Nov 042009
"Here in Nevada we have a higher percentage of smokers among the poor. They got shafted by this tax increase. It was a sneaky way for Congress to tax the poor:"
The quote is not mine just want to show how some see this issue. What do you think?
EDIT: Several comments have been posted regarding taxing alcohol, too late, booze has been taxed heavily since the repeal of prohibition in 1932.
ZERO. If people insist on committing suicide, that is their decision alone. They didn’t get shafted. It just shows their lack of good sense if they pay more to commit suicide.
Not very, they can quit if they choose! But, I do believe that tobacco puts things into cigarettes that makes them addictive, BIG Tobacco, should be partly to blame!
References :
Most people who smoke have an addiction. Overtaxing cigarettes is taking advantage of people with an illness, which is wrong.
References :
I’m a nonsmoker.
I am sympathetic towards any group that is singled out to pay higher taxes. Because it’s seen as a disgusting habit, people who don’t smoke happily support hiking their taxes….
That particular tax goes to pay for children’s health insurance – but there are not enough smokers to cover the bill. I think there needs to be some 20Million new smokers for the tax to be effective. So the people who thought they were sticking it to nasty smokers are really sticking it to themselves – someone will have to be taxed to make up the huge difference!
References :
I hate taxes on anything. I guess Obama thinks that only people who make over $250,000 a year smoke.
If they want people to quit smoking they would make tobacco illegal.
The nanny state (communist dicktatorship) of Obama will put prohibitive taxes on all of the following and more.
Tanning beds.
Fatty foods.
Soda pop.
Red meat.
Unprotected sex.
Walking alone at night in South Chicago.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/conten...
http://aids.about.com/od/tipsforsafersex...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/322128...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,2905...
http://www.clrsearch.com/RSS/Demographic...
And the sheep will say nothing as they let the government decide for them how they live their lives.
It is sickening to see so many people ready to hand the responsibility for their children and themselves over to the government.
References :
Now I get it. The Tea Party is for cigarette smokers who are opposing the increased cigarette tax. No, I don’t feel sorry for smokers, my health premiums go up because their health care costs go up.
I’m not poor and I can not afford to smoke, so how can poor people afford to smoke with or without the tax.
References :
very bad policy decision — the tax falls on those who have little political pull.
In theory, 46 states settled with the tobacco industry regarding the health care costs of smoking. Now, if the purpose of the tax is to provide funds for smokers’ health care costs — because new studies show that the settlement wasn’t enough [as I suspect -- the industry isn't dumb but politicians usually are], that would be fair.
However, there is no hint of such purpose and no program to pay smokers’ health care costs.
So, Congress is simply shafting the people who are underrepresented in the Washington lobbying game.
Next up will be alcohol. And the uninsured. And the elderly [the Dems believe the elderly will vote for them no matter what].
And it is all in the service of making government bigger so they can have more handouts to buy more votes.
References :
Mammon has returned to earth. Can Sodom and Gomorrah be far behind?
I am somewhat sympathetic. If they tax cigarettes, they should also tax alcohol.
References :
These brave men and women are risking their lives for our country. Smoking cigarettes is patriotic.
References :
No. No one is forcing you to pay that tax…smoking is a choice. If you choose not to pay the tax, then quit
References :
They’re not taxing the poor. The tax is on what is the result of smoking. If you smoke, and do harm to yourself and others, pay the piper. (so to speak)
I used to smoke and quit. It wasn’t easy, but with a little discipline it can be done.
References :
Very sympathetic–studies have shown that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. I know—I’ve tried to quit many times, & while I’ve cut way down, I can’t stop the craving.
It’s a very regressive tax, & will only make things hard for poor folks.
References :
The last 40 years.
i have some sympathy for them
as a tech worker, i’ve been demolished by the H-1b program
the media started a campaign about 10 years ago, portraying us as ‘geeky, nerdy, greedy’, and as Americans ‘fat, lazy’, while portraying those who we had to TRAIN to replace us as ‘harder working, more entraprenurial, bla bla bla’
while smoking is bad, the government wants to put their hand in someone’s pocket – and it’s easier to do it to someone who’s unpopular
and i’ve learned the media will help make you unpopular, if the government really wants to screw you over
i hate this process more than i dislike smoking
(For instance, media puts on garbage like American Idol, then media columnists will blame you as an American for watching it, even if you dont watch it.. Just an example of ways the media is always attacking people, innocent or not)
References :
I’m sympathetic to anyone overtaxed to fund wasteful spending
References :
Not at all.
Smoking is perhaps one of the dumbest personal choices a person can make.
There is not one single benefit that a person can derive from smoking.
I will give you 2 reasons why you should not smoke.
1. You could put the money to better use: Buy food instead, you need food to live. At about $7.00 a pack you could buy a lot of fruit and vegitables and improve you health and energy levels.
2. You can save your health from potential harm in the long run.
But what do I know, I’m just a dumb life long non smoker.
References :
Clean living.
I am sympathetic to anyone that loses their liberty. Just because it is a bad habit doesn’t matter. Where will it end? It ends where they can’t find money>
An idiot cop at a speed trap is there to do nothing more than take your money. It is easier and more profitable than actually catching people that are really doing something dangerous. It is the government attacking you. Parasite
References :
ZERO. If people insist on committing suicide, that is their decision alone. They didn’t get shafted. It just shows their lack of good sense if they pay more to commit suicide.
References :