Maybe I don't understand all of the details here, but why are they raising cigarette taxes to help balance the budget if they ultimately want to prevent smoking? Won't the latter goal harm the efficacy of the former?
Maybe I don't understand all of the details here, but why are they raising cigarette taxes to help balance the budget if they ultimately want to prevent smoking? Won't the latter goal harm the efficacy of the former?
will the last conservative to leave Maine please turn out the lights?
Someone said, "The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money to spend."
Great article and great cartoon.
Demonize it, then take the money.
It's an age old ploy of rulers.
France did it with the Knights Templar order in the Middle Ages.
"Templars were targeted by Philip the Fair, King of France, who was desperately in need of money. On October 13, 1307, most of the order’s members in France were arrested and imprisoned. Charges ranged from sodomy to witchcraft to desecration of the crucifix. Philip’s propaganda master, William of Nogaret, effectively used very old political and religious devices to turn public opinion thoroughly against the Templars."
The King then confiscated the wealth of the order.
http://www.adambennington.com/military_orders/templars.html
Let us translate this into another area of 'risky behaviour'.
Un-protected sex, Homosexual activity, teenage promiscuity - all of these things are 'risky behaviours' - yet the many legislatures work hard to promote the Gay Community, raise Gay awareness, and attempt to convince Americans 'it's okay to be Gay'. Un-protected sex, and teenage promiscuity is on the rise, despite the 'fight' against it. These are areas that should be addressed by parents - yet many school systems and charitable organizations have sought to hand out condoms rather than teach abstinance and purity.
Because Tobacco is a tangible product,lobbyists do not have a voice as loud as the Alcohol manufacturers, and because the general public has bought the lies of 'studies' regarding secondhand smoke - the smokers are paying, the non-smokers are paying - and the legislatures are burning a two-ended candle.
Hopefully, one day soon, the candle will burn to the middle, as a smoker who has been defiled and punished takes the system into his or her own hands and challenges the laws and taxes being pushed daily.
I was taught in Political Science in High School - " your right to punch me in the nose stops where my nose begins". That should apply to the tobacco fight as well. If smokers want to smoke a LEGAL substance - allow them, in designated areas that are NOT compromising comfort (please do not make me stand outside in the rain in 20 degree weather), and, if tobacco and this behaviour is to be taxed - better take notice of other ones and start taxing them as well.
How well do you think a "Gay" tax would go over in this country? They want equality? Give them the equality of the smokers. How about those apples?