[Lion's Cub]

It costs about $6 to make a carton of cigarettes, yet they sell for around $35. That's about $29 a carton in taxes.

This gouging of 20% of the American public is a millstone on any economic recovery. There is no discretionary income left for smokers to spend. When people finally figure out that this punitive tax is costing them jobs, they will realize that smokers aren't the only ones being ripped off.

[evad]

This gouging of 20% of the American public is a millstone on any economic recovery.

I can't understand why there isn't a "gigantic" black market in this area.

[Gabz]

It costs about $6 to make a carton of cigarettes, yet they sell for around $35. That's about $29 a carton in taxes.

here's some real $$$$$$:

From 1999 to 2001, federal and state governments collected more than $88 billion - or about $80 million a day - from smokers through excise and other taxes and litigation settlement payments to the states.

Let's all stick those numbers in our hats and smoke them!