Study Says State Cigarette Taxes Deter Smoking/I KNEW THEY WOULD SAY THIS!

Yahoo News ^ | 23 July 2002

[Max McGarrity]

Anything you tax will have a negative effect on consumption. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. The problem is why do people think they have the right to tell you how to live your life by taxing you into submission?

Yep. That is the question. Interesting that the latest report from the CDC doesn't agree with this statement from an "anti-tobacco organization." According to them, the rate of adult smoking hasn't changed since 1991, and youth smoking is higher now than then. Oh, yeah, during that same decade, the average cost of cigarettes increased 422%, a lot more in some places. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics, the weaponry of Crusaders and zealots everywhere.

[Max McGarrity]

Can you say "inflexible demand?" I knew you could...

Can YOU say "Al Capone"...I knew you could.

[Straight Vermonter]

The huge impact taxes are having on youth smoking is evidenced here.

< /sarcasm>

[ninenot]

Well, I still pay State taxes (Wisconsin, around 6%) plus state sales tax of 5%, plus local sales tax from 1/10th% to 6/10ths%, plus property tax of about 1/60th the value of my home.

It totals to quite a bit, WITHOUT tobacco tax, which I do not pay. (Yes, I smoke.)

[ninenot]

Well, the lawmakers sure have no guilt everytime they ban, try to control, restrict and raise taxes on a legal commodity.

You could have stopped at the end of the italics.

Remember that politicians are ALWAYS buying their next term--using your own money to do it.

[ninenot]

Is it legal to buy over the net?

Of course. At the end of the year when you fill out your State tax return, you (by law) must ALSO calculate the amount of cartons you purchased over the Net, and remit the appropriate tax with your income taxes.

It's called a "use" (yoos) tax.

Everyone follows this procedure to the letter, of course.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Just wait 'til the law of diminishing returns kicks in, then the brilliant Morons we have in government will decide that the taxes have to be raised even more to make up the shortfall. Then they will go around the circle again and again like the mythical bird which flew in ever decreasing circles until it disappeared in its own A$$hole. The requirements to be a politician or a government employee seem to be that they must have the intellect of an idiot.

I hope you don't mind....but I would like to hijack your response for just about anything anyone ever says in respect to our government looking out for our better interests.

[Great Dane]

If Ottawa cut federal taxes on cigarettes back in 1994, why the heck did they outrageously raise them again this year? They never learn. Or do they.....

Because this time they think they have the smuggling problem licked as the cigs in the US are now the same price as Canada....... seems they have never heard of smuggling via ships from abroad.

[nanny]

We don't have any kind of state tax return, except my sales tax report. So what now?

Thanks for answering.

[nanny]

Thanks. I am going to check into that.

My husband remembers his grandfather growing his own tobacco and making his own chewing tobacco - bet that was strong?

[nanny]

Thanks for the link. I am going to mark it and check it out later.

[Tactical]

I have a Native American store about 1 mile from me...across the state border. I can get their brand, comparable to Marlboro, for under $18 a carton, or Marlboro instate for $27 to $35 per carton. Funny, I don't feel one iota of guilt driving that 1 mile.

I just bought a carton of Marlboro Lights just across the border in Mexico....$13.00 and they were the expensive brand...others were as low as $8 a carton. I think there is a 3 carton limit per person to bring them back into the U.S., but it's so close, I just bought 1. Local smokes per pack are $3.65 each. Any guesses how long before common sense returns to America?

I think we'll be living on Mars before that happens.

[Max McGarrity]

Absolutely perfect, Vermonter! Thank you.

[carenot]

We smokers pay MORE then our fair share of healthcare costs, IF we have any!

Heck, they say we die young, so they don't have to pay us Social Security. And we don't live long enough to get Medicare.

Instead of taxing our cigarettes they should encourage us!

[carenot]

. I can get their brand, comparable to Marlboro, for under $18 a carton, or Marlboro instate for $27 to $35 per carton.

Wow! I was thinking of trying the internet.

I reckon I will just stick to my cheap cigarettes. I was mad when the taxes went up again but I pay $14 for a carton of Patriot cigarettes. That is with the taxes.

[Old philosopher]

"I hope you don't mind....but I would like to hijack your response for just about anything anyone ever says in respect to our government looking out for our better interests"

Feel free to do so.

I try to get this point across to as many people as I can, because in this day and age most people do not understand how they are being screwed by the government, Much as in the much quoted story of how to boil a frog.

[ninenot]

Then I expect that, like a good citizen, you will report to the nearest State Revenue Department Office with a complete accounting of your purchases and a checkbook. DOn't worry, they will be VERY happy to help you...

[nanny]

Well, if I buy cigarettes that are taxable, I will do that thing. My statement was serious, I don't want to run afoul of the law and someone mentioned state income tax and, as yet, we do not have one - but I am sure it is already designed and waiting in the wings.