[Hoot Gibson]

This could also relate to the luxuries you talk about. Smoking and drinking could just as easily be classified as a luxury item. You talk out of both sides of your mouth Hoot. With you, it all depends on which party supports it, even though it could be considered the same tax. Luxury taxes punish people who can afford to buy said items. Tobacco and alcohol taxes punish the person that uses them. Both classes can do away with the tax buy not buying said items. It's the same Hoot.

No, targeting alcohol and nicotine addicts with specific taxes is not the same as levying a broad based tax that treats everybody the same. The Fair Tax is not an attempt to raise taxes on the poor to influence their morality. Neither are "sin taxes" but that is the excuse liberals use to impose these regressive taxes on the poor in this country. Our federal government should not be using the tax code to punish people for engaging in legal acts.