kuuipo Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 I could not believe what I heard this morning about New Jersey passing a new tax on plastic surgery. It is like a cigarette tax and the Representative says it is for the collective good and all proceeds will go to fund a bankrupt state health care system. All my brain could manage to sputter out was "HOW DARE THEY!" and "WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE FIGHT THIS!" I guess it has just become the status quo and no one pays much attention any more. They could be doing the same kind of thing here in Texas and I wouldn't know it because, like others, I am busy trying to survive and pay my bills, so I cannot really throw stones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMeganSnow Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Lovely. Is plastic surgery a "vice" now? Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMeganSnow Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 And furthermore, what an idiotic law. How do they define "plastic" surgery? Do they mean "elective" surgery? How do you define that?! It's a "plastic" term. If they do mean "elective" surgery, the only thing you must do to avoid paying the tax is to come up with some reason why you "need" the surgery . . . "My bazooms aren't big enough and it's hurting my self esteem! You're taxing me because I have a low self-esteem! That's not fair!" What a crock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexigogue Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Lovely. Is plastic surgery a "vice" now? Why? Because the only people who can afford it are the people who have committed the sin of being successful and productive. I guess making money is a sin. Hey if it's a sin to be rich then the poor should be happy for being virtuous. But then again. . . by hogging up all the virtue for themselves, aren't they then being greedy? That tax is another terrible law by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidOdden Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 And furthermore, what an idiotic law. How do they define "plastic" surgery? Do they mean "elective" surgery? How do you define that?! Since you asked... Any medical procedure performed on a individual which is directed at improving the procedure subject's appearance and which does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. "Cosmetic medical procedure" includes but is not limited to cosmetic surgery, hair transplants, cosmetic injections, cosmetic soft tissue fillers, dermabrasion and chemical peel, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, laser treatment of leg veins, sclerotherapy, and cosmetic dentistry. "Cosmetic medical procedure" does not include reconstructive surgery or dentistry So if your nose gets shot off, it's not taxable, but if you have a really big schnoz or something that's really small, add 6%. They don't mean elective surgery: they do mean cosmetic surgery (as defined). "My bazooms aren't big enough and it's hurting my self esteem! You're taxing me because I have a low self-esteem! That's not fair!" Oh, come now, surely they wouldn't tax self-esteem raising actions. Well, let me just quote a little bit more of the statute. "Cosmetic surgery" means the surgical reshaping of normal structures on the body to improve the body image, self-esteem or appearance of an individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMeganSnow Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Heh, thanks, David. Not only do I know it's stupid, I know it in detail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyH Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Nuts. Does anyone know the size of the tax? David, were you speculating that the tax might be 6% or reporting that it is 6%? Six percent could be sizeable enough to convince some people to leave the state for the surgery. (6% of $20,000 is $1200.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaintext Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I cannot resist saying that this is the direction any "consumption tax" will also take in an altruist society. The government does this because many citizens see it as "sort of reasonable". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidOdden Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 David, were you speculating that the tax might be 6% or reporting that it is 6%? The law is here, and it does say 6% (on the gross receipts). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominique Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 On My Website, I commented on a ludicrous response to a contest which rewarded the winners with plastic surgery. I find the fact that we have to pay our "parents" to restrict us once we become adults to be vomitous. I never agreed to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evangelical Capitalist Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of New Jersians going out-of-state for their plastic surgery. Anyone remember the luxury tax that put the domestic yacht-building industry out-of-business? Same thing. If I were a plastic surgeon in New Jersey, I'd be getting licensed in Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware or Maryland, 'cause that's where the business will go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Eurocentric Male Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of New Jersians going out-of-state for their plastic surgery. Anyone remember the luxury tax that put the domestic yacht-building industry out-of-business? Same thing. If I were a plastic surgeon in New Jersey, I'd be getting licensed in Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware or Maryland, 'cause that's where the business will go. Seems the evidence self. Prices for plastic surgery will rise 6% in New Jersy, people will go to neighbouring states to have their surgery done. + when you have a tax you need people to collect the tax, an administration keeping account, inspectors, legal procedures against people who don't pay etc. Seems somebody wants to go to a lot of effort to collect peanuts. Maybe the whole will have a negative return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megan Robinson Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 As a testiment to the way people such as the law-makers and their New Jersean subjects think: New Jersy has a ridiculous law about pumping gas. A driver is not allowed to pump his own gas in New Jersy. A TA of mine was using the law as an example when he said that the law was necessary, because if NJ made pumping your own gas legal, all those whose job it was to pump the gas would be out of work. I find it funny in remembering the old fad of "Dumb Laws" websites that those of New Jersy are most probably true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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