Smokers face a hit as tobacco taxes spike

How many people are distracted by putting on their make-up on their way to work, or the one sitting in traffic reading the newspaper, or the one who stopped to get a bite to eat on the go? Or the ones who still talk on their cell phones? Why doesn't the car insurance companies make them pay a higher rate? They are an accident waiting to happen. They are distracted by whatever they are doing. Common sense and a cursory observation confirms this. That argument of yours doesn't fly.

My husband's employer doesn't know we smoke so that doesn't fly either. The fact that people don't care that a minority is unfairly targeted is part of what's wrong with people. The excuse "it doesn't affect me, so I don't care" IS the problem. When are people going to wake up and realize we are losing our liberties left and right and no one cares because it hasn't affected them directly....yet.

Years ago I hated the fact that I HAD to wear my seatbelt in my private vehicle. I always did wear it, but I hated them telling me I had to because it was my private property and they shouldn't be able to tell me what to do with it, it should be left up to me to decide. It's called control. Your comment about what you will do if they implement a "fat tax" is lose weight. This is the problem, don't you see? People are way too complacent and it irks the heck out of me.They are sheeple. They follow someone else's lead, like sheep to the slaughter, and find out too late, what they've got themselves into.

Liberty is one of our constitutional rights. They are taking our liberties away and no one is fighting them. Obama doesn't have to worry about this tax that he allowed the congress to pass, he has a 6 digit income to absorb this added cost. Who do you think is going to be hurt the most? The rich? No. The poor? You bet. But yet the democrats say they are for the poor folks. People who believe this are definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer, not even close.

As far as alcohol is concerned? I'd like to see them try to tax that on a federal level and see how much backlash they'd receive as the result. They wouldn't even know which way was up they'd get so much protest, plus it would impact them directly because they drink more than they smoke. It makes me so mad I'd like to smack these liberals upside the head who voted for this yahoo and his cohorts. They are drunk on this new found power, and the people just let them get away with it. I am mortified to say I used to be a democrat, but then I was dumb, not so dumb now.

 

You have no idea how much a person that smokes smells of it. Don't be surprised if they know it.

As far as loss of liberties, you still have the right to smoke if you wish to pay for them. I also have the right to not smell them. Liberty is there.

As far as the car insurance, it depends on the state I guess. In ours, there is no difference in the cost. If you look at my post, I did say that they should be looking at cell phones.

I also did not like the seat belt law. I was also one that wore it all the time after an accident that I had because I did not want it to mess up my suit. Windshields hurt.

As far as the fat tax, I am only considered it by the stupid rules the government puts out and my frame. I am slowly losing weight and it will take a while.

Liberty being taken away. Please advise the liberty that you have lost.

Democrats are no different than the republicans. Neither really care about the people except for the rich who can pad their pockets.

It is not just liberals who have passed the dumb taxing laws. We had a governor, Republican conservative that enacted First Illinois. It stuck it to the common man and the small business. I ranked them both the same. Their greed just disgusts me.

 

This exactly RIGHT to support the new SCHIP health plan Obama must increase smokers by over 144 million NEW smokers to pay for it.

 

I wasn't going to comment on this thread but it's too important to keep silent about.
When are people going to wake up? Obviously not until it's to late.
This tax is wrong. Period. It has nothing to do with health or healthcare. It's about greed and power. Big brother lines his pockets with taxes and he wants more.
Can someone show me credible numbers proving that smokers drive up the cost of healthcare? I don't think so. Insurance companies and lawyers drive up the cost of healthcare.
Don't believe me? Take a drive, have a look at where these companies are housed, not going to find any housed in old worn out buildings in the same sad shape that a lot of the medical facilities are housed in.
Compare the wages between insurance executives and healthcare professionals.
How is my smoking increasing YOUR healthcare cost? The only time I've been in a Dr's office in the last five years has been to take the DOT exam.
You don't like to smell the smoke on me? To bad. I can't stand the smell of coffee, I get nauseated every time I get around the stuff. Same with chicken, can't stand the smell of that either, but I don't whine about it. Things smell, that's life. Since I will get sick if I drink coffee or eat chicken, perhaps we should increase the tax on those items by 200%? Sounds fair to me.
I spent 7 years working in a factory. Every Friday, we were required to mop our work area with trichlorethylene, ( a known carcinogen, now banned ), but I would put any amount of money you care to name, that if I am diagnosed with cancer, cigarettes will be blamed and the chemicals I inhaled for 8 hours a week for years will not even be considered.
I spent 13 years defending the freedoms of this country, and I'm saddened beyond words as time passes and I see them slowly being lost to self centered egos that care for nothing beyond their comfort and desires.
Wake up america! Slowly but surely we are losing our freedoms! You sounded like you didn't believe the comment about the "fat tax". It's coming, count on it.
Anything that will impair big brothers profit margin is fair game and on the table.

 

Like I said earlier, Pleasure Tax is BS

 

Through this exorbitant tax, I will no longer be able to afford to smoke. That's right, I chose to smoke and now they are forcing me to quit because I can't afford them anymore. They have taken that right to "choose" to smoke away from me. My sister has cost more medical wise than I have and she's never smoked a day in her life.

Are you clumping Obama and Co in the rich padding their pockets?

 

6.50 for a pack of marlboros here in texas. i want to quit now but i have tried in the past and failed. guess i'll try to slow down at least.

 

hey redneckolson; try this it is working for me and my wife, and it will save you some money to boot.

Get some raw, regular tobaco, prepared tubes, and a rolling machine. I cut back from 2+ packs a week to less than one. The real, nonadditive tobacco is a bit harsh, you still get your nicotine, but it takes less. We read that the amonia they soak, or cure the leaves with effects the consumption, or something like that.

DON'T INHALE ON THE FIRST LIGHT, THE PAPER IS UGLY.

 

just may have to start rolling my own cigarettes. either that or start dipping.

 

That's what I'm having to do. I quit for 2 years, about 10 years ago, but then started back up, lol

Have you priced Copenhagen lately? Whoa! I HAD to quit that years ago. Got up to $6 a can here, and I was going through 3 cans a day