[Lancaster Online]

[pml]

I think it is great that a bunch of smoking phobics has turned our nation into smoke haters. I think it is great that people are being forced to quit because they can no longer afford cigarettes or are tired of being ostrocized in restaurants and bars. Forced to go out in the freezing cold to enjoy a LEGAL PRODUCT that pays for millions of children to have free health care.

Now can we take it to the next level. Let's force welfare mommies to actually pay to raise their children, pay for their prenatal care and their cheese, formula and diapers. After all they choose to ignore birth control and have babies and then expect our government and smokers to pay for thier mistakes. Why not make obese people pay extra taxes on fattening food? Why not stop punishing one group for their unhealthy choice while rewarding others by making smokers pay for them?

[Awakening]

Post your thoughts and comments about this article.

I smoked cigerettes for ten years. I quit five years ago and it was one of the best things I've done for my body. I would encourage anyone who still smokes to quit.

[pml]

And 300lb people who just say "no" to fattening foods that are not taxed or punished and lose a lot of weight feel better too. Smoking is the only liegal product that we are punished through tax dollars for using. Fat people continue to be able to eat at Taco Bell for 99 cents or the MCDonalds dollar menu and continue to kill themselves and cost us money. ONLY SMOKERS are required to PAY out the BUTT for their habit. Pay for others mistakes and pay our own way for cessation and illness. While diabetic sugar a holics and alcholics can kill themselves and never pay a dime for some 15 yr old to raise her kid. Not right not fair.

[galty]

Smoking can kill




http://www.youtube.com/ironfirst2000

[gp80mac]

And 300lb people who just say "no" to fattening foods that are not taxed or punished and lose a lot of weight feel better too. Smoking is the only liegal product that we are punished through tax dollars for using. Fat people continue to be able to eat at Taco Bell for 99 cents or the MCDonalds dollar menu and continue to kill themselves and cost us money. ONLY SMOKERS are required to PAY out the BUTT for their habit. Pay for others mistakes and pay our own way for cessation and illness. While diabetic sugar a holics and alcholics can kill themselves and never pay a dime for some 15 yr old to raise her kid. Not right not fair.

So you're saying cigarettes are the ONLY thing you pay taxes for?

[StrobeSML]

And 300lb people who just say "no" to fattening foods that are not taxed or punished and lose a lot of weight feel better too. Smoking is the only liegal product that we are punished through tax dollars for using. Fat people continue to be able to eat at Taco Bell for 99 cents or the MCDonalds dollar menu and continue to kill themselves and cost us money. ONLY SMOKERS are required to PAY out the BUTT for their habit. Pay for others mistakes and pay our own way for cessation and illness. While diabetic sugar a holics and alcholics can kill themselves and never pay a dime for some 15 yr old to raise her kid. Not right not fair.

You do realize that there are sin taxes on alcohol (mainly spirits) also, right? And, if you want to attack the sugar users, note that in the past few weeks the senate was considering a sin tax on, of all things, soda.

Certainly, cigarettes and alcohol have the greatest taxes levied but that's how it goes.

There are positive and negative things to say about sin taxes. While they raise money and hopefully discourage harmful behaviors, they also open the door for smuggling and can be considered a regressive tax, hitting those with lower incomes much harder than those of higher incomes.

Of course, you aren't arguing on those terms. You're just upset that you pay extra taxes as a smoker. I was a smoker and I quit, not because of a sin tax or anything like that but because I had a heart attack. That scared me enough to do it. (It didn't hurt that for several days, I wasn't able to smoke because I was in the hospital. I was past most of the worst cravings when I was let out.) I found it to be worthwhile but don't have any scorn for those who continue to smoke. Often, I still want a cigarette and it sneaks up on me sometimes.

I'm not suggesting that you quit. (I hope that you do it eventually for your health but I realize the futility in trying to push someone to quit. It doesn't work. You need to find your own reason that is stronger than the urge for that next cigarette.) What I am suggesting is that you quit grumbling about the sin tax. Unlike most taxes, this one is completely optional. You don't have to pay it. All you need to do is not buy cigarettes. If you choose to smoke, it will cost you more.

