▶ Your Answer :
In this given set of materials, there is some
discrepancy between the views of the lecturer and the author over the issue of imposing
higher taxes on cigarettes and other unhealthy products. With three cogent
explanations, the lecturer raises objections to the alleged benefits of imposing
higher taxes on cigarettes and other unhealthy products.
To start
with, the lecturer debunks the author’s first conjecture since risen taxes of cigarettes
and other unhealthy products are likely to make people continue their unhealthy
behaviors. To elaborate in detail, the lecturer claims that as the taxes are
high, smokers will buy cheaper and lower quality cigarettes, which contain more
harmful substances, and it will impose greater health risks on people. Similarly,
people will continuously buy unhealthy foods but have less money to spend on
other healthy food. This view is in direct opposition to the author’s claim
that higher taxes will encourage people from indulging in healthy behaviors.
In
addition, the lecturer also indicates dissent over the author’s idea on imposing
higher taxes on cigarettes and other unhealthy products. The lecturer sounds
convinced that the author is making a manifest error about financial fairness
since people with low income will feel it unfair to pay more for their cigarettes
or other unhealthy products, because more taxes will consequently create greater
burden for people with smaller income than people with higher one. However, the
author clarifies that it is financially fair to tax people who engage in unhealthy
behaviors to cover the medical issues.
Thirdly,
the lecturer goes on to expound the author’s final point on government’s future
action in flawed. To corroborate this opinion, the lecturer mentions that taxes
on cigarettes and other unhealthy products will produce enormous income for the
government. As a result, government will implement their laws to not to lose
this huge financial income, such as not allowing people to smoke in all outdoor
areas. However, this counters the author’s theory that increased revenue
created by higher rate of taxation on unhealthy behaviors will be used to
benefit everyone by government.
Therefore, with these three cogent explanations the lecturer posits, the
author’s assumptions are all rendered groundless.
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