NationStates Jolt Archive

Taxing the Alcohol

Massive budget deficits have forced the government to either cut spending or increase taxes. They are currently looking at alcohol.

[option]"Just put taxes on all alcoholic drinks," states @@RANDOMNAME@@, a person labelled by many as a tax and spend liberal. "Then not only would you have more money, but you'd also have less to pay for health care. It's a win-win solution!"
[effect]all alcoholic drinks are heavily taxed to feed pork barrel spending
[stats]taxes increase, happiness decreases, economic freedoms decrease

[option]Suddenly, two incredibly stupid looking men wearing plad walk up, who are quickly identified by a nearby cop as Bob and Doug McKenzie. "You can't tax our beer, eh?" advises Bob, while opening another bottle. "Instead, you'd be much more popular if you made beer free." "And if you need anyone to distribute it, we'll be glad to help, eh?" says his brother.
[effect]drunken crowds fill the streets now that the government pays for all beer, eh?
[stats]taxes increase, happiness decreases if people are moralistic, increases otherwise, crime increases, economy decreases

[option]"Yeah, I think alchohol shouldn't be taxed, but free beer?" wonders libertarian @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I was thinking more along the lines of reducing spending. Although I'm sure that'll never happen."
[effect]a debate is raging over the budget, while everyone waits to get their money
[stats]happiness decreases, political apathy decreases

[option]"No! We must ban alcohol!" screams @@RANDOMNAME@@, a person known to shout out unpopular ideas at all political debates. "It is corrupting our men! Beating our women! Showing our children horrible scenes of violence! We cannot allow this to continue! Start the prohibition now!"
[effect]thousands of speak easies have sprung up due to the prohibition of alcohol
[stats]happiness decreases, crime increases, happiness increases if people are moralistic, decreases otherwise, economy decreases

If you're asking for commentary by posting this, it's just kind of....bad all around. I can go into specifics if you would like advice.

I like.

I do not want the advice of Aryanis, if he sends vast criticisms of other people's intelligence when they try to give him advice.

If you're asking for commentary by posting this, it's just kind of....bad all around. I can go into specifics if you would like advice.

I'll give you two words - listen carefully now: Constructive criticism. Ever heard of it? If you can't say anything helpful and do nothing but beat someone's work into the ground, please refrain from saying anything at all.

@Kea: I can't really go into depths now, as I'm supposed to be studying. Put shortly: good idea, like the wit, maybe try to elaborate on the 'option descriptions' a bit.

Taxing the AlcoholHmmm. I think that the title should be more intriguing.

Massive budget deficits have forced the government to either cut spending or increase taxes. They are currently looking at alcohol.

[option]"Just put taxes on all alcoholic drinks," states @@RANDOMNAME@@, a political columnist in the local newspaper. "Then not only would you have more money, but you'd also have less to pay for health care. It's a win-win solution!"
[effect]all alcoholic drinks are heavily taxed to feed pork barrel spending
[stats]taxes increase, happiness decreases, crime decreasesWhy does crime decrease when you put a tax on beer?

[option]Suddenly, two incredibly stupid looking men wearing plad walk up, who are quickly identified by a nearby cop as Bob and Doug McKenzie. "You can't tax our beer, eh?" advises Bob, while opening another bottle. "Instead, you should make beer free." "Just think of how popular you'd be, eh?" says his brother.
[effect]millions cheered as it was announced that all beer will be paid for by the government, eh?
[stats]taxes increase, happiness increases, crime increasesAre all those "eh?"s supposed to imply that these drunkards are Canadian? Also, the effect needs to be in the present tense, and you can't have punctuation like a ? in it.

[option]"Yeah, I think alchohol shouldn't be taxed, but free beer?" wonders libertarian @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I was thinking more along the lines of reducing spending. Although I'm sure that'll never happen."
[effect]a debate is raging over the budget, while everyone waits to get their money
[stats]happiness decreases, political apathy decreasesWhy does happiness decrease here?

