[Wonder Warthog]

"TAX INCREASES are counterproductive," said Mark Smith, director of public affairs for Brown & Williamson Co., the Louisville-based cigarette manufacturer. "Nobody is going to quit smoking because the price goes up. They will just look to buy their cigarettes somewhere else."

"If he wants to stop smoking, instead of a tax -- he should propose a bill that outlaws tobacco sales and use in his state."

Neither of these will work. The final result of such actions will be that the tobacco trade will move into the underground economy, as was the case during the Prohibition ban on alcohol. The Mafia will just LOVE IT!!!!

[skip2myloo]

My proposal was not serious - it was intended only to portray the duplicitous nature of the governor's justification for a tax increase.

Tobacco is legal, it should stay that way.

I don't think it should be taxed either.

I don't use, but I don't care if others kill themselves using it.

If we take a long term view, even under the present system, even though the government may choose to subsidize some short-term healthcare costs for these folks, in reality they're gonna die young and save the taxpayer money overall.

[31R1O]

These people won't be satisfied until you see some poor b@st@rd on cops getting his door kicked in to seize his tobacco plants.