The New Poor Tax (Obama, money, federal government, programs)
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LOL. I am one of those rare people who can have a cig now and then, enjoy it, but it doesn't 'hook me in' or any of that other garbage. But maybe that's why I see addiction as personal weakness.
I wasnt criticizing. It was kind of an envious remark actually
As usual I agree with Saganista. This is a very regressive tax on addicted individuals. I would like to see it accompanied by a ban on tobacco advertizing or, at least, a special sales tax for the advertizing. I would ban advertizing on all alcohol products as well. I do not think behavior that can, and usually does, result in addiction should be encouraged by advertizing.
BTW - As corporations are creations of the government I do not believe they have any constitutional rights. Others disagree with me on this point.
It's regressive...the rich guy who smokes a pack a day won't notice the extra tax. The poor guy who smokes a pack a day will...
NO ONE, rich or poor, should be smoking cigarettes. Especially the poor, as they can't afford the medical care should they get emphysema or cancer from their stupid habit.
NO ONE, rich or poor, should be smoking cigarettes. Especially the poor, as they can't afford the medical care should they get emphysema or cancer from their stupid habit.
No one, rich or poor, should be voting Republican. Especially the rich, as they insist they can't afford the financial care should we get a recession or depression from their stupid habit.
Smoking and voting Republican are both legal. I'd be fine, though, with making them both illegal. Do we have a deal??? <lights up>
It's always amusing to hear that, on one hand, a new tax is going to raise lots of money and then, on the other hand, say it should, at the same time, encourage the elimination of that same base.
What if the extra expense is successful in getting a majority of users quitting?
How ya' supposed to raise money on something nobody is doing?
The way things are headed, I can envision when the perspective buyer is required to show his W-2 statement from the year prior, to determine the charge for a pack of smokes. For instance, if you make over 100k a year, cigarettes will be 20 bucks a pack. If, however, you are unemployed, the cigarettes are free.
Well the big question is what will they deem unhealthy & tax next.
Bloomberg in NYC wants an additional tax on soft drinks to help fill in his budget gap, it's being referred to as the Obesity Tax..what's next and extra tax on your Big Mac?
This is a new revenue making game for politicians and when ciggie sales go on the decline this program will be yet another social program in the red....or they will find something else to tax
Liberals rant on about regressive taxes, yet they don't oppose this tax which hits the poor more than anyone else. Same for the 5 cent per gallon gas tax increase the last Democrat president approved....
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I wasnt criticizing. It was kind of an envious remark actually 
