Good.

Trouble is people will live longer and consume more resources.

Ah, short sightedness, how wonderful.

"We will fuel our healthcare initiatives with taxes on a a vice, which in turn will make almost everyone quit and be healthier."

"Okay...but what happens when even more of a majority don't smoke and the taxes on tobacco don't bring in enough to cover your healthcare programs anymore?"

"THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!"

"Alcohol is next, isn't it?"

"yes."

i hope they tax the shiat out of alcohol.

-smoking may or may not kill me...however, alcohol is the catylist for the retarded, jackbooted american syndrome.

this is taxation without representation.

Bauer: i hope they tax the shiat out of alcohol.

-smoking may or may not kill me...however, alcohol is the catylist for the retarded, jackbooted american syndrome.

this is taxation without representation.

It is also excessive taxation.

What is the figure on bagged tobacco...2100%? 2400%? I know it is one of those two.

All I know is that it adds $24-25 per pound to the price that is already there. The brand I buy was $13.99 per pound, then it went up to $15.99 with local taxes, then last week it went up again to $17.99 with local taxes, next week it will be near $43 per pound. This puts it near the price of a carton of smokes. Still a much better alternative with the amount you get (getting around five cartons compared to one carton), but still. That is excessive when it goes up $25 within two weeks.

chemical_angel: Good.

It is for me... I'm going to make a large purchase of cartons in Missouri and sell them back here for a large profit for me and discount for them.

Thanks Iowa for the tax $1 to make a $1.19 difference per pack.

it's not going to help..or 'make' people stop smoking.

taxes like these only hurt the working poor.

I am investigating whether the local Native American Casino that has a tobacco shop is selling RYO tobacco. If they are, I am making the 30 minute drive there to buy it.

What does this mean?

No taxes on the tobacco as well as the money not being put into a local state area business. It is out of state (Wisconsin) and they will be making the money from me as well as others I know.

This hurts the local guy who is trying to make a living, and will most likely be shutting down because of it.

Bauer: it's not going to help..or 'make' people stop smoking.

taxes like these only hurt the working poor.

change only to mainly...but yep.

If the neighboring states have high tobacco taxes, i'd cut local tobacco taxes to the bone and make sure everyone else knew it. Then I'd discontinue the anti-smoking campaign(s) and watch the money roll in!

Another sign of the bad economy: Swelling underground and black market sales to circumvent obscene tax increases. Now THAT'S change I can believe in!

Of course, the tax only applies to cigarettes. One can purchase loose leaf tobacco, papers, filters for a fraction of what it cost for pack of smokes. With just a little practice, one can roll ten cigarettes for the price of one. So, always remember it is about making America healthier, not about bullshiat, feel good, measures that the mob will shout about and not actually DO anything.

Ennuipoet: Of course, the tax only applies to cigarettes. One can purchase loose leaf tobacco, papers, filters for a fraction of what it cost for pack of smokes. With just a little practice, one can roll ten cigarettes for the price of one. So, always remember it is about making America healthier, not about bullshiat, feel good, measures that the mob will shout about and not actually DO anything.


Nope--loose tobacco is going to go through the roof. The tax on one pound will rise from $1.10/pound to the $22-$25 range.

That's too much, whatever your stand on smoking.

If they are serious that taxes should be raised on anything that is bad for your health and leads to higher health care costs, that is fine as long as those who support it also support $25 Big Macs, $90 trips to tanning salons, and $45 cases of beer. It's really not fair to just pile it onto smokers.

But, but, but..........I make less than 250K and "I will not see one single cent in tax increases". I will play that on a loop in my head tomorrow as I pay my $6.19 tax increase.

I was going to make a detailed post, but I'd rather just do two quick outbursts-

Fark all you non-smokers that don't give a shiat because it's not your vice.

And fark all you morons that think this wouldn't be happening if Republicans were in control of the government.

/non-smoker
//didn't vote for Obama

New Yorkers: We promise not to raise them too much, cause we still want your money.

Sybilll: But, but, but..........I make less than 250K and "I will not see one single cent in tax increases". I will play that on a loop in my head tomorrow as I pay my $6.19 tax increase.

