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Open Poetry #23
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The Syntax of Sin Tax
| Open Poetry #23 |
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The Syntax of Sin Tax |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
The Syntax of Sin Tax the syntax of sin tax at best is convoluted it seems that it is spurred by the air and streets being quite polluted smokers “should be taxed more” for they risk their very lives accounting for the lack of insurance costs’ demise and since they are so sinful their penance is quite just they should pay more for education of the children who trust in seeing that adultness is displayed by a cylinder of white wrapped around smoldering tobaccy leaves less loosely, more tight and drinkers and guzzlers who take to the wheel should pay extra heavy for the pavement’s horrid meal yet, when one looks from the other side if finances might be met are the ones we want to thank the most of the smoking/drinking set? are they the ones that do a greater civic duty by smokin’ up the hall or drinkin’ up the morgue down near city hall? in Oregon and some other states schools are financed more heavily by smokers, and gamblers on the rise yep the lottery brings bucks toward keeping schools open while smokers are being asked to beef up their token funny how the sin tax is still failing to provide enough to keep them going drug free and academically tied it’s hard for me to think that the ones I might have to greater thank are those who smoke and drink and gamble down their bank yet every one keeps hollerin’ make ‘em pay some more how else will they ever even up the score? ©October 26, 2002 I'm not a smoker nor a drinker it is a healthful choice but I can't help but come out with my contemplative voice. Whether on the shoal or on the shore, I'll seek the lighthouse evermore. [This message has been edited by VAS (10-26-2002 06:36 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Virginia Salter - All Rights Reserved | |||
majnu
since 2002-10-13
Posts 1088SF Bay Area |
hillarious and damn true. they should put this poem on the anti-smoking posters! or maybe a big billboard accross from the philip morriss offices. |
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Lovesick_Proletariat Junior Member
since 2000-07-30
Posts 11 |
ahoy boy. or girl. this is interesting.......im so tired right now....its like my brain doesnt have the energy to unravel this complex thread poem thingie. (i think im gonna go gets me some applesauce)....oh yeah....um...the poem.... its good. very very good. lots of good goodness. (hm....homework now...i must learn me some algebra......) anyway....um...the poem.....sorry bout my ignorance. are you against anti smoking laws or not? im kinda confused. maybe im just tired. "i hear pappa say ta momma...you let tha' boy boogie woogie!" -john lee hooker |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
What I'm saying is...it's wrong to single out smokers and drinkers and gamblers to pay a bigger portion to finance our schools. It may be time for a tea party...perhaps caffeinated beverages would be a tax with more equity...all pop, coffee, tea, caffeinated or not, would share the cost more equitably than making the "sinners" pay more as a kind of penance for their deeds/habits. I don't smoke, but 3 decades ago I smoked probably a total of 30 cigarettes over a 2 year period. I have had some alcohol, in my life, but I would endanger myself if I had much now. So I'm not complaining because I'd be the one having to pay more than others. I don't play the lottery, have NEVER bought a ticket, so the only tax I pay toward the schools is property tax and if any of my state income tax goes to that end. I'm not defending the smoker's habit, but I don't think they should be singled out to pay more because they do something most believe is harmful to society. Same with drinkers and gamblers. I think it could almost make a civic minded smoker say, "Hey, fella, give me a carton, I've gotta do my civic duty and help finance our schools!" We spend many tax dollars combatting smoking, drugs and alcohol in the schools. Should be finance the schools from that which we condemn? Whether on the shoal or on the shore, I'll seek the lighthouse evermore. [This message has been edited by VAS (10-26-2002 06:36 PM).] |
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garysgirl 
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
VAS, this is a very good poem...well written. I enjoyed reading it. You present a side of the picture that most people never stop to realize. Thanks for sharing with us. Love to All, Ethel |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (sigh) Oh Virginia, I love this unorthodox feel to the issue, sweet friend, I agree with you and I am zero-tolerant on all drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, I have never tried any of them once and never will, no way and no how, yet I do believe smokers have a choice we have to appreciate and while I don't buy lottery tickets either the lottery does give a lot to many things and we must respect that! (sigh) This isn heartfelt, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Virginia, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
A most interesting conundrum, Virginia... and a very creative way of expressing it... In Michigan, every time they want money for the schools... they raise our property taxes, and a lot of people who don't have kids in the public schools argue that it isn't fair for them to have to pay for those schools... I guess there is just no easy answer...  ~ thoughtful hugsLyra |
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Red Member
since 2000-01-01
Posts 143Ca |
I know that there was a greater issue of concern that you were addressing, or perhaps just commenting on, but I could not help but laugh outright when I read it. To bring humour to any issue is a great talent, wonderful poem, I loved it. I also liked your play on words in the title! |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
The thing about property taxes, though, it's equitable in a given community. Even renters pay it, it's part of their rent. I think it is wrong to tax smokers, etc. more because they smoke. Our children are our future, they belong to all of us. If we don't train them right and well, if we make them think they're not worth it, who will they become when they are grown and it's their jobs to run governments and businesses. Even if our own children are grown, or if we chose not to have children or the choice was made for us, they are still our future and what future would we choose for our world? Our property taxes are rather frozen, currently. That's why our state is trying to make up for the loss in revenue. No matter where it comes from, more is needed as the pop. grows and inflation continues. Not to mention with all the people out of work, it lowest the income tax revenue as well. Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Quite a smokey subject...the smoking gun so to speak.... You have said it well... |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
VAS Good thoughts, good write, good read. Makes sense to me. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice thoughts...What if we had to pay a quarter for every time we lusted after a woman...someone would be rich...James |
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Tammy Blessing Member
since 2002-08-26
Posts 366PA |
This is really and excellent poem VAS! It gives us all a lot to think about. I'm sorry to hear about the problems in Oregon. Here in PA they keep raising our school taxes.It seems that the more money my husband and I make the more they take from us, so we never get ahead! They even have an additional tax called the Occupational/Per Capita Tax as well as yet ANOTHER tax called the Per Capita/School tax. Everyone in PA pays these taxes in ADDITION to their yearly property and school taxes. I recently received yet ANOTHER tax bill. They now want a 1 percent wage tax from my township for last year! They claim that half goes to the school and half goes to the township!! It's enough to make me want to SCREAM!! Oh well...I guess they have to get their money somehow. I just wish, as you do, that there was a fairer way of getting it instead of picking on hard working people like us! |
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