June 30, 2003

Yep, Illinois just raised our taxes from $.48 to $.98 per pack a year ago. Funny thing is, tax revenues did not increase as much as they thought, while neighboring Indiana and Wisconsin's cigarette tax revenue did increase without raising their taxes.

"But, but, but, smokers cost society more because of their health care costs."

Children and old people also cost society more because of their health care costs, would you also support raising taxes on old people and children? Fucking illogical hypocrits.

Well, he and others obviously know that there's one persecuted (eye roll here) minority that'll bitch but pay the taxes.

Holy shit! I didn't know this went into effect tomorrow...that fat bastard....!

Ho'd up while I run to the Kroger and stock up.

Why the eye-roll, Jane? Yeah, I'll pay the taxes because I have the money and I ENJOY smoking. How the fuck does Sonny Perdue save MY life? How the fuck did that become his job, anyway? I don't NEED Sonny to save me.

If the shitass makes cigarettes too expensive I'll grow my own tobacco and roll my own cigarettes or buy them on the black market.

He's still a hypocritical bastard and ANY kind of "sin tax" is an abomination.

Why don't we tax Affirmative Action prizewinners? Hell, the government gave THEM a leg up over everyone else, so government deserves a mere 1% of THEIR salary, don't you think? Government can take THAT money and use it to benefit others who don't deserve it.

Bejus. I am glad that you live in Canada, you dingbat. Canadian Motto: "Like France, only with more snow and not nearly as sophisticated."

Why is "health care" even an argument, when health and life insurance both cost more for smokers than they do for non-smokers?

You'll notice that the attack on fatty foods isn't gaining much ground. The reason for that is that all those anti-smokers enjoy their fried food too much. I'll tax your vice until you're broke, but don't you dare touch mine.

"Health care" is about the ONLY argument they have. Screw logic and go straight for the emotional save the children pleas, smokers cost society, and "if you don't like the taxes quit smoking". Let's assume all the smokers did just that and quit smoking. Does that mean governments would not try to replace those revenues with other taxes? Hell no. They would find other things to tax to make up for the lost tobacco taxes, and that PROVES smokers do not cost society anywhere NEAR the amount of current cigarette taxes. People get sick and die whether it's lung cancer or old age. In fact, people might live LONGER and require MORE social security and medicare benefits, so forcing everyone to quit smoking could actually COST "society" more that allowing people to smoke.

Government PROFITS from smokers. That's goddam obvious and I am sick and tired of the lying bastards who say otherwise.

In The Ten Things You Can't Say in America, Larry Elder cites one economist who estimates we make, as a society, 58 cents on every pack of cigarettes smoked, once all of the factors are taken into account. Sorry I couldn't find an online cite, don't have the book handy, can't remember the name of the economist, but the stat stuck in my head... Smokers are just the latest cash cow...look at the stuff other than heathcare that's being funded this way in California--*cough*Meathead*cough*.

MB suspects that smokers have paid for their alleged excess health care several times over. The tax is always used for everything BUT health care, and then they turn around and take more, lying through their teeth about the "added expense" of paying for us smokers. MB has private insurance, which, incidentally has NEVER had to pay for a minute's worth of health care in any way related to smoking.

Politicians LIE !!

I bought two cartons tonight. The clerk at the store couldn't understand why so many people were coming in to buy them tonight. Tom politely told him why before I could open my mouth and let something ugly fall out of it.

Holy cow, there's so much whining here I thought I was in my son's daycare on infant day.

[donning asbestos underpants]

Ya don't like it, quit. That's what I did. You saved $12.50. I've saved $2K in the past 2.5 years alone.

Yup, nothing more sanctimonious than a reformed smoker...

(Kidding aside, what the government does to the smoking minority is nothing short of criminal. Here in MA, the city of Boston just banned ALL smoking indoors. ALL. Less than 10 years ago, they passed an ordinance that required a completely separate smoking area. Larger restaurants spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating their establishments to comply with the regulations. And less than a decade later, they get buttfucked by the same bastards who dorked 'em last time.)

((Yup, I'm a yankee. And proud of it.))

Look at buying your smokes online.

We LOVE shopping online. It's a rush to find something for the same price as in a local store but get it with free shipping AND NO SALES TAX!!! We'll still supp