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Smoking is Dumb, But a Higher Cigarette Tax is Even Dumber
North Star Writers Group ^ | November 12, 2007 | Dan Calabrese

Posted on 11/12/2007 7:28:40 AM PST by Invisigoth

How would you feel about a $9.589 billion tax increase? Wait. It’s a cigarette tax increase.

Oh. Well, you say. That’s different.

That’s what the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate are counting on you to think. Not all Americans are reflexively opposed to tax increases, but among those who are, opposition tends to be far less ferocious when you are convinced you will not be the one paying.

(Excerpt) Read more at northstarwriters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cigarettetax; democrats; puff; pufflist; smoking
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1 posted on 11/12/2007 7:28:41 AM PST by Invisigoth
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To: Invisigoth

Plus, it usually affects those the most that can ill afford it.


2 posted on 11/12/2007 7:30:01 AM PST by Piquaboy (22 year veteran of the Army, Air Force and Navy, Pray for all our military .)
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To: Invisigoth

“The problem with cigarette tax is not that it’s unfair.”

BS. That is THE MAIN problem with it.

It established that there is a less than desirable class who DESERVE to be taxed more than everyone else. What they do is say things like:

“Smoking is horrible. Anyone who smokes is engaging in a disgusting and self-destructive habit. I have little sympathy for the argument that cigarette taxes unfairly target smokers. Smokers unfairly target themselves by smoking. I would say they should just stop doing it, thus avoiding the tax, but they can’t because they’re addicted to nicotine. If they didn’t know that would happen before they started, they have only themselves to blame.”

Screw this guy.


3 posted on 11/12/2007 7:34:39 AM PST by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: Invisigoth; Just another Joe; CSM; lockjaw02; Publius6961; elkfersupper; nopardons; metesky; ...

Taxing Nanny State Ping................


4 posted on 11/12/2007 7:36:17 AM PST by Gabz (Don't tell my mom I'm a lobbyist, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse)
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To: Invisigoth

To liberals, any tax (on others) is good.


5 posted on 11/12/2007 7:40:59 AM PST by DakotaRed (Liberals don't rattle sabers, they wave white flags)
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To: L98Fiero; Gabz
Screw this guy.

Ditto that.

6 posted on 11/12/2007 7:44:58 AM PST by Madame Dufarge
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To: Invisigoth
Smoking is Dumb, But a Higher Cigarette Tax is Even Dumber

It's just another method the govt is using to get it's hands on other people's money. That constitutes a far greater threat to society than someone lighting up by far.
7 posted on 11/12/2007 7:46:36 AM PST by JamesP81
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To: DakotaRed
"To liberals, any tax (on others) is good."

Ever notice how when liberals (Democrats) in charge don't have the answers to the serious problems facing our country they NEVER fail to pull another tax out of the hat for smokers... or place another ban on smokers.

And, incredibly they pat themselves on the back for a job well done... while everything around them is sh*t stick.

8 posted on 11/12/2007 7:49:03 AM PST by xtinct (I was the next door neighbor kid's imaginary friend.)
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To: Piquaboy
"Plus, it usually affects those the most that can ill afford it."

Yup. Where are the cries to 'exempt the poor and middle class?' To make it a "progressive tax" and soak the rich.

Lousy bastard Dem hypocrites.

9 posted on 11/12/2007 7:49:48 AM PST by DJ Frisat (SPAM: best in the can and in sammiches -- not for use on computers.)
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To: L98Fiero
“Screw this guy.”

In regard to the excerpt you posted, I would agree. But the article does give an “additional” argument for why taxing cigarettes is a bad idea.

10 posted on 11/12/2007 7:51:40 AM PST by gidget7 ( Vote for the Arsenal of Democracy, because America RUNS on Duncan!)
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To: Piquaboy

The young and the uneducated have the highest concentration of smokers.


11 posted on 11/12/2007 7:52:44 AM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Invisigoth

People are quitting smoking. Maybe we should tax cheeseburgers instead. Tax overeaters the way smokers are taxed. Smokes have gone from $1.35 to $4.25 in the last 10 years.


12 posted on 11/12/2007 7:54:57 AM PST by mysterio
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To: Invisigoth

Tobacco For Tots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_LutWBunb4


13 posted on 11/12/2007 8:05:37 AM PST by preacher (A government which robs from Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul.)
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To: Moonman62

You are right of course.


14 posted on 11/12/2007 8:16:09 AM PST by Piquaboy (22 year veteran of the Army, Air Force and Navy, Pray for all our military .)
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To: gidget7

“But the article does give an “additional” argument for why taxing cigarettes is a bad idea.”

Indeed, so I’m not sure why the attack on people who smoke was warranted. He agrees the tax is wrong so what is the point of bashing those the tax is aimed at?


15 posted on 11/12/2007 8:23:11 AM PST by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: mysterio; All
People are quitting smoking. Maybe we should tax cheeseburgers instead. Tax overeaters the way smokers are taxed. Smokes have gone from $1.35 to $4.25 in the last 10 years.

No, no. It was Meathead (Rob Reiner) who proposed that tobacco be taxed to fund children's healthcare in California.
I say, when that runs out, tax movie tickets!. Let's see what ol' Robbie thinks of that!

16 posted on 11/12/2007 8:24:17 AM PST by jeffc (They're coming to take me away! Ha-ha, he-he, ho-ho!)
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To: jeffc

No, no. It was Meathead (Rob Reiner) who proposed that tobacco be taxed to fund children’s healthcare in California.
I say, when that runs out, tax movie tickets!. Let’s see what ol’ Robbie thinks of that!

Excellent idea! Only in America can a meathead like Robbie become a multimillionaire. Also, if they started double taxing lattes he would squeal like a stuck pig.


17 posted on 11/12/2007 8:38:00 AM PST by Bitsy
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To: jeffc
"tax movie tickets!.

THIS WOULD BE GREATTTTTTTTTTTT......THIS is a tax I could get behind.....as well as a tax on CURSING in movies and music.

18 posted on 11/12/2007 8:45:50 AM PST by goodnesswins (Being Challenged Builds Character! Being Coddled Destroys Character!)
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To: L98Fiero

“Indeed, so I’m not sure why the attack on people who smoke was warranted. He agrees the tax is wrong so what is the point of bashing those the tax is aimed at?”

Two reasons:

1. I believe the statement I made. Smoking is stupid. If that offends you, too bad.

2. Rhetorical technique. If I get bogged down trying to defend smoking, I lose the argument, and that’s not the point I really care about anyway. So I concede that point, taking that issue away from the other side, and get to the real issue which is the economic destructiveness of the tax.


19 posted on 11/12/2007 9:09:26 AM PST by Dan Calabrese
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To: Dan Calabrese

Welcome to Free Republic, Danny boy. It’s good to have a newsy come here and exchange ideas ( and body blows, left hooks, etc.). Most of the others who’ve tried didn’t make out so well. Good luck!


20 posted on 11/12/2007 9:24:02 AM PST by metesky ("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
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