The two counties on Long Island are trying to pass a "sin tax" on cigarette sales. They're proposing a $2.00/pack tax with the expectations of raising $30 million a year.

They claim their goal is really to stop a lot of people from smoking. FUCK THEM AND THE HORSE THEY RODE IN ON!! If they're really interested in improving the health of their citizens they should do something about cleaning up the environment from all the toxic wastes/pollutants that are dumped each year. They won't do that, though, because the big industries would cry "foul".

FUCKING HYPOCRITES!!!!

tell us how you really feel......

Whats funny is that these taxes don't hurt anyone except OTHER industries. The amount that you have cut back your smoking is nothing compared to what you were forced to cut back on other things in order to pay for the cigarrettes.

In New York State, however, I am totally in favor of the tax proposals that place taxing cigarettes and gasoline sales on Indian lands, mostly because the whole sovereign nation crap is bullshit in this day and age, and its not Indians who are buying these things, but NYS taxpayers.

But yeah, SC, totally agree with you. Even though I'm a non-smoker, I've always felt that smokers get the shaft more often than not...its a shame to see poor workers on their breaks freezing in Buffalo weather because they have to go outside in the snow to have a smoke. While I think that every effort should be made to protect the health of non-smokers, smokers shouldn't be treated as persona non grata, either.

Just curious, are you a smoker yourself SC?

I'm no smoker, but a tax of $2.00 per pack is downright excessive.

Oh come on, you know that they will never level a two dollar fee on the old cancer sticks. Every so often some wind bag gets on his soapbox and bellows. Oh yeah, I remember next it will be ten cents per e-mail.

The idea of "Raise tax on smokes" was based on the assumption that with smokes being too high, poor people can't afford them and simply quit. Those that kept smoking, give more hard cash to the government.

The problem is, this backfired and Big Tobacco increased its profits.

As despicable as Big Tobacco is, its the easy jobber that everyone can pass laws against since its been screwed hard with lawsuits left and right, and paid out in billions upon billions.

Meanwhile, the other industries get a free pass behind their shields....

I agree with SC. What bullshit.

What is the present tax on cigarettes? Do they still have cigarette machines?

First they killed Joe Camel and now this.

Soon the Marlboro Cowboy will be put to sleep.

Ronnie, hate to break it to ya, but the Marlboro Man has been taking a dirt nap for about fifteen years now. He died of lung cancer.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...!

California voted on Prop 86 last november (Sin Tax) which would have raised the price of a pack of cigaret $2.60 more per pack, 13 cents per cigaret. It didn't pass....this time. The claim the money was to go toward qualified hospitals (?), emergency services, and health care fore eligible children. Why should smokers only have to fund these things?

I was reading that in Nevada they wanted to not only increase cigaret taxes, but also add a $5.00 charge for anyone who walks into a bar, and also tax (don't remember the amount), those who choose to hire an "escort" service. You know we must pay for our vices.

I think it sucks.

TIS

I don't understand smoking, as it really povides nothng except poor health and a chemical addiction. But whatever, if people want to smoke, that's their choice. So I say, let them smoke.

I agree with SC, there are other, more important issues to be concerned about, that all stem back to the core-issue. Fuck, clean up the god damn earth before we all die.

SC, there are FIVE counties who are joining in on this. It's absurd. And how is smoking a "sin"? Is there a commandment that I am not aware of?? Am I supposed to mention how many Marlboro Lights consumed next time I'm in the confessional? It's ridiculous.

Look, everyone who smokes knows that they shouldn't, and I would think that most would like to quit (at least I do). I have no problem with limiting where you can, or when you can, but I have no idea why smokers are always given such a hard time.

People have no problem going up to complete strangers and asking them why they smoke when they KNOW it's bad for them (in the condescending manner of a non-smoker, btw). However, I don't think those same people would walk up to an obese stranger working on their 2nd Big Mac and ask them why they're indulging themselves at the risk of a massive coronary. Why is it socially acceptable to single out smokers and not other groups who indulge in unhealthy habits??

SB, good point. I am a non smoker and personally I don't care if someone is smoking as long as he/she is not blowing smoke on my face. My roomie is a chain smoker and I don't have a problem with it. Maybe there is a reason for smoking being seen as sin. In olden times, people had a more active lifestyle and hence did not have much obesity related problems. So smoking and drinking were seen as unhealthy practices then. And all religions and societies generally see these as vices for that reason. And today's society is really incompetent in terms of reasoning out and breaking the religious norms that are more or less obsolete and irrelevant.

Two points here on two different issues that were mentioned in this topic.