If you stop smoking, I'll bet you see a tax decrease. How about that?

Paid $7.11 for a pack of Camels last night in Arizona. Back to rolling cigarettes..

Sybilll: But, but, but..........I make less than 250K and "I will not see one single cent in tax increases". I will play that on a loop in my head tomorrow as I pay my $6.19 tax increase.

Yes, Philip-Morris raised the cost on my V.Slims 2 weeks ago or so by $7 a carton roughly - kinda getting us prepared?

Don't worry, as many people here have said, liquor and beer is next. THAT is when you will see the Farkers howling.


GAT_00:
If you stop smoking, I'll bet you see a tax decrease. How about that?

I only hope that one day they hit something that you like to consume this hard with a punitive tax. I will laugh my ass off at you and your ilk.

Smoke a joint, its tax free, and lasts longer.

Dude

jenlen: I only hope that one day they hit something that you like to consume this hard with a punitive tax. I will laugh my ass off at you and your ilk.

In this country, we only tax those we don't like, like AIG employees.

Besides, smoking is the only thing that's so bad for you we need to tax it to discourage it. You can tax my Coca-cola when you can pry it from my cold, fatty, dead fingers.

PoopStain: Good job, Democrats. Maybe you can raise the booze tax next.

Idiots.



Your spiel has grown tiresome.

Bauer: it's not going to help..or 'make' people stop smoking.

Oh, I dunno, back when Camels were $3.25 a pack I'd smoke like, three or four at once. At $6 a pack I can only afford to smoke them one at a time.

/stupid sin taxes

jenlen: I only hope that one day they hit something that you like to consume this hard with a punitive tax. I will laugh my ass off at you and your ilk.

Oh yeah? Well you can suck it, I hear they're introducing a schadenfreude tax.

/wait a second..

More regressive taxes. Change we can believe in.

Wonder how long it'll take before we start having people shoot each other over cigarette deals gone bad.

The hell with the cigarette tax, I don't pay any taxes, only shipping.

Link (new window)

$12 a carton for Marlboro's.

Sweet! Whatever it is, it's far too low.

fusillade762: Bauer: it's not going to help..or 'make' people stop smoking.

Oh, I dunno, back when Camels were $3.25 a pack I'd smoke like, three or four at once. At $6 a pack I can only afford to smoke them one at a time.

/stupid sin taxes



Pffft. Amateur.

We could avoid the tax if we actually had healthcare. But since you're too lazy to opt into the program, we have to extract your payment through other, more painful means.

USP .45: More regressive taxes. Change we can believe in.

They haven't gone far enough. A lot of extreme right wing nut jobs have been buying guns and ammo. I think we should raise the taxes by 1200% on those as well.

/smoker
//had to switch to a cheaper brand
///oh well, no biggie

I quit smoking finally, so it doesn't affect me anymore. But I still think it's bullshiat to keep raising the tobacco tax like this. And, as was said earlier, I bet they will go for the alcohol next. That's when we put them against the wall, brothers and sisters. Those fat, sleek bastards in government don't want to see how angry we are when we're sober.

Of course, they COULD legalize weed and tax the hell out of it. That alone would do wonders for the economy. I don't smoke the stuff, but I have no doubt plenty of people would be investing in the green economy.

i love how the govt would rather tax tobacco and alcohol more and more as a means of generating revenue, but then still avoid cannabis like the plague. i guess they think they make more money by jailing and fining people rather than flipping all the funds against cannabis and taxing the hell out of it too...

/free weed!!
//it may be tax free now, but at what cost?

Well shiat, don't stop there. Tax everything that's bad for people.



Let's not forget television and the Internet while you're at it.


--SMOKER. MY LUNGS. NOT YOURS.

I rub my thirdhand smoke on your kid's bicycle grips when you're not looking.

My oral fixation!

The black market begins in earnest. (new window)

My dad gets the RYO stuff, told me about the $24/lb tax increase here in Ohio...

So what's he going to do? He didn't biatch about it, he's going through the HR dept. at his work to get the gum or patches for 3 months to quit (again, hopefully for good this time).

If you can't afford it, quit. I don't care if they tax alcohol more either because I don't drink that often... I don't drink often enough to really care, higher taxes would probably keep me from drinking except on special occassions.

Gunderson: Smoke a joint, its tax free, and lasts longer.

Dude

LOL
I recently started smoking pot again after a 26 year respite.
It seems to have gotten more potent since the early 80's.

/Baked

exploiting addiction for fun and profit? Sounds like a good liberal philosophy....

that and your local neighborhood crack dealer.


/remember, they're not raising cg taxes to help fund programs to help people quit.
//hell that might almost make sense...the more people who quit, the less need for the revenue.

hey i don't buy dog food. i'm all for raising dog food taxes over 9000%

The thing is, statistics show that smokers actually cost the health care system LESS than non-smokers, over their life times.

AAAAAHHH-HAHAHAHAHA.

And get this: All you bleeding heart tobacco nazis can pay the 1/2 less tobacco tax that I'm going to support based on this change.

And when I quit smoking, you will get to pay it all.

Open your wallets you ninnies. I'm going out for a smoke.

My generic brand increased $5/carton a couple weeks ago. I read another article about this yesterday and it said manufacturers had raised prices in anticipation of this tax increase. I hope that was why my smokes went up and not some other reason, like a local or state tax.

Ah well, don't mind rolling my own.

Ennuipoet: Of course, the tax only applies to cigarettes. One can purchase loose leaf tobacco, papers, filters for a fraction of what it cost for pack of smokes. With just a little practice, one can roll ten cigarettes for the price of one. So, always remember it is about making America healthier, not about bullshiat, feel good, measures that the mob will shout about and not actually DO anything.

You're obviously ignorant on this subject. Get back under your rock, please.

Actual smoking health care costs : 96 billion per year
productivity loss : 96.8 billion per year

Obesity health care costs as high as $127 billion per year
Productivity loss : unknown

Both are dangerous and unhealthy, one has been villified, one is tolerated.

Numbers from the CDC.

I came for the "good" and the "serves them rights" and the "who cares, they deserve it"

Leaving satisfied.

I hope they also pass the 1400% increase in beer tax here in Oregon. All luxury items and addictive substances should carry huge taxes.

Wulfhardt: I quit smoking finally, so it doesn't affect me anymore. But I still think it's bullshiat to keep raising the tobacco tax like this. And, as was said earlier, I bet they will go for the alcohol next. That's when we put them against the wall, brothers and sisters. Those fat, sleek bastards in government don't want to see how angry we are when we're sober.

Of course, they COULD legalize weed and tax the hell out of it. That alone would do wonders for the economy. I don't smoke the stuff, but I have no doubt plenty of people would be investing in the green economy.

Pot can be grown at home. Legalize it and nobody is going to pay thru the nose when they can just stick a few plants in the back yard. Any taxation would have to take this effect into account.

From some random book named "Mein Kampf":

The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.

From TFA:

Tobacco taxes are soaring to finance a major expansion of health insurance for children.

indigus: The hell with the cigarette tax, I don't pay any taxes, only shipping.

Link (new window)

$12 a carton for Marlboro's.

And a huge tax fine if I get caught doing that in this state. Cheaper and smarter to just quit.

1. Smokers generally are LESS of a strain on the health care system. i.e Dying a relatively quick, albeit painful and nasty, death form lung cancer is far less of a burden on the state than years of geriatric care.

2.Massive taxation circumvents the natural flow of capitalism. This excessive taxation creates black markets, and in effect is a faux-prohibition.

3. Smoking IS a nasty vice. The worst thing about it for many, is that it becomes by and large a vice without the plus side of enjoyment. As a former smoker of 15+ years, I can say that I didn't really enjoy many of the smokes- I just 'needed' them.

4. I had a hell of a time quitting smoking. But, the plus side is HUGE. Nevermind all the lung capapcity, better endurance, increased sex drive etc etc... The number one plus? Being able to really taste and appreciate good food and wine! THAT'S change I believe in.

/trying not to be an ex-smoker bore