[SheLion]

that is why they have to be called out into the open now.

The general non-smoking public have no idea how much smoker's are being hit upon to balance budgets and pay for all the state's pet programs.

It's time everyone becomes aware of what the lawmakers are doing to a minority of people just because they choose to buy a legal commodity.

The state screams they want smoke free, but see where they go when they need (more) money?  The smokers.

I am so irate over this.  Enough is enough.

[CasearianDaoist]

I was talking about masking Socialism under the guise of mainstream churchs that have been co-opted and infiltrated by Socialists. We will see more of this kind of tactic. It may just work, that's the pity.

[freedumb2003]

As I am sure you know, there is a very real problem with the way the States are counting on the tobacco $$.

Smoking is down, and of course, with that revenues. Kids who are on the bubble (part time smokers) can't afford $10.00 a pack, or the fun isn't worth it. Raising taxes on smoking has an inverse affect as people go to other sources (MA is quite small and the Internet is quite large and there are border states would would love the simple sales tax revenue from upset Mass'ers).

Eventually, the Goose will be barren and they will be screwed, big time.

Sin taxes don't work. But it is for the intellectually lazy and impaired politicians (and electorate) such as we find in MA.

[Just A Nobody]

The general non-smoking public have no idea how much smoker's are being hit upon to balance budgets and pay for all the state's pet programs.

There was an OLD woman in line for cigs at a local gas station right after Jacob's Field was built with "sin" tax money. She lamented that while she helped build it, she couldn't even have a cig while attending a game.

Her solution is one I have never forgotten; "Every smoker in the country should quit buying cigarettes for ONE MONTH. The government would be paying us to start smoking again."