[Mears]

I'm so damned sick of these politicians sticking it to the smokers every time they need money.

The state tax on cigs here in Massachusetts is $1.51 and to add insult to injury,they include that excise tax when calculating the sales tax.In other words,they tax the tax.

The higher the taxes on cigs go,the more smokers go to the Internet.

Are all politicians idiots or does it just seem that way?

[SheLion]

Are all politicians idiots or does it just seem that way?

Mears! I KNEW this would happen!  When the lawmakers saw the taxes from cigarettes fell, they would gleefully say "Oh Look!  Our smoking campaign is WORKING!  People are QUITTING!"  They are such dumb azzes, I tell you!

[Don Joe]

The higher the taxes on cigs go,the more smokers go to the Internet.

Are all politicians idiots or does it just seem that way?

It just seems that way. Seriously.

Look at the benefits -- from a pro-statist perspective.

Every "bad" result of this law will create more incentive for draconian Internet tax legislation, Internet monitoring (and even blocking) legislation, and, of course, other additional taxes "to make up for the shortfall."

It's really difficult to be too cyincal when looking at this crap. I'm not joking.