Alcoholism and Taxes

Responding to J.B. (No More Alcohol Taxes), who has stated that "alcoholism is a disease" and also that "alcoholics choose to become alcoholics"--- what an interesting concept!

How many other diseases does J.B. think we "choose" to get? Alcoholism is a problem that doesn't just affect the alcoholic, but also affects a network of people around him/her---from a possibly abused/abandoned wife, to children being raised by dysfunctional parent's), to anyone riding in a car on the same highway as the alcoholic (to say nothing of their grieving family and friends), to an employer wondering if/when an alcoholic employee might show up---and the list is endless and wide spreading.

Each and every one of these scenarios also has a financial impact on society, if money or taxes is your main concern, as it appears to be with J.B.

Letting (or hoping, J.B.?) an alcoholic might "kill themselves in the process" is such a ridiculous proposal that I would feel foolish for even responding to it.

I think J.B. has either never loved someone in the grips of alcoholism, or HAS experienced this pain, and is so bitter about it that he/she would prefer to see them dead.

If it's the second, I would hope that he/she will get counselling if it's the first, please have a little compassion for someone who does not measure up to your standards of politically-correct drinking!

D. Scott