But, if that sin has a measurable impact on public health? Then yeah, I’m okay with sin taxes.
Why would it be a sin if it didn’t cause objective harms? The whole point of taxing and regulating these things is that the harm they cause isn’t just personal or moral, they materially impact communities, just sometimes in ways you don’t typically think about. If someone is calling for a “Sin Tax” on truly victimless crimes, that’s not a sin tax, that’s just plain old social censorship.
Nobody has to be harmed for something to be a sin.
And I would say calling sugary soda a “sin” is a bit of a stretch, since a sin is just any action, thought, or omission that violates moral or religious law.
Tons of sins, especially in that second column, that doesn’t hurt anybody.
I think you’re getting hung up on the figurative language. A “sin tax” isn’t about a religious sin, it’s about taxing something that’s obviously bad, but not harmful enough to justify criminalizing it and often popular enough that people would be outraged if you just banned it. Like cigarette taxes, weed taxes, alcohol taxes and the like. Things that not only harm you, but the community that then has to deal with the consequences of your choices.
The idea is those taxes then go to fund mitigation programs. Rehab, or gym membership tax credits or things like that.
Why would it be a sin if it didn’t cause objective harms? The whole point of taxing and regulating these things is that the harm they cause isn’t just personal or moral, they materially impact communities, just sometimes in ways you don’t typically think about. If someone is calling for a “Sin Tax” on truly victimless crimes, that’s not a sin tax, that’s just plain old social censorship.
Nobody has to be harmed for something to be a sin.
And I would say calling sugary soda a “sin” is a bit of a stretch, since a sin is just any action, thought, or omission that violates moral or religious law.
Tons of sins, especially in that second column, that doesn’t hurt anybody.
I think you’re getting hung up on the figurative language. A “sin tax” isn’t about a religious sin, it’s about taxing something that’s obviously bad, but not harmful enough to justify criminalizing it and often popular enough that people would be outraged if you just banned it. Like cigarette taxes, weed taxes, alcohol taxes and the like. Things that not only harm you, but the community that then has to deal with the consequences of your choices.
The idea is those taxes then go to fund mitigation programs. Rehab, or gym membership tax credits or things like that.