Is the new "Tanning Tax" racist?

[Vtaper]

Its not yall, I looked it up:

The Federal government CAN impose a tax on a product or service who's customer base is of one ethnicity so long as its White.

All kidding aside, I know this was not racially motivated legislation but can any of you imagine the backlash if a tax was placed on something that only Blacks use? The ACLU would have already filed the papers and Sharpton and Jackson would be on every news station.

Full article: Health care bill imposes 10% tax on tanning salon customers - Mar. 24, 2010


Oh yeah, please do not respond to tell me about the Black guy you knew who tanned a couple of times before a competition, we all know that 99.99% of the people who tan on a regular bases are white.

[Derek4Real]

Very true and its BS if you ask me

[MrRobRage]

not true, almost all my female Hispanic friends tan

[mixedup]

Yes i know hispanic, white and asians who all use tanning so it's not exclusively a what product.

[Zero V]

not exclusively, but it is mostly white.

Honestly though...I only see "sluts" and "douch-men", or just idiots as people who go tanning at the beds...so it makes sense lol. But Too much tax already, too much control.

Then again...The sun is still there, right? Lord forbid you actually have to be outside to get your guido or slut tan goin....

[pool_shark]

Not all blacks have dark skin either, some who are not dark also like to tan.


Lame try at trying to make it racial, I guess you never bothered to get to know anyone who is non-white.

[rambo679]

If this effects the next season of Jersey Shore I'm going to run for office.

[Harry Manback]

Ok...let's put a tax on cocoa butter. Deal?

[dusty]

this part of legislation was probly not racially motivated, but imagine the hell if there was a National Association for the Advancement of Caucasian People?

(Btw i am not racist in any way, i have many multi-racial friends)

[Vtaper]

not true, almost all my female Hispanic friends tan

Yes i know hispanic, white and asians who all use tanning so it's not exclusively a what product.

And my favorite:

Not all blacks have dark skin either, some who are not dark also like to tan. Lame try at trying to make it racial, I guess you never bothered to get to know anyone who is non-white.

OMFG you guys! Way to go with your ability to sniff out the sarcasm in my post

Im now taking a deep breath and reminding myself that im on "teh interwebz" and regardless of the statements in my post such as, "I know this legislation is not racially motivated" and the 99 percent thing, and about Blacks tanning before competitions thing, I have to remember that some of you will see the title, skim what I wrote, take from it whatever distorted view you want and then basically respond to the title.

First, my post was to point out that when the goverment tries to regulate something, if that something can be attributed to one ethnicity primarily using it, it would be called racist even though there was NO racially motivated agenda behind it. Example? How about welfare reform? All the Libs, Sharpton, Jackson and every other loser that wouldnt have a job unless they can keep people angry called it racist..........EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MORE WHITE PEOPLE ON WELFARE THAN BLACKS.(yes, I know the percentage is lower but the total numbers are higher)

And second, the hypocrisy of the above mentioned civil rights activists and related organizations who should be screaming that these taxes are racist because according to their metrics they certainly are.

So once again, I know tanning bed taxes ARE NOT RACIST, I do not believe in conspiracy theories. I also know that SOME Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and my ex-wife who is Iranian use tanning beds but I would argue that across the country, 99% of regular tanning customers are white. But maybe im wrong? Maybe its 95%, maybe its 90%............maybe its 80%.

So here's a question: If Black people made up 80% of the customer base of a certain product or service, and the federal government led by a white president decided to impose a special tax on that product or service, do you think the ACLU, NAACP or the media would call it racist?
a) yes
b) no

And to Mr. Pool Shark: Does assuming you know things about people you've never met make you look:
a) more credible
b) less credible
c) no change

[SamuraiSid]

I can honestly say I dont remember the last time I heard about racism in the media up here in Canada..

That being sayed my opinion may be slightly skewered as I have never had to deal with a racial issue. But I dont think that imposing a tax on tanning is racist, or has anything to do with racism. If anything, raising the question "Is this rasict?" is racist.

[monstermash]

not to defend the bill..but tanning beds increase risk of skin cancer 75-80 %..imo..if they need more tax money: tax the smokers more, have an obesity tax, and make welfare leaches take drug tests to remain on the cheese.

I agree on all points here. I still don't understand why cigs aren't like 20$ a pack. They should also tax the crap out of fast food, making it cheaper to serve healthy items.

