Cigarette tax unfair

I cannot begin to describe how disappointed I am after hearing Gov. Rendell's plan to raise the tax on all tobacco products in Pennsylvania.

[Tom]

Let's tax people according to body fat...the state could overflow the coffers with tax money on these folks.

[Nemo31]

Tom wrote:

Let's tax people according to body fat...the state could overflow the coffers with tax money on these folks.

I can see Frat Fast Eddie stepping on the scales now! Of course as Hillary's chances tumble so does his of being FDA head.

[Jeff Spangler]

The solution is simple for anyone who feels unfairly burdened by tobacco taxes-- quit smoking. I agree it's politically expedient to gouge addicts who are too dumb or weak to try to conquer their habits, but hardly unfair to make them pay extra for their wholly curable behavior.

[AJ in 17057]

Or tax rednecks based on the number of teeth they have.

ALL tobacco products should be taxed to the fullest, its totally bogus that PA does not tax snuff and that other crap seemingly intelligent people, mostly men, stuff in their mouths.
Don't like it or can't afford it, QUIT. And my suggestion for the business owner, times change, just as the VHS people and Plymouth auto people and the floppy disk people, change your business and go with the times and you'll be fine.

[David-1206]

If you don't smoke you don't have to pay it....

[Nemo31]

AJ in 17057 wrote:

Or tax rednecks based on the number of teeth they have.
ALL tobacco products should be taxed to the fullest, its totally bogus that PA does not tax snuff and that other crap seemingly intelligent people, mostly men, stuff in their mouths.
Don't like it or can't afford it, QUIT. And my suggestion for the business owner, times change, just as the VHS people and Plymouth auto people and the floppy disk people, change your business and go with the times and you'll be fine.

None of the products mentioned above were caused by government regulation or overtaxation. Your comment speaks from both sides of your mouth. You promote government intervention by citing free market principals. Got ot be a lefty!

[SmokerDude]

Its monkey see monkey do syndrome.

[concerned citizen]

Take a road trip to delaware; they dont have tax on smokes there!
If tax's are not legal (thats what we had the tea party for! NO taxation without representation)
Then every tax (smoke, gas, etc.) is not legal because the people did NOT say to do it.
The greedy politicians did it on their own!

So all the politicians have committed treason and should be hanged for it!

The problem is that the people wont stand together and fight;
NOT back off or back down
They just wont stand together!

[BEEN THERE]

Jeff Spangler wrote:

The solution is simple for anyone who feels unfairly burdened by tobacco taxes-- quit smoking. I agree it's politically expedient to gouge addicts who are too dumb or weak to try to conquer their habits, but hardly unfair to make them pay extra for their wholly curable behavior.

My. My. Does the government tax pot, meth, crack? No? Why not? OH! It's because the aren't a legal product. Cigatettes are legal to manufacture- legal to sale- and legal to use. Tax wise- they are no different than the milk you buy to put on your cereal. Or the gas you buy to put in your car or lawn mower. LEGAL!!! Just because it isn't a product you use or approve of doesn't mean it should over taxed to fund "give me", feel good programs.

[BEEN THERE]

Cigarettes

[DIGGLA]

This tax is a double whammy. The letters sent to individuals has a double tax on them. This is if you bought them on the internet. RIDICULOUS STATE. Rendell won't be eledcted again I'm sure.

[what the]

AJ in 17057 wrote:

Or tax rednecks based on the number of teeth they have.
ALL tobacco products should be taxed to the fullest, its totally bogus that PA does not tax snuff and that other crap seemingly intelligent people, mostly men, stuff in their mouths.
Don't like it or can't afford it, QUIT. And my suggestion for the business owner, times change, just as the VHS people and Plymouth auto people and the floppy disk people, change your business and go with the times and you'll be fine.

If you taxed rednecks on the number of teeth they would get a refund

[BOMBARD]

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.-Martin Niemöller- german anti-nazi theologian. Its just the "Stupid" Smokers now. Wait untill its something you do thats "stupid" to "them"

[Fidel]

And there was no toilet available, so I $hit my pants. We have more liberties than the remainder of the world could only think about.

[we the people]

Like it or not (and I do), they are going to tax the crap out of tobacco. They are going to restrict where you can smoke even more than they have. Get a clue. They do not want you to smoke anymore. Also, the more they tax smokes and the more they restrict where you can smoke, the fewer teenagers start smoking. That is also a good thing.

[we the people]

A cigarette tax is a stupidity tax. It is sort of like paying the sales tax when you buy the Brooklyn Bridge. Just like buying the Brooklyn Bridge, you are getting taken by con men when you buy smokes. Actually, buying smokes is worse, because someone is willing to see you dead just so they can make a profit. The guy who sells you the Brooklyn Bridge only rips you off the one time. Big Tobacco rips you off for a lifetime.

[we the people]

Stupid people smoke. That is why they are willing to get in their cars and spend over $4.00 a gallon for gas (not to mention the wear and tear such as tires, brakes, etc) to drive somewhere to save a few dollars on a carton of smokes.

[we the people]

Since smokers are stupid as well as addicted, they deserve to be taxed on smokes. Sometimes the best way of helping an addict realize how bad off they are is to slap them while they are down.

[Linda]

Fill your car with people, split the gas
RYO for about a buck a pack
Black market is alive and well

That is the way smokers can see that the antis get the added taxes they deserve, you don't pay the high smoke tax that pays for all the goodies they enjoy, they will have to and you will still be smoking cheaper than ever!!! LOL

[we the people]

Linda wrote:

Fill your car with people, split the gas
RYO for about a buck a pack
Black market is alive and well
That is the way smokers can see that the antis get the added taxes they deserve, you don't pay the high smoke tax that pays for all the goodies they enjoy, they will have to and you will still be smoking cheaper than ever!!! LOL

You've covered ALMOST everything.

Does not change that stupid people smoke.

PS. The car filled with stinky smokers going across the state line must really be rancid by the time they get back. Must need 3 or 4 of thise little carcinogenic chemical filled pine trees to make the car livable for the kids.