are the following taxes good or bad?

[minionofmidas]

graduated income tax you mean progressive income tax? Good - although there are a couple problems
sales tax - bad/acceptable
sales tax on food - bad
sales tax on prepared food - bad/acceptable
hotel occupancy tax - there's a special one on top of sales tax? bad
luxury tax - depends
inheritance tax - good
gift tax - good
capital gains tax - they're income and should be taxed as such
alcohol tax - bad/acceptable
tobacco tax - bad/acceptable
gas tax - bad at current low levels.

[Bono]

All are bad. In my opinion, aside from no tax, the fairest tax would be one that causes equal pain to everyone.

So a poll tax?

[minionofmidas]

All are bad. In my opinion, aside from no tax, the fairest tax would be one that causes equal pain to everyone.

So a poll tax?

No, a tax that reduces everybody to the same rather minimal income.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

BRTD, why is an alcohol tax bad and a tobacco tax bad?  Because you drink and don't smoke?

that and that people who drink don't breathe disgusting cancer causing sh!t in your face. Plus it encourages the dipsh!ts who are dumb enough to smoke to quit.

[© tweed]

BRTD, why is an alcohol tax bad and a tobacco tax bad?  Because you drink and don't smoke?

that and that people who drink don't breathe disgusting cancer causing sh!t in your face. Plus it encourages the dipsh!ts who are dumb enough to smoke to quit.

So alcohol can cause liver disease as well, so that is just as 'dumb' as smoking in some people's eyes.  You're basing your position on this on your opinion of what's 'fcuking stupid' and what isn't.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

can you get liver disease from second hand alcohol?

[© tweed]

can you get liver disease from second hand alcohol?

No.  but you can be beaten to death by an angry alcoholic.

[opebo]

All are bad. In my opinion, aside from no tax, the fairest tax would be one that causes equal pain to everyone.

So a poll tax?

No, a tax that reduces everybody to the same rather minimal income.

Haha!  Excellent suggestion Trondheim.  That would be the only way to cause equal pain to everyone.

[David S]

All are bad. In my opinion, aside from no tax, the fairest tax would be one that causes equal pain to everyone.

So a poll tax?

No, a tax that reduces everybody to the same rather minimal income.

Sales taxes might achieve the equal agony requirement. A true flat tax where every dollar from the first to the last is taxed at the same rate with no deductions or exemptions would too. Personnaly I like Harry Browne's idea; get rid of the income tax and replace it with nothing. Government would be funded largely by import tariffs as it was for most of our history.

[The Constitarian]

     The tobacco and alcohol taxes are not only bad but unconstitutional.  Government should have no power to tax certain things but not others.

[A18]

     The tobacco and alcohol taxes are not only bad but unconstitutional.

And  you base that on what part of the Constitution?

[Emsworth]

The tobacco and alcohol taxes are not only bad but unconstitutional.

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises..." (Art. I, Sec. 8, Cl. 1)

An excise on tobacco or alcohol is perfectly constitutional.

[The Duke]

All taxes are bad, but you have to tax something to run a government so you institute the taxes that are least bad.

[MaC]

Personnaly I like Harry Browne's idea; get rid of the income tax and replace it with nothing. Government would be funded largely by import tariffs as it was for most of our history.

Seconded