I realized that when I was a smoker. I admit to a little grumbling under my breath (thinking that beer, which I rarely drink) is only taxed at around 6 cents per gallon. Doubling that would definitely boost revenue without being too damaging to the wallet. For that matter, I could see adding 6 cents per bottle of wine (which I do drink, though only a couple of glasses per week or less).

The only reason I could think of that they didn't do that is because beer drinkers are notably louder than smokers (who simply don't have the lung power) and if the state senate was going to get any sleep, they'd better tax the smokers.

Even so, I willingly paid the cost. I didn't waste much time with complaints because I knew I was going to pay the money anyway. I had a choice and my choice went toward my addiction. It was entirely my decision.

[Awakening]

And 300lb people who just say "no" to fattening foods that are not taxed or punished and lose a lot of weight feel better too. Smoking is the only liegal product that we are punished through tax dollars for using. Fat people continue to be able to eat at Taco Bell for 99 cents or the MCDonalds dollar menu and continue to kill themselves and cost us money. ONLY SMOKERS are required to PAY out the BUTT for their habit. Pay for others mistakes and pay our own way for cessation and illness. While diabetic sugar a holics and alcholics can kill themselves and never pay a dime for some 15 yr old to raise her kid. Not right not fair.

Smokers are actually a plus for the federal government, not because of the taxes they pay on cigerettes but because they die at a younger age and don't collect nearly as much on social security and medicare. From a purely financial standpoint it would be good if you kept smoking so I don't need to support you in your old age.

[sandyinholtwood]

I do think that this is getting ridiculous and that they should find something else to tax! I got a postcard in the mail last week that said something about a proposed tax on cigarettes costing $1.49 more a pack! I should of paid more attention to it!
Thank goodness I quit! If my husband and I both smoked it would cost us about $86/week for generic cigarettes!

[pml]

Well i have been telling you that you do not support me because of my smoking. We support ourselves completely while at the same time watching the 200 plus single mom on welfare walk her kid up and down the street at hours when we are working to pay taxes that go to her so she can get home in time for Days of Our Lives or Ellen. She obviously spends our money on fattening food so why should she not pay sin taxes on it since diabetics live longer than cancer patients(smokers). Why should fat people not also contribute to their illnesses like smokers are being asked to do and don;t forget the cig tax does not go to smokers either for cessation or healthcare, it goes to CHIP to provide health insuirance for children whose parents are LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this tax went directly to smokers for their healthcare I would pay it gladly.

Also I do not any longer buy cigs in PA. We buy them in Delaware where they are $10 dollars per carton cheaper. Thank GOD!!!!!!!

[Bigmaclender2]

Well i have been telling you that you do not support me because of my smoking. We support ourselves completely while at the same time watching the 200 plus single mom on welfare walk her kid up and down the street at hours when we are working to pay taxes that go to her so she can get home in time for Days of Our Lives or Ellen. She obviously spends our money on fattening food so why should she not pay sin taxes on it since diabetics live longer than cancer patients(smokers). Why should fat people not also contribute to their illnesses like smokers are being asked to do and don;t forget the cig tax does not go to smokers either for cessation or healthcare, it goes to CHIP to provide health insuirance for children whose parents are LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this tax went directly to smokers for their healthcare I would pay it gladly.

Also I do not any longer buy cigs in PA. We buy them in Delaware where they are $10 dollars per carton cheaper. Thank GOD!!!!!!!

Ummm-remember your friends here when you come back from the bay. I could use a break on a carton!

[twinmom]

Ummm-remember your friends here when you come back from the bay. I could use a break on a carton!

I thought you were quitting?

[Bigmaclender2]

I thought you were quitting?

I guess it's become more of a "longterm goal" at this point, lol. It is, by far, the hardest thing that I have ever attempted to do thusfar in my life! Today wouldn't be a good starting day as it's the anniversary of my mother's death. I guess I can think about it tomorrow, lol-maybe.......

[StrobeSML]

I guess it's become more of a "longterm goal" at this point, lol. It is, by far, the hardest thing that I have ever attempted to do thusfar in my life! Today wouldn't be a good starting day as it's the anniversary of my mother's death. I guess I can think about it tomorrow, lol-maybe.......

Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it a dozen times already...

[Bigmaclender2]

Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it a dozen times already...

I think my New Years resolution for 2010 is to quit............quitting LMAO ROFL!!