’s Gonna Cost You. Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:15:53 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1154 [...] actually they have. Like the US, the UK also imposes “sin taxes” on alcohol and cigarettes. I have no information as to whether the tax in the UK has [...] [...] actually they have. Like the US, the UK also imposes “sin taxes” on alcohol and cigarettes. I have no information as to whether the tax in the UK has [...]

]]> By: More Beer? Why? Nothing Helps.* http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1153 More Beer? Why? Nothing Helps.* Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:49:51 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1153 [...] Unfortunately, this is at odds with the Australian Brewer’s Excise Tax which taxes a brewery based on the alcohol content of its beer. Generally speaking, the higher the alcohol content in a beverage, the higher the excise tax. No doubt, this serves as both a revenue raiser and a behavior modification (we, in the USA, aren’t the only ones who do this with our tax policy). [...] [...] Unfortunately, this is at odds with the Australian Brewer’s Excise Tax which taxes a brewery based on the alcohol content of its beer. Generally speaking, the higher the alcohol content in a beverage, the higher the excise tax. No doubt, this serves as both a revenue raiser and a behavior modification (we, in the USA, aren’t the only ones who do this with our tax policy). [...]

]]> By: Jul http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1152 Jul Mon, 11 Jun 2007 22:07:53 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1152 I already don't eat meat, smoke, or drive. And here I was thinking I was a heathen... I already don’t eat meat, smoke, or drive. And here I was thinking I was a heathen…

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1151 Kelly Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:19:10 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1151 Hmm. Well, I have old speeding tickets, but nothing new so clearly I don't speed now. :) I did watch AI this season. I rooted for MindyDoo. I don't care about Paris Hilton, so that should get me somewhere. I do have a bizarre interest in the Hoff but only for purposes of blogging. I don't lie. Since I'm an attorney, I'm "searching for the truth." I don't gamble - except quarter slots. I don't gossip (ahem). And my kids aren't fat - but we don't eat at McD's - so draw your own conclusions. But these are terrific starting points for conversation, Sean. Thanks. Should we have sin taxes at all (where we dissuade "bad" behavior) or angel taxes (where we encourage "good" behavior)? Or should we, as Catslyn suggested, ask government to stay out of these issues altogether? Hmm.
Well, I have old speeding tickets, but nothing new so clearly I don’t speed now. :) I did watch AI this season. I rooted for MindyDoo.
I don’t care about Paris Hilton, so that should get me somewhere.
I do have a bizarre interest in the Hoff but only for purposes of blogging.
I don’t lie. Since I’m an attorney, I’m “searching for the truth.”
I don’t gamble - except quarter slots.
I don’t gossip (ahem).
And my kids aren’t fat - but we don’t eat at McD’s - so draw your own conclusions.

But these are terrific starting points for conversation, Sean. Thanks.

Should we have sin taxes at all (where we dissuade “bad” behavior) or angel taxes (where we encourage “good” behavior)? Or should we, as Catslyn suggested, ask government to stay out of these issues altogether?

]]> By: Sean http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1150 Sean Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:08:59 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1150 How about: Speeding? Talking about American Idol? Caring about Paris Hilton*? David Hasselhoff? Lying**? Gambling*** Gossiping? Blaming McDonald's for making your kids fat? Others? * Except in connection with b5media blogs, which are ok ** Except in politics, marketing or franchising, or when absolutely necessary *** Except state lotteries, revenue from which has fixed education and eldercare, and ended homelessness How about:
Speeding?
Talking about American Idol?
Caring about Paris Hilton*?
David Hasselhoff?
Lying**?
Gambling***
Gossiping?
Blaming McDonald’s for making your kids fat?

Others?

* Except in connection with b5media blogs, which are ok
** Except in politics, marketing or franchising, or when absolutely necessary
*** Except state lotteries, revenue from which has fixed education and eldercare, and ended homelessness

]]> By: Paul http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1149 Paul Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:55:42 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1149 I wouldn't give up anything that I liked to do, it kind of weirds me out that the government does these sort of things to control us. I wouldn’t give up anything that I liked to do, it kind of weirds me out that the government does these sort of things to control us.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1148 Kelly Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:05:08 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/whats-it-worth-to-you/#comment-1148 Actually, there's been a lot of new chatter about taxing the use of the internet (I'm mentally making a note to post about it). There are a bunch of interesting bits to consider on that - should it just be internet sales? internet usage? On who? Federal? State? Would that encourage companies to move out of the country? Similar arguments for these other things. If we subsidized eliminating any of these things (and arguably, we do for some), would you anticipate that it would create a disincentive for the companies to stay in the US, as well as for the consumers to avoid the products? Actually, there’s been a lot of new chatter about taxing the use of the internet (I’m mentally making a note to post about it). There are a bunch of interesting bits to consider on that - should it just be internet sales? internet usage? On who? Federal? State? Would that encourage companies to move out of the country?

Similar arguments for these other things. If we subsidized eliminating any of these things (and arguably, we do for some), would you anticipate that it would create a disincentive for the companies to stay in the US, as well as for the consumers to avoid the products?

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