Credit cards banned for buying online smokes

March 18, 2005 | JusticeTalion

[JusticeTalion]

If you buy smokes online you may just be screwed. All major credit card companies in the United States have voluntarilly agreed to ban all internet transactions concerning cigarettes regardless of the customer. And they kept it extremely quiet until today.

I found exactly two articles on it and both were regional papers requiring subscription. The move is ostensibly shaded with the "Let's keep tobacco out of kid's hands" malarkey but the real reason is stated later. States are tired of losing tax revenue to out-of-state buyers so they completely banned all cigarette purchases.

What does this mean? I am writing to my credit card companies to find out. What if I want to buy a humidor for my Uncle's pipe collection. What about cigars, snuff and chewing tobacco? Are these banned too?

How this got arranged with not one peep about it in the news is amazing. No protests, no dissension, not one word from anyone. I am not real thrilled by being banned from buying a legal product with a recognized legal tender in the United States. And this is not just a business move. It has the full backing of state officials and the federal government in the form of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That makes it something that our representatives can fight against.

Fascism, in any form, SUCKS!

[Protagoras]

I would probably quit but I WON'T GIVE THESE B@STARDS THE SATISFACTION.

Makes sense, I'll just get sick and maybe die, but I'll show 'em! That'll fix 'em!

And I'll probably buy them on the black market.

That will be very popular soon.

Let them do something about the damn border and the damn dope.

What do you suggest?

[gidget7]

"ATF investigations show that millions of dollars each year in illegal sales of cigarettes are diverted to fund terrorists and criminal organizations,"


That is unprecidented BS!!! Totally untrue, when the "for the children" mantra fails, they pull out the "funding terrorists" crap.

[Calpernia]

Well...

It is the play on words garbage actually.

The black market cigs fund terrorism. Not the normal sales channels.

[Calpernia]

I can wait until you figure it out.

::customer in the wing::

[Calpernia]

So why is this thread in Blogger now?

It is based on a cited article.

[Calpernia]

You should have left your thread up. This one now got moved to blogger.

[Flyer]

It was put back up. . .

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1365544/posts

[Gabz]

It figures that Spitzer was behind it. If there ever was a politician that needed to have his career ended by fair means or "not so fair", it's that jackass.

I totally agree.

I feel sorry for New Yorkers (I was born and raised there)as it seems he will probably be the next Governor.

[cgbg]

Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We *want* them broken. You'd better get it straight That it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it.

There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

- -- Ayn Rand, _Atlas Shrugged

:-)

[Caipirabob]

YEah, but I get screwed by the proscription on internet sales AND by the new bankruptcy regs... that can't be what they intended... can it?

Sounds they they sold us down the river on that one.

[blam]

"- -- Ayn Rand, _Atlas Shrugged "

Boy! It's been 41 years since I've read that.

[brityank]

Something I have posted by my desk at work:

“When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion –
When you see that in order to produce, you need permission from men who produce nothing –
When you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors –
When you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by hard work,
and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you –
When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming self-sacrifice –
You may know your society is doomed.”

Atlas Shrugged
          Ayn Rand

[Meldrim]

Will they take paypal?