22 Million New Smokers Needed: Funding SCHIP Expansion with a Tobacco Tax

The Heritage Foundation ^ | 7/11/07 | Michelle C. Bucci and William W. Beach

[Gabz]

If ever there was a “Nanny State” ping - this has to be it.........someone finally gets it.

Now we need to make lots of noise.

Non-smokers need to realize, the smokers can not, will not, and refuse to foot all these big brother edicts. You people have got to understand, once the smokers say enough, they WILL come after you.

Everyone on this ping list understands this, but there are far too many FReepers that think sticking to tobacco smokers or alcohol drinkers is A-OK in their book.

[wagglebee]

Not only that, but cigarette taxes are extremely regressive. The tax is the same per pack whether someone smokes generic cigarettes or full-priced name brands and a lower income smoker is generally going to smoke the same amount as a wealthy one.

[Eric Blair 2084]

I don't know exactly how this anti-tobacco worldwide social engineering experiment will end (although I have some good guesses). What I do know for a fact is that one side will be really, really pissed!!!!!!

The anti-tobacco groups seek these taxes and smoker bans to discourage new smokers from starting and to coerce existing smokers to quit.

The part time state legislators who have borrowed heavily on the MSA tobacco settlement proceeds by securitizing their future cash flows through bond issues and who are addicted to the state excise taxes think the gravy train will continue forever.

One of the two sides are going to be wrong and they will be crying in their coffee.

Either A. smoking rates drop to below 10% and the anti's do cartwheels while governments go broke or B. Smoking rates don't decline and the anti's have spent all this time and money for nothing.

Somebody should start a line on this in Vegas.

[Gabz]

My dear FRiend, you are preaching to the choir when you mention regressive taxation. It is something I have worked on for more than 15 years, and not just with tobacco taxes.

[elkfersupper]

And this is a bad thing?

Only if there is some commodity or activity that you both enjoy and would like to see taxed out of existence.

[wagglebee]

I knew that.

[Just another Joe]

I can't believe that someone hasn't posted this yet.

Take up smoking. Do it for the CHILDREN!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Gabz...you know I will help in this cause in any way I can. Just tell me what to do.

The only time I’ve smoked is “behind the barn” a few times as a teen and my once a year ladylike cigar on my Birthday. :)

Those that are blind to what this really means are either being purposefully obtuse, or they’re just plain ignorant of how the Government has taxed us beyond our means for decades now.

[Gabz]

Those that are blind to what this really means are either being purposefully obtuse, or they’re just plain ignorant of how the Government has taxed us beyond our means for decades now.

While I agree with you totally on both premises, Diana, there is a third group........the group that just doesn't care and will do what they can to get their way and consequences be damned.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

True. There are always unintended consequences. We see it every day in stupid lefty-backed legislation of any kind.

[Gabz]

Yup - let’s save the chocolate!!!!!

[Madame Dufarge]

And this is a bad thing?

Exhibit #1: Nibbled to Death by Ducks.

[Gabz]

To be honest, Madame, that post was as far as I got....

I might look at the ones between that and my first post in the morning.......or maybe I won’t.

There are far too many people around here that agree with this kind of stuff, I’m not sure I want to see just how many.

[Drango]

Raising taxes on smokers will reduce the numbers of smokers which is a good thing. Linking it to a fixed spending program and children is a stupid thing.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[this_ol_patriot]

Without any smokers left to extort money from, where do you think the 'RATS will go next?

Booze, guns and porn and pickup trucks.

[jwh_Denver]

All of us smokers should pick a day to quit and then when the withdrawal systems start kicking in we take it out on the government. Betting pool on post 1000.

[jwh_Denver]

FR got rid of the Rooty Fruity crowd but we still have the Nazi’s to deal with.

[beckysueb]

They would never do that. They will just raise EVERYBODYS’ taxes. Nonsmokers included.

[beckysueb]

Yes because than the nonsmokers get their taxes raised, too.