Raising Cigarette and Liquor Taxes to pay for Teachers' Salary Increases and Mental Health Care - Your Thoughts (Charlotte: homes, school)

[anifani821]

Sin taxes = Good

Luxury taxes = Good

The only problem . . . who defines what commodities are classified that way?

[flyingscotsman]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

flyingscotsman - While I realize your remark is somewhat "tongue in cheek", can I recommend moving to NJ or NYC to fulfill those fantasies?

I recommend moving to the UK, makes NJ & NYC look like duty free

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Sin taxes = Good

Luxury taxes = Good

The only problem . . . who defines what commodities are classified that way?

Ani - As usual, I think you're right! I'm just hoping my quitting smoking is going to be permanent, and this thread will be more of a theoretical and academic discussion for me. I've never gone this long without a cigarette or a butt out of the garbage. Some of the other posters comments about say, a "fat" tax on fast food, would also save money down the road in health costs. But would a surcharge on a cheeseburger be a "luxury" tax or a "sin" tax? LOL Would a customer at the Raleigh Rolls Royce dealership miss a $10,000 state luxury tax on a $300,000 car?

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by flyingscotsman

I recommend moving to the UK, makes NJ & NYC look like duty free

flyingscotsman - You're just the guy to help us put our toes into the bathtub of $10 a gallon gasoline! London Calling!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

southbound_295 When NJ started raising the price of cigarettes so high, I started buying cigarettes on the internet for as little as $7.00 a carton for South American-made cigarettes from a place in Kentucky. Internet sales of cigs were stopped by federal government mandate just about the time I moved here. I remember the episode of The Sopranos, where Chris drove to NC to buy a trailer-load of "cheap cigarettes". Anytime a big differential in price exists on an item between two states will lead to purchases in the cheaper one or "smuggling" the item across state lines! Not much of a help to NC teachers or NC's mental health system!

LOL, I never went shopping in Delaware until the 2nd tax hike. Cash transactions are so difficult to trace.

Why not have a sin tax on porn?

[flyingscotsman]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Why not have a sin tax on porn?

Because that should be free anyway

What was that about applying for national assistance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

LOL, I never went shopping in Delaware until the 2nd tax hike. Cash transactions are so difficult to trace.

Why not have a sin tax on porn?

I suspect if there was a "sin" tax on porn, NC teachers would have "free" benefits like NJ teachers and they'd all be driving BMWs!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

southbound_295 - Hey, now I'm wondering if the CVS nicotine gum I'm chewing is cheaper in SC? I remember when I tried to quit about 5 years ago and the Nicotine patches I tried, (nearly itched to death! ) were priced in a proportional way to the cigarettes. Back then, a box of those patches were over $50 in NJ!

I know, Emissary. Good point. Those patches were very unpleasant. I like the Nicogel that Walgreens sells. Funny thing is that Happy Harry's (Walgreen in Delaware) doesn't sell Nicogel.

[SunnyKayak]

It would be cheaper in SC regardless due to less of a sales tax.

Why does Governor Easy Taxer just stop at Cigarettes though , Why not chewing tobacco and can of dip.
The next trip you make to a Shop & Rob store look at the price difference between the two. Same "sin" ingredient just packed different.

[Doorway]

Emissary, I don't have an easy answer, but would like to congratulate you on quitting smoking. !!!!! Keep it up