[option]"No! We must ban alcohol!" screams @@RANDOMNAME@@, a person known to shout out unpopular ideas at all political debates. "It is corrupting our men! Beating our women! Showing our children horrible scenes of violence! We cannot allow this to continue! Start the prohibition now!"
[effect]all alcholic beverages have been banned, following the advice of someone suspected to be a lunatic
[stats]happiness decreases, crime increasesAlthough it is still rough, I love the idea. Keep working on it, please. I would love to be able to answer this issue myself one day.

LOL!! OMFG, I went to the bathroom and I tried to think of a good issue. Then I'm like "Hey, i can make one were people want to ban alcohol!"

I come back, and look what i find... :eek:

lol :P Just my luck... anyways, you should say something about banning alcohol creating a black market and increased mafia activities :D

LOL!! OMFG, I went to the bathroom and I tried to think of a good issue. Then I'm like "Hey, i can make one were people want to ban alcohol!"

I come back, and look what i find... :eek:

lol :P Just my luck... anyways, you should say something about banning alcohol creating a black market and increased mafia activities :D

Nice idea, but probably better suited to a follow-up issue witha validity of alcohol being banned.

Jjuulliiaann: Actually, you can keep a question mark in a sentence. At least in English english you can. I've read British books that have sentences like this:

But why would they invade at a time when humanity was going strong? he wondered.

As for the issue, it's a pretty good idea in my opinion.

Jjuulliiaann: Actually, you can keep a question mark in a sentence. At least in English english you can.
Yeah, but it's going to be weird seeing "The mining industry has taken a hit from tighter environmental regulations, the government is notorious for leaving citizens with almost nothing from their inheritance, millions cheered as it was announced that all beer will be paid for by the government, eh?, and houses and businesses are bulldozed to make way for ever-expanding cemetaries."

I think it's a really good idea, I look forward to answering it.

Are all those "eh?"s supposed to imply that these drunkards are Canadian?

What, are you some kind of hoser, eh? Never heard of the McKenzie brothers, hey?

Seriously, though, it was a bit on SCTV featuring two semi-moronic, drunken Canadian brothers who host a public access show called The Great White North (guess what inspired Wayne's World...). It was Dave Thomas (not the Wendy's guy) and Rick Moranis. They even made a movie about these two goofs called 'Strange Brew' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086373/), which has one of the best Star Wars jokes ever ("I am your father, Luke. Give in to the dark side of the force, you knob!")

That being said, while the descriptions that go into the spotlight can be humorous, they aren't usually "in character", and thus the "eh?" would probably get axed in editing.

Why would they take out the "eh?"s in editing?

I'll give you two words - listen carefully now: Constructive criticism. Ever heard of it? If you can't say anything helpful and do nothing but beat someone's work into the ground, please refrain from saying anything at all.

@Kea: I can't really go into depths now, as I'm supposed to be studying. Put shortly: good idea, like the wit, maybe try to elaborate on the 'option descriptions' a bit.


I was mocking Kea for doing exactly what you speak of toward some issues I put in. He made a ridiculous attempt at criticizing my issues without addressing a single one; criticism for the sake of criticism, without even a single valid point, for the sole purpose of transparent and ironically reflective patronization rather than helpful advice. I thought it would be appropriate to respond in kind, to show essentially how it feels. The difference is that, unlike my issues, his is banal, drab, unimaginative, and poorly written, so I would actually have merit to my non-argument if I chose to make it, which I didn't, 'twas merely in jest. I'm not sure it's strictly necessary for you to insult me by asking if I've ever heard of constructive criticism, considering you knew nothing of the context of my post.

The only actual criticism I made was about the effects. And how could I address everything in the issues? You put more than ten of them into a single post. Then you flamed me. Then you flamed me again in this thread. Then you flamed me once again.

Enough of the "He said, she said" crap already. Knock it off, The Kea & Aryanis.

~ Frisbeeteria ~
NationStates Forum Moderator
The One-Stop Rules Shop