Do you support Hugo Chavez's anti-alcohol actions?

[they don't love you like i love you]

This question has absolutely nothing to do with whether you agree with anything else Chavez has done or like him in general.

I vote no.

[John Dibble]

I don't support his anti-freedom actions in general.

[Joe Republic]

Of all the infringements on freedom Chavez has implemented since he took control of Venezuela, this is the one you focus on?

Pathetic, yet predictable.

[Silent Hunter]

What are Hugo Chavez's anti-alcohol actions.

[they don't love you like i love you]

He banned alcohol sales during Holy Week, banned the practice of trucks driving around full of liquor and selling bottles off the street, and raised alcohol taxes by something like 10%.

[Silent Hunter]

He banned alcohol sales during Holy Week, banned the practice of trucks driving around full of liquor and selling bottles off the street, and raised alcohol taxes by something like 10%.

Nowt wrong with that. Don't understand the Holy Week one though.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I don't support his anti-freedom actions in general.

^^^^

However, I like to see them because they don't effect me and drive BRTD insane for no reason

[© tweed]

I don't like sin taxes at all, so no.

[Eraserhead]

No I don't support them.

[they don't love you like i love you]

BTW, when I said "raise alcohol taxes by 10%", I didn't mean raise them 10% of the current tax (aka a 5% tax would become 5.5%), I meant raise them by 10% of the total product (5% would become 15%). Still reasonable?

[Gustaf]

BTW, when I said "raise alcohol taxes by 10%", I didn't mean raise them 10% of the current tax (aka a 5% tax would become 5.5%), I meant raise them by 10% of the total product (5% would become 15%). Still reasonable?

I thought you liked taxes. Do you have any reason beyond that you yourself personally want to get cheap booze for opposing alcohol taxes?

[they don't love you like i love you]

BTW, when I said "raise alcohol taxes by 10%", I didn't mean raise them 10% of the current tax (aka a 5% tax would become 5.5%), I meant raise them by 10% of the total product (5% would become 15%). Still reasonable?

I thought you liked taxes. Do you have any reason beyond that you yourself personally want to get cheap booze for opposing alcohol taxes?

Like taxes? You should stay away from strawmen if you want to say I use bad arguments.

Theses taxes are being used as part of social engineering behavior modification, not to raise revenue. If more revenue is needed, raise taxes on the rich/business.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

BTW, when I said "raise alcohol taxes by 10%", I didn't mean raise them 10% of the current tax (aka a 5% tax would become 5.5%), I meant raise them by 10% of the total product (5% would become 15%). Still reasonable?

I thought you liked taxes. Do you have any reason beyond that you yourself personally want to get cheap booze for opposing alcohol taxes?

Like taxes? You should stay away from strawmen if you want to say I use bad arguments.

Theses taxes are being used as part of social engineering behavior modification, not to raise revenue. If more revenue is needed, raise taxes on the rich/business.

.. which is also a form of social engineering behavior modification (sort of like State schooling really, or if we are being honest any type of schooling but that's another thing all together) and for that matter, so are taxes on tobacco smoking.

[they don't love you like i love you]

.. which is also a form of social engineering behavior modification

Howso? It's called "progressive income tax".

(sort of like State schooling really, or if we are being honest any type of schooling but that's another thing all together)

Which is hilarious because you once complained that supposedly our education system doesn't do enough to tell about dangers of alcohol (that claim is also hilarious).

and for that matter, so are taxes on tobacco smoking.

Yes, but in that case I don't care because the world would be MUCH better off if no one ever smoked, and no I don't think the world would be better off if no one ever drinked.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It doesn't matter what it is called; it's purpose is to transfer wealth from the highest classes in society to the state, and thus weaken the status (at least in theory) of the very rich and the top businesses. How is that not social engineering?

(That's not to say I think that is a bad thing.)

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Ehmm... I did?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

And I think vice-versa; so you're wrong.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Chavez's actions against alcohol are stricter than what I'd do, but still not nearly as strict as much of the U.S.

Half the counties in Kentucky are dry (and not just during Holy Week). In a large part of Campbell County, you can't build a new bar, because NKU thinks there's someone abusing alcohol hiding under every bed and has an agreement with the county not to issue new bar licenses.

Someone told me there's actually some dry precincts in Chicago, of all places. I don't know if this is true or not.

As strict as Chavez's actions are, it could be worse.

[The Mikado]

None of the actions you listed strike me as particularly bad.  Sin taxes are actually a decent way to raise revenue while curbing undesirable behavior.

That being said, I agree with His Majesty Juan Carlos I's opinion of Chavez.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Also, the drinking age in Venezuela is 18 (as opposed to 21 in the U.S.).

So Chavez definitely beats the Bush regime in that regard.

[dead0man]

and for that matter, so are taxes on tobacco smoking.

Yes, but in that case I don't care because the world would be MUCH better off if no one ever smoked, and no I don't think the world would be better off if no one ever drinked.

Do you have any idea how stupid this sounds?

[dead0man]

Also, the drinking age in Venezuela is 18 (as opposed to 21 in the U.S.).

So Chavez definitely beats the Bush regime in that regard.

What the hell does the drinking age have to do with the sitting President?