Health Club tax proposal : New York state

....don't think so.  seems pretty dumb to me. 

That if he raises enough taxes he doesn't have to cut back on out of control spending.

I don't see a problem with consumption taxes as long as there is an equal or greater offset to income taxes.

Actually, I prefer a "fair tax" structure to the current system where tax winners and losers are picked and controled by the government.

 Please tell me you forgot the red sarc font....

 You're either rich, or you prioritize your resources to pay for the things that you deem important, such as access to a facility to help you stay as healthy as possible.

Wait, WHAT? You're kidding right? I mean, I'm a Dem and all, but that's ridiculous. How does having a gym membership equate to being rich? A lot of my friends belong to gyms and we are FAR from rich. FAR from it. We just choose to spend the little money we have in an effort to take care of ourselves, which has nothing to do with being rich.

Perhaps I have turned over a new leaf! why not tax gym memberships? Seems like it is not a needed expense, seems to be a luxury item. so tax it.  After all there are people who would like to go to the gym but they can not afford it and that is just not fair.  We need to ensure that ALL PEOPLE can take advantage of the health benefits of physical activity and since the BIG GYM INDUSTRY will not provide a product at a price that all can afford we need to provide a means of allocating this resource to the disadvantaged. So I say TAX THEM.

See, there's your first mistake; using logic and reason to come up with public policy.

Um, here in DC, we have everything from community centers that charge only a few $ per visit, to $10 a month gyms, to $30 a month gyms, to the usualy $50-$75ish, to $100+ gyms. It's pretty safe to say that there is a pretty wide range of availability...not to mention free parks and stuff where people can go and get exercise. Getting health benefits of physical activity could be as simple as taking a walk every day - it's not as if the evil "Big Gym" industry is denying that right to people who can't afford a membership. 

Thank you for the laugh. I needed it.

Um, he DIDN'T use the sarc font, and I wasn't the only one who didn't think he was kidding. Oddly, I see you didn't jump down that poster's throat.

I don't think he was either kidding or being sarcastic per se.  I think he was trying to make a point.  Sucks to be part of the group being targeted doesn't it.