No, I wouldn’t smoke if tobacco were not taxed. But it is yet another reason to not smoke.
I very much resent that the agricultural production of tobacco, which contributed so much to the growth of this country long ago, is now looked upon as just another way for tax-collecting pushers to make money.
And I deeply resent that the government collects dollars for doing nothing, while the farmer collects pennies as a reward for his efforts. (Hey, anybody else remember Al Gore’s bragging about how hard he worked bringing in the tobacco and readying it for market?)
We have learned of course that tobacco brings harm along with some relatively minimal benefits, but it is not entirely without benefits. Government, however ...
Well, let’s just say that even government benefits bring harm.
I used to smoke, but when cigarettes got up to $3 a carton at the BX, I quit and so did my husband. That was in 1980.
Well said, Bob.
It’s prohibition by taxation. The cheapest 2-4 here is $30.60 after the $2.40 deposit return.