Comments on: Tax facelifts — and strike a blow against ageism

By: Claudia Deutsch

Claudia Deutsch — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:59:47 +0000

well, we agree on everything, it seems

By: misterb

misterb — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:45:06 +0000

Well, you’ve answered my objections. But I think you would be surprised at how many people who can’t afford it get plastic surgery. Vanity is not a class-based characteristic. I’m still all for the bill as described. After all, lotteries, cigarette taxes, liquor taxes fall disportionately on the poor, why not vanity taxes?

By: Claudia Deutsch

Claudia Deutsch — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:26:12 +0000

let me know when it’s definitely reached that point — I’ll cash in my frequent flyer miles for a one-way ticket

By: libtree09

libtree09 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:04:32 +0000

Well in LA your fantasy is coming closer to reality.

By: Claudia Deutsch

Claudia Deutsch — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:43:59 +0000

You are describing my perfect world — one where aging guys despair because the aging women are all dating younger men. Then, when someone like me says to a guy of a certain age, eschew the knife and shots, I love your character lines, he’s magnificently grateful. Ain’t fantasy grand?

By: libtree09

libtree09 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:34:14 +0000

Oh great…this overly distinguished craggy faced authoritarian is now going to have to pay more to get those cougars to give me a second look.

By: Tweets that mention Claudia Deutsch - The Bottom Line – Tax facelifts — and strike a blow against ageism - True/Slant -- Topsy.com

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:10:30 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bethany Worliting, :: AGING WATCH ::. :: AGING WATCH :: said: A fun little read by Claudia Deutsch: "Tax facelifts — and strike a blow against ageism." http://bit.ly/75nNxZ [...]

By: Claudia Deutsch

Claudia Deutsch — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:33:31 +0000

The bill is explicit — surgery to fix congenital disfigurements, repair problems caused by surgeries or accidents,etc, are all exempt from the tax. Only the vanity operations apply. So it is, in face, a tax on the wealthy — i don’t think many poor people can afford it, tax or no tax

By: misterb

misterb — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:16:53 +0000

Claudia,
I’m all for a tax on boob jobs and facelifts (butt jobs for men, too) but I would hate to see cleft palate surgery or mastectomy repair taxed. Plastic surgeons do plenty of good work along with the vanity jobs. It’s really hard to write a good law that deftly separates the deserving and the undeserving; I think the best way to deal with the deficit is to return to the Reagan tax structure, ie increase taxes on the wealthy.

On your main point about ageism, I’m with you all the way.