http://ap.google.com/article/A...1MvzN_4iwfxagD912G24G0
LOL damn I can't believe people would pay 5 bucks, let alone 8 bucks to smoke.
LOL damn I can't believe people would pay 5 bucks, let alone 8 bucks to smoke.
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
Originally posted by: Juno
good, they better quit smoking.
Obesity accounts for a larger portion of heath care costs than smoking.Originally posted by: Kirby64
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
The difference between cigarettes and video games is that video games won't kill you even if you do play them obsessively. (starvation/sleep deprivation don't count)
As for the others, although they do cause health issues if taken in excessive, I'd venture to say that they do not cause health issues as quickly or as severely as cigarettes. (barring alcohol...)
Originally posted by: SampSon
Obesity accounts for a larger portion of heath care costs than smoking.Originally posted by: Kirby64
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
The difference between cigarettes and video games is that video games won't kill you even if you do play them obsessively. (starvation/sleep deprivation don't count)
As for the others, although they do cause health issues if taken in excessive, I'd venture to say that they do not cause health issues as quickly or as severely as cigarettes. (barring alcohol...)
Originally posted by: RichardE
Good. People should pay more for there portion of the health care related costs of smoking.
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: RichardE
Good. People should pay more for there portion of the health care related costs of smoking.
The problem is the NYS cigarette tax isn't about covering healthcare. Before the increase, the taxes collected exceeded the extra costs per year that smokers made the state incur.
It's nothing more than exploiting an addiction and regulating a person's own personal choices through taxation.
Originally posted by: George P Burdell
I hear the cigarette smuggling market is picking up in NY.
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: SampSon
Obesity accounts for a larger portion of heath care costs than smoking.Originally posted by: Kirby64
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I bet people would change their minds about this tax if it were applied to *their* preferred addiction, be it chocolate, beer, fast food, or video games.
The difference between cigarettes and video games is that video games won't kill you even if you do play them obsessively. (starvation/sleep deprivation don't count)
As for the others, although they do cause health issues if taken in excessive, I'd venture to say that they do not cause health issues as quickly or as severely as cigarettes. (barring alcohol...)
Fine, let's tax lardasses! In fact, I think that some companies do just that by charging them higher insurance premiums.
That was my point further up in this thread. I didn't articulate it because I could write a lot on the topic.Originally posted by: Sawyer
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: RichardE
Good. People should pay more for there portion of the health care related costs of smoking.
The problem is the NYS cigarette tax isn't about covering healthcare. Before the increase, the taxes collected exceeded the extra costs per year that smokers made the state incur.
It's nothing more than exploiting an addiction and regulating a person's own personal choices through taxation.
Wow good point
Yes, and increasing amount of insurance companies are now charging higher premiums for risks such as obesity and smoking. Though insurance companies can't really be fairly compared to state imposed taxes.Originally posted by: NFS4
Fine, let's tax lardasses! In fact, I think that some companies do just that by charging them higher insurance premiums.
Originally posted by: SampSon
That was my point further up in this thread. I didn't articulate it because I could write a lot on the topic.Originally posted by: Sawyer
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: RichardE
Good. People should pay more for there portion of the health care related costs of smoking.
The problem is the NYS cigarette tax isn't about covering healthcare. Before the increase, the taxes collected exceeded the extra costs per year that smokers made the state incur.
It's nothing more than exploiting an addiction and regulating a person's own personal choices through taxation.
Wow good point
Basically the state is exploiting people's addiction. Then they are basing portions of the state budget on the tax revenue generated from cigarette taxes. They are doing this all while claming that higher taxes and bullshit state sponsored smoking cessation programs are making headway into decreasing over all tobacco use. It's inherantly hypocritical, but smoking has so successfully been demonized that most people are to brainwashed to actually see what the state is doing and they are cheering it on.
No one with half a brain believes that the state actually WANTS to get rid of the tax revenue generated from tobacco. If they successfully did cut smoking down to nominal levels, they would shift that lost tax burden onto something else and find some way to sell it to the people for a profit.
Yes, and increasing amount of insurance companies are now charging higher premiums for risks such as obesity and smoking. Though insurance companies can't really be fairly compared to state imposed taxes.Originally posted by: NFS4
Fine, let's tax lardasses! In fact, I think that some companies do just that by charging them higher insurance premiums.
If they want to raise the taxes, then do so, but the way they go about it is just wrong.