Is This Cig. Tax Reasonable?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Is This Cig. Tax Reasonable?
54
Wed, 04-01-2009 - 12:59pm

The new cigarette taxes take effect today.


I don't roll cigarettes, but I found this to be quite harsh.  The average cost of a pound went from $15.99 to $60.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6352568.html


Are they just haphazardly throwing taxes out here and there, and hoping for the best?  If the real reason is for people to quit smoking.. and they do, what are they going to go after next to make up that revenue?  Should one section of the US be more responsible for child health care than the rest?


I'm disappointed in this new tax.  I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities that this could cause many stores to fail, and leave people without jobs.


I think smokers are such an easy target that no one's thinking ahead on this issue.


 


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2008
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 6:24pm
$1.01 isn't 300% of $.39 either. ;)

 


"      

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2002
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 6:49pm
Maybe that's the difference between California and Texas cost of Living? (if you can call it that.) My ex husband was a drug addict-yep-vicodin, oxycontin and such go for $20 a pill. Pot, according to friends I know that grow (used to live in the Emerald Triangle), goes for 3K to $4,600 lb. depending on the variety, wholesale.


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Thu, 04-02-2009 - 7:58pm

OMG!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 8:59am
<>

Oh....What is that?


Children's health care.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 9:11am

It sounded to me that you were saying that the cost of cigarettes went up 300 percent.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 9:16am

I guess it is a difference in where we live.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2009
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 9:26am

<>

Well that DOES seem like a worthy cause.

<>

I hope it won't be ONLY illegal immigrant children who will benefit....Perhaps those children whose parents have the sort of issues we talked about earlier too (putting their own needs above their children's....eg. gambling, drinking, smoking, manicures ;o)....and hopefully also those whose parents, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs due to layoffs, or illness etc....We also have to bear in mind that some children are born with, or contracted serious or chronic health problems. Problems that would suck even a fairly middle class family with health insurance dry financially.

Also, I've never been one to punish children for the faults of their parents. They are innocent parties in all of this, whether or not their parents have an addiction problem, are facing struggles due to the tanking economy, they were brought to the country (or were born here) illegally...or even if they've just had the misfortune of being born to lousy parents.




Edited 4/3/2009 9:29 am ET by moxysuvous
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2009
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 9:27am
Well, we've had a lovely conversation so far....
Avatar for claddagh49
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 9:44am
For the most part illegal aliens are paid under the table,
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2009
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 9:45am