Here is a picture outside a bar in Washington State:
Posted on 03/03/2007 1:16:31 PM PST by SheLion
You can't go underground on taxes in wisconsin - they'll just tax the ground more!
I don't think you can pin low voter turn-out at the polls on Smokers.
I think you can blame Conservatives in general for not getting the word out that it's "Smokers Now, YOU Next" when it comes to this kind of cr@p which is dictated by the vocal few.
The smokers had their chance, but blew it. I am not sure why everyone was so lethargic..
"The businesses will go to court to fight tickets they are issued for violating the smoking ban and use the fund to pay fines, Hicks said. The fines are $200 for a first offense, $300 for a second and $500 for any others written within a year."
Well, if the penalty is limited to fines, then the bar should charge a "smoking tax" on sales, large enough to cover the fines. The bar could name the tax after a noteable local anti-smoking politician -- could be useful in advertising as well.
All IMO.
'bout damn time! If I lived out there I would go out of my way to spend more time in their bars just to support their cause......
That's pretty much my experience. In Delaware, the smoker doesn't get fined, just the business. And although they swore up and down it would not be used for pulling liquor licenses, the ABCC will hold a hearing about pulling a bar's license after 3 offenses..............can anyone say "back door prohibition?" I knew you could.
It occurs to me that there's no active national smokers' association, to my knowledge.
With donations from tobacco companies and smokers nationwide, they'd have the the dollars to beat the he** out of most local smoking ordnances. Plus, they could use the money for a smear campaign to destroy local politicians who support the ban -- even more effective than legal challenges.
With a victory or two, and a few shattered political careers, the pols would get the message that it's best to leave smokers alone.
Even though I moved 3 years ago, I still know which bars in Delaware defy the ban, and when I am in Delaware those are the only places that ever see my money.
There are numerous groups throughout the country. she Lion and I both belong to several of them.
With donations from tobacco companies and smokers nationwide, they'd have the the dollars to beat the he** out of most local smoking ordnances.
2 reasons that won't work - number one being the tobacco companies don't give a rat's behind about smokers and bans and have stopped, if not all, just about all, funding to any such groups.
And number 2, even without financial support from the tobacco companies, people like She Lion and I are constantly being accused of being in the pocket of "Big Tobacco."
The stench of much more than smoke wafts through what used to be the "land of the free..."
"There are numerous groups throughout the country. "
I think a single dominant national organization -- similar to the NRA's national support for gun rights -- would be more effective. Donations and other resources could be consolidated and focused on key state/local ordnances. When resources are pooled, and focused on a single objective, success is more likely.
JMHO.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you say that like the tobacco companies give a rats patooty.
The tobacco companies have fallen to their knees in front of big daddy government and are just waiting to spit.
Here is a picture outside a bar in Washington State:
Private businesses are getting damn tired of this!
Here is what they are doing in California:
California Smokers Use Prohibition Tactics to Get Around Ban
Back when liquor was outlawed during this country's Prohibition movement, Americans found clever ways to dodge police and have a drink in secrecy and safety.
Smoker Ian Hughes said that if someone in one of those bars spots a squad car driving by, he or she will alert those puffing away — and everyone will stub out their cigarettes before they can be discovered.
View your tobacco taxes, a comparison of state excise taxes on cigarettes to state excise taxes on beer and wine, MSA payments to date, State laws, and links to other state-specific information.
Colorado Information
Tobacco Taxes
Colorado's excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.200
Colorado's excise tax collection for the
fiscal year ending June 2002: $58,518,000
Sales tax on tobacco products: 2.90%
Federal excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.39
Total federal excise tax collections in fiscal year 2002: $7,512,700,000
Number of six-packs of beer that must be sold in Colorado to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 44.4
Number of bottles of wine that must be sold in Colorado to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 36.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado Smokers' Contributions to the State Economy - FY2002
In 2001, Colorado smokers comprised only 22.3%1 of the adult population in the state. Here is what they already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:
Smokers Pay Excise Taxes2
$ 58,518,066
Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments3
$ 97,988,866
TOTAL $ 156,506,932
30.6% of Colorado smokers had household income LESS THAN $25,000
16.4% of Colorado smokers had household income EQUAL TO or GREATER THAN $75,000
The impact of smoker payments on the incomes of working families was more than THREE TIMES the impact on higher income smokers. Those who can afford it least pay
A popular bumper sticker in California accurately portrays the peasants' rejection of central control.
Actually, when only 25-30% of the constituents in a state smoke, we lose in the polls and votes every time. If only the general non-smoking public would realize what is going on with the smoking war and private businesses, it's hard for us to win..............................
There are numerous groups throughout the country. she Lion and I both belong to several of them.
With donations from tobacco companies and smokers nationwide, they'd have the the dollars to beat the he** out of most local smoking ordnances.
2 reasons that won't work - number one being the tobacco companies don't give a rat's behind about smokers and bans and have stopped, if not all, just about all, funding to any such groups.
And number 2, even without financial support from the tobacco companies, people like She Lion and I are constantly being accused of being in the pocket of "Big Tobacco."
You are SO right, Gabz! Smokers Rights Groups are springing up all over the US, Canada and Europe!
We have no funding. And we can't STAND Big Tobacco because they sold the smokers down the river when they fell to their knees in front of the Attorney Generals.
The reason Big T is fighting the tax increases now is because they are afraid of smokers rolling their own and/or quitting. They are only looking out for themselves. NOT the smokers!
I hear ya. LOL
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you say that like the tobacco companies give a rats patooty.
The tobacco companies have fallen to their knees in front of big daddy government and are just waiting to spit.
LOL! High Five, Joe!
Mr. J is a new FReeper, (November 5, 2006), so he hasn't had the chance to follow the years of our smoking threads.
Welcome aboard, Mr J. If you want on a smokers ping list, let me know. Gabz and I both have one.
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