And my favorite:



OMFG you guys! Way to go with your ability to sniff out the sarcasm in my post

Im now taking a deep breath and reminding myself that im on "teh interwebz" and regardless of the statements in my post such as, "I know this legislation is not racially motivated" and the 99 percent thing, and about Blacks tanning before competitions thing, I have to remember that some of you will see the title, skim what I wrote, take from it whatever distorted view you want and then basically respond to the title.

First, my post was to point out that when the goverment tries to regulate something, if that something can be attributed to one ethnicity primarily using it, it would be called racist even though there was NO racially motivated agenda behind it. Example? How about welfare reform? All the Libs, Sharpton, Jackson and every other loser that wouldnt have a job unless they can keep people angry called it racist..........EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MORE WHITE PEOPLE ON WELFARE THAN BLACKS.(yes, I know the percentage is lower but the total numbers are higher)

And second, the hypocrisy of the above mentioned civil rights activists and related organizations who should be screaming that these taxes are racist because according to their metrics they certainly are.

So once again, I know tanning bed taxes ARE NOT RACIST, I do not believe in conspiracy theories. I also know that SOME Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and my ex-wife who is Iranian use tanning beds but I would argue that across the country, 99% of regular tanning customers are white. But maybe im wrong? Maybe its 95%, maybe its 90%............maybe its 80%.

So here's a question: If Black people made up 80% of the customer base of a certain product or service, and the federal government led by a white president decided to impose a special tax on that product or service, do you think the ACLU, NAACP or the media would call it racist?
a) yes
b) no

And to Mr. Pool Shark: Does assuming you know things about people you've never met make you look:
a) more credible
b) less credible
c) no change

I feel you on this one. People are retarded and that tax is complete bull (no I do not go tanning myself). Oh and for the record I'm half hispanic.

[DAdams91982]

not to defend the bill..but tanning beds increase risk of skin cancer 75-80 %..imo..if they need more tax money: tax the smokers more, have an obesity tax, and make welfare leaches take drug tests to remain on the cheese.

Wow... that is quite the egregious tax plan there.

[monstermash]

I can honestly say I dont remember the last time I heard about racism in the media up here in Canada..

That being sayed my opinion may be slightly skewered as I have never had to deal with a racial issue. But I dont think that imposing a tax on tanning is racist, or has anything to do with racism. If anything, raising the question "Is this rasict?" is racist.

I just think they're are better things to tax BEFORE taxing this.

ie- fast food, tobacco, alchohol, soda, candy, etc...

^^ these things are what's killing americans and who can blame them for getting addicted to these things when they're so well advertised and cheaply priced.

[DAdams91982]

I just think they're are better things to tax BEFORE taxing this.

ie- fast food, tobacco, alchohol, soda, candy, etc...

^^ these things are what's killing americans and who can blame them for getting addicted to these things when they're so well advertised and cheaply priced.

That is quite the attack on the ability for American Choice.

I see everyone attacking obesity and different foods as the primary attack on our health care costs, and that is just a red herring propagated by the left.

Considering our health care is predominantly inflated by the aging baby boomers, do we now tax "Old"?

[EasyEJL]

Wow... that is quite the egregious tax plan there.

Not in the least. If the federal government is going to give tax credits for health insurance plans, then it should take in that money from things that contribute negatively to health to pay for it, not just take it from people who "already have enough money"

[monstermash]

Wow... that is quite the egregious tax plan there.

ok well maybe the obesity tax wouldn't be doable but the drug tests for welfare should have been there from the start.

[EasyEJL]

Considering our health care is predominantly inflated by the aging baby boomers, do we now tax "Old"?

No because eveyone gets old, not everyone gets morbidly obese. Getting obese is something you can avoid, getting old is something you can't other than by dying young.

this hog


is trying to reach 1000lbs just to break the worlds record.

[DAdams91982]

Not in the least. If the federal government is going to give tax credits for health insurance plans, then it should take in that money from things that contribute negatively to health to pay for it, not just take it from people who "already have enough money"

So redistribution of wealth? The tax credits are not some magical being that has no impact on our budgetary constraints.

Like I said.. do we tax old now?

[DAdams91982]

ok well maybe the obesity tax wouldn't be doable but the drug tests for welfare should have been there from the start.

I have been in support of this for a good decade now. Anyone that placates the system should have consequences.