Sin Tax - What a bullshit saying. And I love how these politicians and advocates of these taxes always claim that they are proposing these taxes in the hopes of getting people to quit smoking because it is not good for their health. Bullshit! Yes, it's not good for your health, but these hypocrite bastard politicians that claim that they are doing this out of concern for the publics health are lying through thier teeth. If our representatives are soooo concerned about our health, then they sould outlaw smoking period. Oh, what am I thinking. If they did that then they wouldn't be able to get all that money from the tobacco companies dontated to their political parties.

Hypocrites I tell ya!

Gambling Tax - I refuse to go to a Casino that is on an indian reservation. The Casinos on those reservations can make all the money in the world and not have to pay a cent in taxes on it because they are running it on their reservation. Yet if I hit a jackpot or win a lot of money playing in one of their casinos, I have to fill out paperwork for the IRS and pay taxes on the money that I won in their tax exempt casino. That's bullshit.


Now to add insult to injury regarding these counties in New York State pushing for a $2.00 per pack sin tax....Our mayor has reccommended to our governor that a .50 cent per pack additional tax be added to the purchase of every pack of cigarettes.


All they are really doing is to create a black market of sorts for cigarettes. They have created the bootlegging of cigarettes.

How about a politicians tax...we tax every politician based upon the amount of bullshit they produce in a given year.

I like that DJ. We can call it "propsition bullshit". Everytime they try feeding it to us, bada bing......$10 tax to go right in our pockets. Think about, there are hundres of politicians, they are all full of bullshit. Man we'd be rich.

TIS

Did you know that even though government buildings are supposed to have a no smoking policy, I heard on the radio recently that the Capitol still has an indoor designated smoking area? I don't know if this is true, but I did hear this on CBS880, which is usually pretty reliable. Now, if they're so worried about the masses of the "too ignorant to quit, so let's price them out of the habit", why are they still allowed to smoke on the job? Nobody else is. It's ridiculous that if you own your own company and your own building, and you want to smoke in your own private office, it's illegal (at least it is where I live). If you drive a company car, it's illegal to smoke in your car because that's considered an extension of your workplace. Who is going to suck in the second-hand smoke if you're alone in your car?

And don't forget - it's a sin!!!!!!!

Don't sugarcoat it SC, tell us how you really feel.

Is this issue going on the ballot or will the politicians just make the law on their own? I'm not smoker but that is just wrong I'm sure all of that 30 mil will just go in their pockets huh

So you're against the tax then? To try and drum up more business?

As for cigarettes - just buy them online. But, from an Indian reservation so the Feds don't catch up with it and try to bill you for sales tax after a year or two....

I absolutely hate those people.

[TRUE STORY] - When I used to work in the City I was forced outside to have a cigarette. One day I was standing in front of my office, minding my own business, smoking a cigarette. This little old lady, as proper looking as you would ever see, came walking over to me and asked, "Didn't your mother ever tell you that you shouldn't smoke"?

Without missing a beat, I snarled back at her, "Didn't your mother ever tell you that you shouldn't talk to strangers"?

She laughed at that, but I hafta say I was REALLY ticked at her.

Looks like I'm gonna start driving out to Southhampton again (where the Indian reservations are). A carton of my ciggies goes for $33 out there.... that's compared to about $75 if this tax goes through. Even with the price of gas rapidly approaching $3/gallon I'll come out waaaaaay ahead. (The roundtrip drive is about 2½ hours). So, in order to save a considerable amount of money I'm gonna drive my car and pollute the atmosphere. You know what?? FUCK IT!!!

Its time for cigarette smuggling!

My favorite is still on your income tax forms..."declare all of your illegal income."

SC, I know you watched the West Wing, and I don't specifically remember what the episode was about, but I do remember it had something to do with outlawing tobacco, and Leo's comment to POTUS was, "Great! Another new market for smugglers. We'll have speakeasies all over the country with people lighting up Marlboro Lights!".

After the failure that was Prohibition, I think that the government would stop trying to legislate these sort of things. Well, unless it's a revenue-raiser. Gambling is bad, but lottery tickets are okay because they raise revenue. Oh, casinos are okay, too, because of all the cash that flows into the public coffers. Oh, and it's fine to SELL cigarettes, but let's tax the hell out of them and line our pockets with Big Tobacco money.

Good one!

I wish I had such a witty comeback when I was smoking outside my NYC office building in my Yankees jacket, and someone asked me if I was on the team! I'm way too honest....



I forget what you smoke, but that's pretty similar to prices at http://smokes-spirits.com/ -- tho you gotta pay shipping. The Seneca's I get have been on sale for $12.49/carton for months. At that price I got used to them quick. Problem is, online vendors can't accept credit cards for cigarettes any more thanks to Big Brother. The other issue is, I've heard some people getting big tax bills in the mail for ordering cigs online, but, I don't think that's happened w/ sites run by sovereign Native American businesses like that one...

"How ya' doin' Hendry ?".

We were running cigarettes out of Havana when you were a baby -- the trucks, owned by your father.