[CamB]

That's why when I hear "no tax cuts for the rich" it gets me going, they're the ones paying the taxes way in excess of what they take out of the system, and no, I'm not "rich", but the government would have you believe that anyone making over $60K/year should be taxed as "rich".


I still reckon that the only way this can be "fixed" (ie lower taxes) would result in a punitive reduction in services for low income people - in other words, pretty widespread poverty. I wouldn't want to live in such a society, so basically I grin and bear it when paying taxes.

John,

I think this issue is pretty complex. Health problems suck, but how many people reading this can honestly say they take good care of themselves - I'm talking about healthful food, exercise, sleep, moderation of bad stuff.

Then, how many can say they do it because they want to avoid spending $$$ on health costs. While I look after myself, I don't do it to save money - I do it for quality of life, now and in the future.

It doesn't do much for life quality now, so I have to be doing it for "later". From my basic observation of human nature, I'm at least somewhat of a minority AND I would expect the minority doing it to keep costs down is even greater.


So I see two issues:

1) people are no pre-disposed to moderation, and lack of moderation can be expensive in the long term;
2) certain activities are risky, which means some of the time they are expensive. This applies less of the time because many people prefer not to run the risks.

I guess, in along winded fashion, I'm sorting out the answer in my head.

Generally speaking, the items that are legislated against are those which have negative externalities (eg, smoking, speeding, drugs). Also generally speaking, there is resistance to legislating against items which primarily affect only the person in question (eg fatty food).

I don't know that there is necessarily the excessive curbing of personal freedoms. It is only excessive if you consider the curbing of rights to do activities which affect other people directly as being "oppressive" - think passive smoking.