Supply-Side Smokers

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 7/31/02

[sanchmo]

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has done the impossible -- he's turned Representative Charlie Rangel into a supply-sider. Harlem's new Arthur Laffer is upset about Mr. Bloomberg's new $1.50-per-pack tax on cigarettes, which Hizzoner hopes will bring in some revenue and encourage New Yorkers to kick the habit. Mr. Rangel blasted the hike as "totally unfair to tax poor folks."

[KS Flyover]

Puff Ping!

[Just another Joe]

As the chief of the Unkechaug Nation was quoted as saying the other day, "If they're so bad, make them illegal. In the meantime, leave me alone."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[ozone1]

"But the truth about tobacco taxes is that they are less a cure for nicotine addiction than they are a way (albeit not very effective) for the state to exploit addiction for its own financial advantage."

Fight back, stuff your own.

[szweig]

The last poster has it right. The taxes feed the gubmint's addiction to YOUR ca$h.

[SheLion]

BLOOMBERG? DID YOU SAY "BLOOMBERG?!"

Ah, the Double Standard at work!

[SheLion]

[LisaFab]

Are they any good? My father had one of these machines years ago and we'd all sit around the table making the cigs. Oh, memories.

[SheLion]

Are they any good? My father had one of these machines years ago and we'd all sit around the table making the cigs. Oh, memories.

I remember making cigarettes for my parents, years ago, using the little Bugler machine. But this new machine is absolutely wonderful!

Makes a tighly packed cigarette and is so fast and easy! I really love this machine and the filtered tubes.

[yoe]

Highly confiscatory taxes tend to produce much less revenue than expected, in part because much of the taxed behavior simply shifts into illegal or untaxed channels.

As long as the leading bright lights seem to think taxing a legal product to the hilt is the way to go we might as well look at some other "addicting" products already taxed and pile on more taxes, like beer, wine, liquor. Why not tax crack and cocaine, there seems to be plenty of that to go around; Oh forgot, that stuff is illegal...don't want to mess with hard drugs do we...no go after the legal stuff and get the taxes from law abiding people, lets make crooks out of them too.

Hooray for the American Indian...they have won again. Smoking and gambling is at an all time high! Spending an enormous amount of money on ones campaign, obviously doesn't make a good mayor... Mayor Mike Bloomberg is a case in point. Careful people, whom you elect, when we elect elitists (and they are easy to spot) we elect people who really don't care about the little man/woman. In the future, don't elect non-smokers, non-drinkers or people who don't like to shoot. New York...you've now got another political problem.

[bandleader]

Rush has been saying this for years!The "Tobacco Settlement"(with the states)is just another example of Hypocrisy on a Breathtaking Scale!!!!

[rogercolleridge]

Are they any good? My father had one of these machines years ago and we'd all sit around the table making the cigs. Oh, memories.

Ahhhhh....Laredos. Remember the smell when you'd open the can??

[Nephi]

I don't smoke, but how does rolling your own compare with buying a pack of Marlbaro?

[Nephi]

Nevermind - I clicked on the link. Sorry.

[LisaFab]

Yes I do. I wonder what they taste like. Want to go halfsies on a machine?

[SheLion]

I don't smoke, but how does rolling your own compare with buying a pack of Marlbaro?

Well, I roll a whole carton (10 packs of 20 cigarettes)for under $8.00, compared to buying them buy the carton which runs anywhere from $44 dollars up to $50.00 for 10 packs of 20 cigarettes. Quite a savings!

[Nephi]

Thanks for your response. How long does it take you? How does the quality compare to store bought? I suppose now you carry your cigs in a nice cigarette case, huh?

[SheLion]

Thanks for your response. How long does it take you? How does the quality compare to store bought? I suppose now you carry your cigs in a nice cigarette case, huh?

I can roll a nice carton in about an hour. While watching TV. I smoked More Menthol for many years. You know...the long skinny dark brown ones? And I never thought I could ever smoke anything else. But when the taxes went so high, I soon learned to like this tobacco just as much.

You can buy regular tobacco or menthol, and the menthol is really good.

And yes, I found a bunch of cases over at Ebay. In all colors to match all my outfits. So I am all set. heh!

[88keys]

"The effects of the tax, which has raised the price of a typical pack to $7.50, are already careening through the local economy. Indian reservations, which are allowed under federal law to sell cigarettes tax-free, are booming with the new business..."

And I thought $40 a carton was bad...our Republican State Gov't just raised cig taxes here, and we are not happy!! And besides, it is a highly regressive tax...gotta go pick up another carton, but first I'm gonna check out the Indian web-sites...(don't think I could handle the "home-rolled", though I applaud the concept!)!!

[Red Jones]

rangel is right; bloomberg is wrong.