“This is what makes liberals look like elitist bullies who think they know everything”
“I agree that it is big brotherly, too much in that direction,” Bernstein said before delving into how the cost of obesity affects others in society. “It does raise the costs of healthcare through the society.”
“But everybody does something,” Maher contended. “This is what I objected to. Yes, if you’re a cigarette smoker, if you drink a lot of booze, those things are legal. People do coke, that’s not legal, they do it. They ride motorcycles. They have too much stress! You never get laid. There’s a lot of reasons why you could get sick.”
“But we tax them and we should tax this,” Bernstein shot back.
“We make the worst consequences of those behaviors inconvenienced,” Rachel Maddow said. “You can’t buy loose cigarettes anymore, you can’t buy a single cigarette anymore, you have to have enough money to buy a whole pack. Okay, that’s annoying, but you know what that does? That keeps people from starting smoking because they can only afford one cigarette.”
Blowback
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Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
This doesn’t negate all the other stupid stuff he’s said in the past, but between this and his complaining about California taxes being too high for the rich, maybe he’s trying to increase his audience…
ScoopPC11 on March 17, 2013 at 8:15 PM
According to Maddow, the government should tax barebacking sex because of the “worst consequences of those behaviors.”
RedRedRice on March 17, 2013 at 8:20 PM
Taxing unhealthy behavior? Considering the AIDs rate is SUBSTANTIALLY higher in gay populations and it’s all a matter of health care costs, how about a tax on being gay?
michaelo on March 17, 2013 at 8:20 PM
I read somewhere that sodomy is a leading factor in HIV transmisssion, thus increasing medical costs for us all. Any ideas on how this should be handled?:)
a capella on March 17, 2013 at 8:22 PM
It feels weird and creepy agreeing with Maher on something.
MikeknaJ on March 17, 2013 at 8:22 PM
Everything is correct except for the “look like”.
Marxism is for dummies on March 17, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Hey Bill, take a good look around the table.
What makes liberals look like elitist bullies who think they know everything is that they are: 1) elitist 2) bullies who 3) think they know everything.
HitNRun on March 17, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Every time a leftie opens their mouth I fell sick – shouldn’t they be taxed?
OldEnglish on March 17, 2013 at 8:24 PM
No, really? How could we come to that conclusion without the genius of thinkers like bill maher?
nobar on March 17, 2013 at 8:24 PM
My senator from Ohio (Portman) seems to feel that legalizing same-sex marriage to legitimize the conduct is the clear answer. Makes sense, right?
/
Seriously though, I’m certain that sodomy was the leading means of transmitting HIV in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. But I thought I read that somewhere along the line in the 1990s, some (thought not all) gays finally realized that they could reduce the spread among themselves and to others (including the innocents who received their infected blood donations) if they’d used condoms and reduced their number of partners to a handful. As a result, I think transmission by reused hypodermic needles became the leading means of transmission. But I may be wrong.
All the same. I doubt any medical professional will tell you that sodomy is safe and healthful activity.
BuckeyeSam on March 17, 2013 at 8:32 PM
“This is what makes liberals look like elitist bullies who think they know everything”
What’s this “look like” crap. Most liberal pols and activists ARE elitist bullies who think they know everything.
And all progressives are. It’s at the core of the progressive ideology.
petefrt on March 17, 2013 at 8:34 PM
Except most of the smokers I know are “poor” so try again, Maddow.
tdpwells on March 17, 2013 at 8:42 PM
*Gulp*
Knott Buyinit on March 17, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Maher isn’t an opinion shaper, he’s a talking mirror; his schtick is to sarcastically reflect the mindset of his audience and his comments are proof there’s growing dissatisfaction in the center left with many of the government’s policies. Guns, the economy, assassination and surveillance drones, and taxes are suddenly issues that affect them directly and can’t be conveniently blamed on Palin or Bush.
I’m thinking of a phrase containing the words “hoisted” and “petard”. A very expensive petard.
Xavier on March 17, 2013 at 8:54 PM
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on March 17, 2013 at 9:38 PM
All of the Gays that I meet (I’m in entertainment) feel privileged to be gay. It’s a feature, not a bug. As such, I think they’d be happy to pay a tax. Call it a sin tax and they’ll want twice as much. Gay people know they’re sinning. But so are all of the people in casinos; smoking, drinking, cheating on their wives, etc.
danielreyes on March 17, 2013 at 9:41 PM
I kicked the habit 20 years ago, but can never remember ever being able to buy loose cigarettes or a single cigarette.
F-
Del Dolemonte on March 17, 2013 at 9:41 PM
Well that makes sense… it’s a simple argument that resonates; even here.
Fascism is bad… unless the choice you’re forcing everyone to accept at the point of a gun is one I PERSONALLY AGREE WITH… then fascism is actually pretty good.
That’s what he is promoting; and people will eventually get used to have less control and fewer choices; then you can make the NEXT step to fascism and controlling their choices; then the next one… and so on.
And Fascism Is such a great idea that people love it… look at the people here agreeing… HOORAY FOR FASCISM AND REDUCING CHOICE, FREEDOM AND LIBERTY!
gekkobear on March 17, 2013 at 9:58 PM
In the ‘hood (Chicago and, I presume, Ms. Maddow’s Oakland & New York), that was the corner stores’ biggest profits: “lucy’s”–loose cigarettes. At 50 cents apiece, a $5 pack would rake in double.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on March 17, 2013 at 10:13 PM
First they came for the smoker and I said nothing, then they came for the overeater and I said nothing……..
careful what you wish for.
CW on March 17, 2013 at 10:17 PM
What do you mean, look “like“?
drunyan8315 on March 17, 2013 at 11:35 PM