Smoke ‘em if you can afford ‘em ($10 per carton tax increase)

The Somerset Daily American ^ | March 12, 2009 | Rick Kazmer

[takenoprisoner]

"Good....Less kids will become addicted. No conservative should support smoking."

I don't think to smoke, or not, has anything to do with conservatism.

[mnsmalltown]

Mine just went up 95 cents per pack here in MN! Time to pick up that Chantix prescription.

[rocksblues]

If people are still smoking they cannot possibly believe that the increase in the price is due to retail greed, unless they are Democrats!

[nascarnation]

Like any tax, this is affected by the law of diminishing returns. Pretty soon there will be a “tax shortfall” and something else will have to be taxed to make up for it.

[Popman]

Zero’s peeps on the street ain’t gonna like this.

Zero's class of peeps are normally quite ignorant, so I'm sure they will buy into the lie that Obama isn't the one raising their taxes, it was the evil republicans that made him do it.

They will just buy off the black market anyway.

[sergeantdave]

Nice to see you’ve joined obuma’s tax team. You should consider going over to DU because you sure don’t belong here.

[TASMANIANRED]

Smoke Easy’s...Black Market cigs.

[ApplegateRanch]

I think there should be a 20 cents per square foot tax on green lawns in excess of 1000 sq feet.

How about an annual "anti-freedom" tax of $1,000/regulation on HMOs...paid by the board members/officers personally?

Maybe charge lawmakers $10,000 for each bill they introduce that contains or authorized new regulations. Deduct it directly from their pay. $100,000 if it contains or authorizes new or increased fees or taxes.

[takenoprisoner]

“Like any tax, this is affected by the law of diminishing returns. Pretty soon there will be a “tax shortfall” and something else will have to be taxed to make up for it.”

If 40 million packs are sold per day US, with obama’s added tax of 1.00, x365, this is an increased revenue of 14.6 billion annual?

If my estimates and calculations are close to correct, then obama’s increase on a pack of smokes ‘ain’t gonna git er done.’ Since HSI estimates are nearly 500 billion increased expenditures annualy for his child health plan.

Perhaps someone with a better calculater than mine can verify the numbers? But at quick glance, they ‘ain’t jivin.’ So he’s gonna need more revenue for his plan...about 450 billion more annual?

[ottersnot]

Lets just bend over and give up more of our liberty.

Tax revolt

[Plumres]

My wife’s friend was going to vote for Democrats last fall. Her daughter and I talked her into McCain. She is happy now she voted that way. She works several jobs trying to make a living so she rolls her own cigarettes. Boy is she mad now that the Democrats raised her tobacco from $9.99 to over $34 per bag.
Remember no tax hike on ANYONE making less than $250,000. Another LIE!

DEMOCRAT = LIES!!!

[Sarah D.]

Anything they deem frivolous or bad for Gaea. Booze, gas guzzlers, ammunition, snack foods, the list is endless..

But, smoking is the current bogeyman and they can get away with this for now. When cigarette revenue goes up in smoke (cough) they’ll move one to the next liberal cash cow.

[dforest]

Smoking has zero to do with conservatism.

[JSDude1]

And they’re about to legalize it (already did in CA).

[Viking2002]

Just got my two weekend packs of Marlboro Light 100's at the checkout in Walmart. Set me back $11.40. For TWO FRIGGIN' PACKS. I remember back when we could get a pack of Reds and a six-pack of Iron City with three singles, and receive change. (OK, I'm dating myself.) And for those of you who bitch about cigs - especially you ex-smoker zealots - we'll see where your almighty sanctimony is when the rest of your existence is taxed away nibble by nibble, along with the men who like a butt after a good dinner. You can bet your asses that an alcohol tax is probably in the chute somewhere. Then another 'recreational tax' on hunting and fishing hardware, boats, camping gear, ad nauseum. 'Environmental' and 'carbon' taxes on everything from SUV's to your little 3.5 HP Briggs and Stratton crabgrass cutter. They'll roll meat and dairy products in there, too, 'cuz cows and pigs fart like the wind - soy milk and tofu are the green way to go, don't ya know?

Think that's a stretch, sheeple?

[Marie]

I just stocked up on 7 months worth of tobacco and tubes. I also bought the NJOY electronic cigarette.

It’s not bad at all. It really does feel like I’m just smoking a cig. It’s actually a little harsher on my throat than tobacco, so I’ve got to take it easy.

And it’s pretty! (I got the burgundy one!)

I can’t believe they’re thinking about raising the tax on eCigs as well.

I thought they just wanted us to be healthy?

No. The NeoPuritians just want to tell us what we can and cannot put in our bodies and I suppose nicotine is on the no-no list.

Maybe we should all just start smoking weed. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper. /sarcasm

[Boanarges]

“No conservative should support smoking.”

What the hell is the link between non-smoking and being a conservative?

Another logic-twisting poster!!

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Think that's a stretch, sheeple?"

I would bet a steak dinner at Ruth's Chris that there are bills taxing EVERYTHING you mentioned in the works as we speak.

[traumer]

[Viking2002]

No bet here. I'll even take it a step further: I'll wager they're inventing phantom commodities to assign to us for consumption, so they can piggyback them to an existing tax.