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Why a 'Botax' Is a Wrinkly Idea

Taxing plastic surgery could hurt the economy

By Emily Rauhala,  Newser User

Posted Nov 24, 2009 12:08 PM CST

(Newser) – Taxing Americans' breast implants isn't as hot an idea as it may seem. That's because our assumption that richie-richie New Jersey housewives are the ones getting it isn't quite right, writes Christopher Beam for Slate. This is an industry that services people who can't afford it—credit card is the payment of choice for 85% of procedures. And because it's "well established" that good looks correlate with good salaries, if going under the knife makes you better looking, plastic surgery has the potential to make people—and the country—better off.

Beam acknowledges that there aren't stats to back this up, but adds "there's plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that a larger cup size (or smoother nasal curvature or tighter buttocks) leads to a higher tax bracket." Says one surgeon, "People come to us between jobs or after losing their jobs to freshen up, look alert—to be or at least feel more competitive, which makes them more competitive." Congress should try to figure out if there is a correlation, writes Beam, because "taxing cosmetic surgery could turn out to be like the surgery itself: a superficial fix for a deeper problem."

Should the government tax plastic surgery?
Should the government tax plastic surgery?   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Thinker
Nov 25, 2009 12:06 PM CST
Right on, divetrader. The economy has always been stronger when the rich are taxed a lot and, yes, they've been taxed at 90% before (during WWII) and the economy was great, middle class thrived and ... THERE WERE STILL PLENTY OF RICH PEOPLE SPENDING LAVISHLY.
RobN
Nov 25, 2009 6:52 AM CST
Yes there was a 90% tax at one time. Accompanying it was a tax code that allowed you to write off virtually everything. The end of the 90% tax coincided with a rewriting of the tax code to do away with the write-offs. A 90% now, without those write-offs, is not comparable to the previous 90% tax. A 90% tax under the current laws would end investment ; the risk would become too great as compared to the potential benefit. Those rich people are the ones who will create the new jobs in this country; take away the payoff and you take away the incentive and we can all continue to enjoy the current double digit unemployment.
Cat-Lover
Nov 24, 2009 11:12 AM CST
Check out Palin...Believe me there've been changes.

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