I can respect by aphrael (2.00 / 0) #12 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 06:44:02 PM EST
I can respect the position that specific taxes which target specific groups are a bad idea, unless that tax in some way directly benefits the people in question. (That is, gas taxes to fund road construction are ok. gas taxes to fund public transit are questionable, and gas taxes to fund stem cell research are not ok).

what i've seen of the text of the initiative is that the money will go primarily to two things:
  *  medical research targeted to smoking-related diseases
  *  anti-smoking plans.

since i haven't read it, though, i don't know how realistic it is, and whether or not i vote for the measure will depend heavily on whether the financial allocations seem legitimate or they seem  to be polite fictions.

As for the GPS monitoring thing: holy crap, we agree on something!

If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.
[ Parent ]

To save you some time by theantix (4.00 / 1) #16 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 07:01:27 PM EST
mns bases his public policy ideas not based on what is reasonable for society, but on what would be best for him in the immediate-term time frame.  So addressing the abstract ideas of who should and shouldn't be taxed for what purpose doesn't really matter here, just that it's a tax that he pays and doesn't like to do that no matter what else.
____________________________________
I'm sorry, but your facts disagree with my opinion.
[ Parent ]

quite possibly. by aphrael (2.00 / 0) #19 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 07:09:58 PM EST
doesn't mean we can't have a discussion about what's best for society.


If television is a babysitter, the internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.
[ Parent ]

Coincidentally, by MohammedNiyalSayeed (4.00 / 1) #22 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 07:11:18 PM EST

What's best for me is best for society.


-
You can build the most elegant fountain in the world, but eventually a winged rat will be using it as a drinking bowl.
[ Parent ]

that's not necessarily true. by aphrael (2.00 / 0) #26 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 07:15:11 PM EST
If you're me, it's true by MohammedNiyalSayeed (4.00 / 1) #29 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 07:17:26 PM EST

And I am!


-
You can build the most elegant fountain in the world, but eventually a winged rat will be using it as a drinking bowl.
[ Parent ]

Actually, it does mean that by theantix (2.00 / 0) #36 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 08:15:20 PM EST
Discussions are two-way conversations.  :-)  I am pointing out that the what's best for society ideas are all flowing one way.  But with that in mind, be my guest I certainly won't complain.
____________________________________
I'm sorry, but your facts disagree with my opinion.
[ Parent ]

right. by garlic (4.00 / 1) #37 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 08:20:54 PM EST
they can certainly be interesting discussions with MNS, but realize that it'll only come back to haunt you when he's president.

[ Parent ]

Your words ring with the wisdom by MohammedNiyalSayeed (2.00 / 0) #41 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 09:06:30 PM EST

of a future cabinet member, good sir.


-
You can build the most elegant fountain in the world, but eventually a winged rat will be using it as a drinking bowl.
[ Parent ]

I appreciate the offer. by garlic (2.00 / 0) #52 Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 11:07:57 PM EST
Now I have to decide if you're the type who would send his ministers to siberia.

[ Parent ]

Login
Make a new account
Username:
Password: