Cigarette tax hurts the poor, but it's justified -- Social Issu...

Why is the question even asked "Who will be paying this tax?" The answer is simple----SMOKERS, thats who!

Why divide it up any more and make an issue out of it? White, black, or hispanic; poor or rich; fat ot thin; teeth or no teeth, etc... two things are for sure, they all have enough money to buy cigarettes and they can decide to work on quiting whenever they decide to.

My husband and I make about $80K a year combined- we both smoke. I want to know where these "studies" are being done. Also, tax to expand child healthcare plans? If they would cut the red tape more babies & kids would be insured as the program was defined for!!!!!!!!!!

Barak Obama smokes.

I am not sure how I feel about this tax, but I think that smoking should basically be banned everywhere. It is a disgusting habit that kills the addict slowly over time. I smoked for 12 years and the quit cold turkey. It is the best decision I ever made and I can't believe I used to poison myself with such a worthless habit. I have no respect for Big Tobacco, they are responsible for the deaths of so many people, as they used clever marketing and lied highly addictive/dangerous substances in their products. It is sad to me that poor, low-income people spend their hard earned money on such a worthless product regardless of how much it is taxed.

Smoking sucks. Period.

r hernandez wrote:

a cigarette tax does not hurt the poor. it helps them. they may not see it. but if they quit smoking, they will be better off. i have seen too many family members or friends pass on because of lung disease.

People die, r hernandez. Not everybody wants to live to 100 with tubes in their nose, stomach and bung. It is obscenely presumptuous of you to declare yourself the all-knowing nanny of the poor.

Lamar wrote:

Barak Obama smokes.

What was that statistic about 'intelligence levels' and smokers?

Hmmmmmmmmm

Irony........

One more idiot, and everything you do in your life is so heathly for you. Blow my smoker c o c k for anyone who thinks they are so healthy. I bet all you non-smokers are over weight happy meal eating fks. LMAO

a non-smoker wrote:

Whatever it takes to stop these kids from getting hooked!! Smoking is a nasty, dirty, expensive habit that accompolishes absolutely nothing but spending money for this dirty thing and ending up with cancer, etc., and death. Who in their right mind would even consider doing this to themselves? it is not COOL, SEXY or anything else attractive...just plain stupid to begin with

smokingsucks wrote:

I think that smoking should basically be banned everywhere....Period.

Even in my own home or car? I too felt 100% better when I stopped smoking. But really, who am I to tell people that they can't have their brief moment of respite from the pressure of the world?

If I thought that the money would actually make it to the programs it's supposed to be funding I would be all for it. Unfortunately when it comes to things like this I have a hard time believing the money will actually be seen by the children. Prove to me where the money will go and show me it will make a difference.

I hate being near smokers. As a moderate Republican who literally just about throws up from the smell of smoke--I say that the government should tax the smokers as much as possible until they are so expensive that nobody wants to buy them. I am all about personal choice and keeping government out of things, but smoking effects me whenever someone else decides to smoke while waiting outside a restaurant to eat (or eating outside). That just isnt fair to people who CHOOSE NOT TO SMOKE.

Britt wrote:

I say that the government should tax the smokers as much as possible until they are so expensive that nobody wants to buy them. I am all about personal choice and keeping government out of things, but smoking effects me

How about taxing only people who smoke in public?! Seriously, join the Democratic party, you'll be more at home with the higher taxes crowd. The last thing the GOP needs is more tax-hike hypocrites. Your all about the low taxes until it doesn't affect you, then tax it into oblivion. You're about as conservative as Michael Moore.

Cigarettes and booze are the 2 worst drugs in the history of mankind; they have caused more pain; suffering and death than all of the crack; herion and meth put together. Why do they keep it legal? Because they can tax the heck out of it; our government is making money whenever some DUI POS kills some poor slob coming home from work.

Smoking tobacco at the rate we do is a recent thing(a century or so ago). Drinking alcohol is a thing that has existed from near the beginning of man. Either way, with the corruption of our politicians, entertainers, government workers, unions, people receiving guvinment benefits, etc., etc., people will get their fix through the underground if things get expensive enough. And the underground economy is so primed for massive growth you can taste it.

If the goal of the state is to raise revenue, then the tax should be lowered.

How quick we forget the average Joe,not the student,the university graduate,the Starbuck type ,but the guy who made it this far.Probley a veteran,or a retired guy,with not complected life style.A dog,and a fishing pole suits him fine.

He listens to all the social protest,and the solutions on how to make his life better...except nobody's asks him.

He probly lives on a limited income,drives an Ole gas guzzler,gets a six pak a day,and a pak of butts.OUR ENEMY!PUNISH HIM!

There may not be many left of these American originals.He prefers to do it his way!...at least he thought.

So, in hair brained schemes,they want to,and are taxing cigarettes.The money to be used for other socialist programs.However if no one is smoking ,where do you get the shortfall? you got it,from non smokers.A hidden tax burden .

So heres to big brother,in your life,in your wallet,in your personnel choices,and many other places....This is not feeedom!

why dont they tax alcohol this way? What about all the people who have died from drunk drivers? I never heard of a person dying beacuse someone else smoked a cigareete. people who smoke hurt themselves and thats their choice. People who drink hurt those around them and put others at risk. I think this idea is garbage..and Im not even a smoker!

This doesn't effect the poor, it effects the stupid because only idiots smoke. Naturally a greater percentage of idiots are poor because if they had any brains they would have gotten an education and made something of themselves. Since they didn't they are searching for an identity and cigarettes become a part of their identity, as do tattoos. Only 7% of people with graduate degrees smoke, yet 35% of all high school drop outs smoke. Triple the cost and these idiots will still smoke because they are idiots, not poor.

Silence Dogood wrote:

This doesn't effect the poor, it effects the stupid because only idiots smoke. Naturally a greater percentage of idiots are poor because if they had any brains they would have gotten an education and made something of themselves. Since they didn't they are searching for an identity and cigarettes become a part of their identity, as do tattoos. Only 7% of people with graduate degrees smoke, yet 35% of all high school drop outs smoke. Triple the cost and these idiots will still smoke because they are idiots, not poor.

Gee whiz, Wally, we all thought that the poor were mostly Harvard and Yale grads. Do you have any other brilliant insights? Perhaps you could provide a link to a webpage that tells us stuff we already know.

Maybe you could tell us why idiots should be taxed more heavily than educated people.

They need to tax cigarettes sky high. This amount they're talking about is nothing. Of course in some cases it will not matter; smokers will just deny their kids milk and shoes, then go buy their Marlboros.

I will say it's nice to read statistics that back up what I've always assumed about smokers.

Come on Mike. There is no excuse to tax a legitimate product and the companies who make them into total bankruptcy just because YOU don't like them. They took the settlement money they stole and didn't use a dime of it to help a single sick smoker. Almost half the USA folks still smoke. They don't have a say about nothing. All the brown shirt transvestite Nazi nuns for Jesus should stop using the tobacco companies as their cash cow and stop the illegal stealing of their money from them and the people who use and enjoy their products.