I am so very thankful to be able to read a counterpoint to the absolute garbage that Ross Douthat and the NYT editors find "newsworthy". Thank you for the part-by-part debunking of a loser narc with an "opinion" that will reach millions. Reading Substance after browsing the NYT's latest piece they seemingly dug out of a festival's final day porta-potty, well, it's always like a breath of fresh air. Thanks for helping dispell the stink and debunk the loser narc.
Likewise, it's a pleasure and a privilege to be able to read Substance. I know I sound like a broken record, but I am incredibly grateful for the mission of Substance and the wonderful work you share here. All of the topics you cover have directly impacted my life, the lives of others I know, and millions more. It's rare to find factual reporting on any of these topics, which is heartbreaking because of how many lives they touch and, too often, how hard they touch these lives.
Did Ross win the Debbie Downer award? I was just starting to really enjoy my personal degradation. No worries, my lack of motivation, attention and performance will likely keep me from snatching that honor away from his highness.
As for sin taxes, I will note that they do seem to work reasonably well for alcohol according to the best evidence. Though in most of the USA, they are really too low to have much of an effect (I would be totally fine with hiking them significantly). And for tobacco they also seem to work, even if arguably confounded by social stigma against tobacco.
But for cannabis? The jury is definitely still out about that. Best bet would be to "start low, go slow" with cannabis taxes to undercut the black market, and only later hike them. And make such taxes proportional to THC potency. That would be a great way to "bring back mids" and put an end to the current "strength wars".
I never liked Ross Douthat one bit, and now I like him even that much less still, which I didn't even think was possible until just now. EPIC FAIL. His utter parody of anything even remotely resembling a coherent argument does provide for some good cheap laughs, though. The NYT is clearly circling the drain if they give him any sort of credence!
I am so very thankful to be able to read a counterpoint to the absolute garbage that Ross Douthat and the NYT editors find "newsworthy". Thank you for the part-by-part debunking of a loser narc with an "opinion" that will reach millions. Reading Substance after browsing the NYT's latest piece they seemingly dug out of a festival's final day porta-potty, well, it's always like a breath of fresh air. Thanks for helping dispell the stink and debunk the loser narc.
My pleasure!
Likewise, it's a pleasure and a privilege to be able to read Substance. I know I sound like a broken record, but I am incredibly grateful for the mission of Substance and the wonderful work you share here. All of the topics you cover have directly impacted my life, the lives of others I know, and millions more. It's rare to find factual reporting on any of these topics, which is heartbreaking because of how many lives they touch and, too often, how hard they touch these lives.
Signing out with another heartfelt thank you,
The Broken Record lol
Thanks broken record!!!
Thank you!
Did Ross win the Debbie Downer award? I was just starting to really enjoy my personal degradation. No worries, my lack of motivation, attention and performance will likely keep me from snatching that honor away from his highness.
Hahahahha!!
Zing! I couldn't have said it better myself.
Another really excellent piece, Tana. Thanks so much for the work you do.
As for sin taxes, I will note that they do seem to work reasonably well for alcohol according to the best evidence. Though in most of the USA, they are really too low to have much of an effect (I would be totally fine with hiking them significantly). And for tobacco they also seem to work, even if arguably confounded by social stigma against tobacco.
But for cannabis? The jury is definitely still out about that. Best bet would be to "start low, go slow" with cannabis taxes to undercut the black market, and only later hike them. And make such taxes proportional to THC potency. That would be a great way to "bring back mids" and put an end to the current "strength wars".
I never liked Ross Douthat one bit, and now I like him even that much less still, which I didn't even think was possible until just now. EPIC FAIL. His utter parody of anything even remotely resembling a coherent argument does provide for some good cheap laughs, though. The NYT is clearly circling the drain if they give him any sort of credence!
👑👑👑