▶ Your Answer :
In the reading
passage, the author argues that imposing a cigarette tax is beneficial by
giving three reasons. However, the lecturer casts doubt on the effectiveness of
the policy that increases the tax.
First of all,
the author mentions that imposing a tax on smoker prevent people from addicting
to smoking. This is mainly due to the fact that there were previous cases that
increasing tax actually help people to fewer buy cigarettes. On the other hand,
according to the lecturer, she argues that raising taxes does not necessary to
help people improve their health. This is because people will buy cheaper
cigarette when the cigarette tax is imposed and thus it will lead to greater
health risks to people. This counters the author's opinion that imposing tax
actually help to reduce health risks.
Secondly, the
author claims that the cigarette tax is financially fair because they have more
responsibility for their unhealthy behavior than people who maintain a good
decision for their health. Therefore, it is fair for them to pay extra income.
This is in stark opposition to the lecturer's argument by saying that some
people might think this cigarette tax is unfair. According to the lecturer, low-income
people spend their income on the tax more than higher-earning people given the
fact that the income proportion is different between the two class. The tax
might be more financial burden for low-income people, which is unfair for them.
Lastly, the
writer asserts that taxing cigarettes will increase the government's tax
revenue and it will eventually benefit people by giving other forms of social
welfare. On the contrary, the lecturer refutes the author's opinion by arguing
that government might not strongly force to enjoy tax revenue from a cigarette.
the lecturer points that that there might be a possibility that the government
does not want to give up their tax revenue. As a result, it is highly unlikely
that the government help people to stop smoking since the high tax revenue will
reduce when they stop taxing.
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