Cheap Cig Buyers Beware (hysterical, threatening bleating from enraged tax-collector)

NY Post ^ | July 10, 2002 | Martha E. StarkRavingMad

[hellinahandcart]

Turns out it's all about feeding the machine.

Bloomberg didn't even bother to spin the decision to raise parking fines from $55 to $110 (and the fine doubles if you don't pay your ticket within ten days). I was looking forward to hearing how many lives that was going to save.

[D.P.Roberts]

What a gret idea! She could have them tested to see if the tax had been paid on them.

[LowOiL]

I thought the tax was about discouraging smoking, since it's dangerous and all. Turns out it's all about feeding the machine. Who knew!

Good point and rational there Gridlock. You bring out a very good point...

[NativeNewYorker]

Yes.

Clintonite, NY Dem machine tool, academic poseur.

[Maceman]

I don't understand how NYC will know if you buy more than the allotted amount off the Internet.

If you order fifty cartons in ten boxes, shipped through the US Mail, does the City have the right to open the mail in order to inspect the contents? Are local m unicipalities allowed to tamper with the US mail?

[billhilly]

Is it any wonder why liberals hate us so much? We see right through them.

[Drew68]

New Yorkers lost an estimated $40 million in uncollected tax revenue last year alone - revenue that could have been used to support safety, education and other vital services during these tough budget times.

Smokers, this revenue is YOUR responsibility!

[been_lurking]

New Yorkers lost an estimated $40 million in uncollected tax revenue

That's my favorite line. How can you lose something you never had in the first place???

[ozone1]

over here

[JoeSixPack1]

So while Guiliani was in charge she was history. Thanks for the link.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

I don't understand why they must go through all these games and motions to take other people's money. They should be honest and simply hire a bunch of scary looking characters, arm them with clubs and machetes and have them go door to door, simply taking things from people and keep doing that until the gov't gets whatever it is it needs.

[Movemout]

Get a load of this one all you criminal smokers.

[07055]

I don't understand how NYC will know if you buy more than the allotted amount off the Internet.

They can't know. It seems to me the only way you can get in trouble is if you bring a van load of cigarettes back from North Carolina and sell them to your friends. And one of your friends turns out to be a snitch or a "narc."

[WindMinstrel]

it's done in the WoD all the time -- pretty soon it'll start in the WoT. Wonder how long it'll be 'till the first kid turns in his parents?

[Sunshine Sister]

Hey! Good point. I love pissing off regulators. I take every opportunity to do so myself! Whadduyouknow a fellow agitator at FR. Amazing!

[Sunshine Sister]

That stinks. Last time I looked this was a free country and we are not required to shop only in our city or state. I'd be glad to point that out to that dufus!

[Blue Screen of Death]

That's my favorite line. How can you lose something you never had in the first place???

She is going to teach math at Author Anderson.

[Just another Joe]

I suppose the next step is going to be raiding smoker's houses to find out if they paid the cig tax, huh?

Yes, it is. And don't you DARE put in a secret room in your house to hide those cigarettes in. Whether there are cigarettes in there or not we'll know that's what its for and you'll go up the river without a smoke.

[D.P.Roberts]

Anybody have an e-address for Martha? She might get a kick out of reading this thread.

[Dakmar]

Or Solomon Barney Frank.