American Morning
Fuming over tobacco tax hike
However they satisfy their nicotine cravings, tobacco users are facing a big hit as the single largest federal tobacco-tax increase ever takes effect Wednesday.
Tobacco companies and public-health advocates, longtime foes in the nicotine battles, are trying to turn the situation to their advantage. The major cigarette makers raised prices a couple of weeks ago, partly to offset any drop in profits once the per-pack tax climbs from 39 cents to $1.01.
Medical groups see a tax increase right in the middle of a recession as a great incentive to help persuade smokers to quit.
What do you think? Is the tobacco tax fair to smokers?
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Stephen is exactly right, its completely unfair to tax tabacco alone at such extreme rates. Nobody in my family smokes, but I am angry at this unfairness. If they tax tobacco like this, go ahead and tax alcohol and junk food. Hell the taxes are paying for childrens healthcare, with rising concerns of childhood diabetes and obesity, junk food is much more deserving of the taxes.
Its a shame that govt taxes are probably hurting big tobaccos sales, maybe since govt drove their business away, they will bail out tobacco?
the tax hike is bull plain and simple, i smoke soo what, i should be prosicuted for something that a couple ago was considered harmless by the government .. real nice.. it just shows how stupid they actually are, and to the cancer smiley face chick .. have u ever had someone in your life have cancer .. probably not by your ignorent and crude comment .. i hope some one you know gets cancer 🙂 dosnt that make you just peachy?
If all smokers quit the government would lose tax revenue and look to the people for another item they could tax. If your next hamburger cost 10 bucks would you non-smokers still claim its a fair tax?
Ok nancy...look. this whole smiley face after the cancer comment. yeah your ignorant. ok i know alot of people who would love to pay for people in the hospital with cancer. some people get it some people dont. this is FUMING not Complaining. every ones taxes pay for everything that is TAXED. smoking is a personal choice...did everyone forget THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!!!!!!!! that cant be taken away. cancer is not something to joke about...or put stupid little smiley faces behind. your ignorant and selfish. try dealing with someone who has cancer...tell me how funny it is then. stop harrassing people cuz they smoke...personal choice. thats all im gonna say. SMOKERS UNITED!!!! we will prevail!!! they cant stop us!
God forbid! If we all could stop buying tobacco, drugs and alcohol for one week or one year and hit the taxman in the pocketbook, I sometimes wonder who they would stick it to next ? Probably our toliet tissue as that is another commodity they know everyone must use!
smoke or not to smoke, that is the question. no one is trying to force you to stop smoking "Lyle". If you can "afford to", then more power to you. While you are on unemployment, however, none of us want to have to pay your hospital bill for possible cancer. 🙂
Is a liquor tax fair for alcoholics? Some of the arguments against the tax increase are just plain silly. Nobody held a gun to the heads of the smokers.
One of the main reasons I stopped a couple of years ago was the cost of cigarettes. I just thought that the price of cigarettes was too great, especially to kill myself that way.
YES! This is completely and utterly unfair to single out smokers. This idea that only tobacco is bad for your health is just plain ignorance and government greed at an all time high. People who smoke already pay taxes like everyone else...why should we be the only ones singled out to pay for incompetent government spending.
If they are going to take this approach of taxing things that are bad for your health then why stop with tobacco? Start taxing everything that causes hardening of the arteries...rots your teeth...causes obesity...cirrhosis of liver...kidney disease.
Let's see...we should stop selling or start taxing candy since that rots your teeth...and then there's the fast food joints that are causing health problems such as obesity and hardening or the arteries. Alcohol is another thing that's bad for your health and think of all the lives that could be saved from drunk drivers!
Oh! And let's not forget exhaust fumes that are spewed into the air everyday by all these inconsiderate drivers! Gas should be costing everyone that drives these exhaust spewing machines at least $10,00 a gallon. After all...it would be better for our health and the environment as well! And if you drive one of those SUV's you should paying twice the tax for using up valuable resources!
But don't worry people! The recession will soon be a thing of the past...the smokers will take care of it single handedly!
By the way...not looking for handouts would rather work for a living i have been doing it well up until this fiasco. And it certainly is Our choice to continue to smoke but not to be forced to quit by these stupid taxes...lets tax your mercedes and your rolls royces some more...see how you all like that.
By the way...not looking for handouts would rather work for a living i have been doing it well up until this fiasco. And it certainly is Our choice to continue to smke but not to be forced to by these stupid taxes...lets tax your mercedes and your rolls royces some more...see how you all like that.
Well i reduced my price per pack by going to roll your own. And what does the government hit first? The roll your own style tobacco. Whats next?...Maybe they want to tax sex organs...maybe by the inch?...the foot?...diameter?When does this stop?Whats next is a big question too.
If we choose to smoke that is our god given right no matter the consequences, we know them, we are Adults. When they stop forcing us to quit because of the high prices then maybe we can make our Own decision on this subject, not be Forced to make it. They bail out the big banks an businesses that make mistakes and so why not help us out while we are enjoying the highest unemployment numbers in history and trying to find work ? Bad decisions all around.
Help the unemployed to stay reasonably sane and do not tax us anymore. We have to have something to chew on the government gives us nothing.
I think that the tax increase is a great idea! If you choose to smoke, then pay the price, literally and physically. We all know the negative effects of smoking so if you want to pay more to slowly kill yourself, who am I to stop you?
It is a smoker's choice to continue to do so. If they do not like higher taxes, then quit the habit. Not only will they avoid the tax, it will be better for everybody's health 🙂