'Golden leaf' growers troubled by tobacco tax rise

ap ^ | 4/2/09 | EMERY P. DALESIO

[Drango]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — For more than a century, the Sharp family of eastern North Carolina has grown tobacco, nicknamed the "golden leaf" for reasons that went beyond the cured plant's rich color.

`snip

"There's nothing else we're doing that comes even close to yielding the profits that tobacco yields."

For generations, tobacco growers were a protected class, as lawmakers across the South defended the golden leaf as stridently as politicians from Michigan and New York do automakers and Wall Street. It remains a huge business: The tobacco crop in North Carolina alone, where farmers produce nearly half the value of the entire U.S. output, was worth $686 million last year.

But lawmakers don't look out for Big Tobacco as they once did. In 2004, Congress eliminated a tobacco quota and price support system that dated to the Depression. ~snip In Raleigh, where there were spittoons North Carolina General Assembly until the mid-1980s and a smoky haze in the halls until a few years ago, House members voted this week in favor of a limited ban on public smoking. ~snip

It's a blow felt in the sandy soil fields of eastern North Carolina that are just OK for sweet potatoes, cotton, soybeans, but fantastic for tobacco. Production dropped by 27 percent to roughly 645 million pounds in 2005, the year after the quota system came to an end, but has slowly recovered in the past few years, boosted by exports and new marketing tactics.

~snip

Growers are also looking to sell their crop overseas, and a group called the U.S. Tobacco Cooperative that buys tobacco from 3,500 growers in five Southeast states has a unit that exports American leaf to China.

~snip

[Twink]

I see a lot less teens smoking now than back when I was a teen. I think they’re having sex at a younger age more than they did back when I was a teen (or they’re just more open about it now), more drug and underage alcohol use...and I mean more binge type drinking since it’s taboo now and harder to get so they do it more. Also, it’s so taboo now that it’s more desirable to them.

Heh. I can’t wait until they come for the non-smokers and they already started on the “fatties” so eventually it will be something else/somebody else. I stoppped smoking regularly a long time ago, for personal reasons, and I have no problem with those who smoke (or the smell or anything else).

We are losing our freedom at an astounding rate, imo. I’m shocked so many want the government to limit our freedoms, take care of us, make our choices for us.

[yorkie]

OK, where's Harley?
We will protest!

[Drango]

nice shades.

[srmorton]

This issue really frosts me. I have worked for over 25 years for a NC community college. Most of the beautiful buildings on campus were built with tax revenue from tobacco growers or users. The SGA is now surveying the students, staff, and faculty about the smoking issue. I just had to comment about how tobacco contributed to the establishment of the campus and how cigarettes are a LEGAL product. I do not smoke, but those who do should be provided an area where they can do so.

My father was a pastor of a number of small Presbyterian churches in NC throughout his ministry and many of his parishioners were tobacco farmers. I heartily agree with your statement that no other crop can provide the amount of profit that tobacco does. Our systems of roads, universities, community colleges - you name it - are the result of tax revenue. The very buildings in which the legislature is passing these laws was built with tobacco money. I could go on and on!

These lawmakers are indeed fools, but they are also hypocrites. They want to condemn those who smoke while at the same time hoping they keep on smoking to provide politicians with the revenue to pay for their pet projects. They just have not figured out that, if you tax people enough, they will change their behavior enough that they end up with even less money than before!

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

PFffffffffftttttttt On The Smokin' Nazi!!!

[pandoraou812]

I think it depends on what group the teens are in. I didn't smoke until I was in my late 30's & dealing with ill parents. Now I may quit for a few reasons. I don't want to gain weight which is the main reason I haven't quit. However I am tired of being told I shouldn't smoke by people who I don't know. I don't smoke when I am around children or friends who are nonsmokers. I totally agree with your I think they’re having sex at a younger age more than they did back when I was a teen (or they’re just more open about it now). I was managing a hotel a few years back and I was shocked at the bisexual boys who were so open about their choices & who wore eye makeup. I never had to deal with that with my 4 boys thankfully. I am also shocked by the mothers who are streaking their 6 yr old's hair & allowing their preteens & teen daughters to dress like mini me's. But that is their right & I don't go up to them & preach. I know when I was a teen I wanted to do anything my parents said no to. Thankfully I usually didn't .... lol

[pandoraou812]

LMAO!

[yorkie]

"nice shades"

Why, thank you! Nice of you to notice. They are Gucci. I paid for them with the money I saved by rolling my own. ;-)

[Twink]

That’s true. Teens do have their groups, like we did (in my case, way back then, lol).

You may gain a couple pounds if you quit but nothing drastic. If you want, I could try to help you through that phase. But really, I doubt you’d gain that much weight.

Heh. I smoked in my home, car, outdoors, etc. I respected those who didn’t smoke by not expecting to smoke in their homes, etc. But outdoors, different story.

Gosh, the mini-mes. I figure I have no control over how anyone raises their kids and certainly don’t want anyone having any control over how I raise mine. I was channel surfing and caught a show about child pageants, little miss perfect or toddlers and tiaras, I get them confused. Wow. Just wow. Fake hair, fake teeth, etc. on little girls. Then the comparison was made to sports (something I’m into) and the extremes are there too. Very interesting.

But like you said, not preaching to anyone.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I see your in BERKELEY,,,

What do you smoke ???

CRACK ???

[Drango]

u c wrong.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“I realize that as of yesterday you pay more. That’s a GOOD THING.”

And I will return this sentiment when it is one of your freedoms that is taken from you by way of taxation.

[yorkie]

"when it is one of your freedoms that is taken from you by way of taxation"

It is coming soon, MJ. Next it will be beer, wine and alcohol.

Then comes the ammunition - it will take a wheelbarrow to buy a box of ammo (let alone a gun, heaven forbid.)

The utilities will be raised to the point where we will have to choose which light bulb we dare turn on, and if you have a SUV or Van, you will be taxed out the wahoo every time you go to the pumps.

Of course, I'm just being silly, here. Aren't I?

[TigersEye]

Don't be silly, yorkie.

Get your guns and ammo now! lol

[pandoraou812]

I don’t think so. Each day I wonder what is going to be next. As for the nonsmokers who are so happy about this tax I hope they have a vice that gets taxed to death too. Hmmm maybe we ought to tax them for not having any vices . Like a tax for the goodie two shoes. lmao

[Twink]

So true.

And, the utilities are already being raised incredibly in my State. We didn’t notice at first or right off. Until we got the first huge bill. There was no warning. And we’re expected to just accept it. And we all did. Complained to each other but still paid the bill. Then, We had a huge issue recently with our gas/electric. They “estimated” our bill for 6 months. We should have caught it and we didn’t and we formally requested no estimations way back. Anyway, they estimated and we were charged for their mistake at the tune of $900. On top of our regular bill payments. It didn’t matter that they weren’t supposed to estimate our bill. It didn’t matter that they made a mistake. We had to pay it and we did. Because that’s what responsible people do, they pay their bills no matter who makes a mistake.

We are getting so screwed from every which way. Far too many have no clue.

[yorkie]

I live in AZ. I am a very careful shopper - usually buy only what I need and use, when it is on sale (then stock up). So I am very familiar with prices.

Has anybody noticed that the price of groceries has gone up at least a third - and mostly by 50% in the past year? (I know it is not my imagination.)

All these poor people who are out of work - and groceries have skyrocketed. No wonder ‘spam’ sales are soaring. (ewwww)

Vegetables are now over a dollar a can. Frozen vegetables are way over $1.50 for a small bag. Bread is well over a dollar a loaf. And eggs and bacon have doubled in one year.

I have been running my dehydrator almost full time, these past few months.

Of course, I’m being silly. No big deal. We’ll just sit back, and ask each other if we want any cheese with our ‘whine’. (If only we could afford to buy cheese!)

[Twink]

It’s not just you. And, yes, grocery prices have gone up. I live in the state with the highest cost of living and taxes.

I have a family of 6. We shop at BJ’s mostly, in bulk. The prices have gone up. We are far from poor. But successs is penalized.

[yorkie]

Last year, Green Giant had canned vegetables on sale in one of the grocery stores (3 cans for a dollar). I stocked up on corn, creamed corn, green beans, peas, carrots, spinach, and any others on sale. (Dang. They’re almost all gone.) LOL!

I used to buy Bush’s Baked Beans, too - (they’re pretty good) - but heck - they are now, almost $2 a can - and I refuse to buy them at that.

I’m certainly not poor - but sure don’t want to encourage this price gouging, either. (Gotta watch those “buy one - get one free” sales. They tend to almost double the ‘original price’ on those.)

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Soooooo,,,,Are you the Mayor of BERKELEY ???

I see that you are a LIB/Nanny type...