your right they just gave cartels and gangs yet another multi-million dollar buisn as they will steal them and sell them cheaper than normal..

Now they think they have us where they want us.. we quit we ALL pay the taxex to replace the taxes we USED to PAY. So insted of just us paying more than we do today,, ie: 90 BILLION Federaly, and at an avg 2.5 million per state.. where do you think they are going to get this money,, if we ALL stop smoking.. non-smokers get taxed even more...then complain about it!

This is insane. The idea of sin tax is appauling to me. It is just not fair. I am an ex smoker, and in the 1 year I have quit I have seen 3 or 4 increases in the price of cigarette because of tax from federal and state.

How come we aren't taxing junk food? Fat people do more harm to our nations healthcare system than drunks and addicts do.

Abolish sin-tax! Down with hypocritical taxing!!!

Actually, John Doe, smokers cause more problems for the health industry because the smoke affects everyone around them, even hours after they've put out that cigarette. Most smokers don't want to admit it and deny all the research for whatever reason, but you can look it up. The one possible exclusion is actually smoking a pipe as there are fewer chemicals in pipe tobacco, but even that is dangerous.

I'd suggest everybody compare Wine tax and Liquior tax for your state. In Virginia it's 4% for wine and 20% on liquior.. Completely outragous in fairness.. They could easily double the current revenue by matching the taxes and you know rich people won't quit drinking wine.

Sick of party squabling,

Yes, you may be right,but the same hold true for almost every car in america, it is an undeniable fact that over 40,000 people die each year as a very direct cause of automobiles, now lets look at the rest. First off the pack that I take a day to smke, may one day kill me, or someone who sat there day after day, but a car in a garage will kill you, or at least render you sensless in about 15 minutes. Then there is all that rubber waste and batteries that are filled with acid, where most of it goes no one knows. So tax the living day lights out of every driver in america, and also if the cut back, that reduces the monet leaving the country.
NOW LETS TACKLE THE REAL PROBLEM, why are all these sin taxes in place, simple to pay for the one that they can't control, the state does not pay my health care, nor do the feds, yet they tax me, when th ereal problem is all the children of parents who don'thave the means to support them, and the children of children. Most of the property tax in most parts of this country go to schools, yet I have no kids, so why should I pay.
They should make everyone paying child support pay an extra $100 as a tax, and that would come first.
Next all these single mothers,should have to name the father, or they get nothing, but a free tube removal. Once is an accident, anything above that is an out of control breeding operation.
Stop the low life whoring going on in this country before it drives us all to the poor house.

Robby

Yes, about 45,000 people die in automobile crashes each year in the US, roughly the same number as die by being shot with a gun. Compare that with the 400,000 that die each year as the direct result of smoking. The use of alcohol and tobacco should be taxed, heavily, because there is a direct connection to the use of these products and healthcare costs to this society. And no, it doesn't matter whether or not you have health insurance. If you don't then we pay for your healthcare directly through the medicare or medicaid programs or in the increased cost of healthcare via bad debt or charity care. If you do have health insurance then we pay through the increase cost of American goods. One reason that American made automobiles cost thousands more than their foreign equivalents is the added cost of health insurance.

Also Robby, the reason why you should pay for education eventhough you have no children is that it is in your enlightened self-interest to do so. As you get older you will need services provided by those younger than you -- nurses, doctors, police, fire, EMS, lawyers, etc, etc, etc. You will be infinitely better off if those young people serving you are not stupid. Also if the children of all of those engaged in "low life whoring" have a good education then they will get jobs and pay taxes to pay for your healthcare and social security payments instead of being a continued burden to society.

You took the words right out of my mouth!  It's EXACTLY what I said!  A friend of mine was in a convenient store last week, and he noticed that some customers who can't afford a PACK of cigarettes, purchased 4 smokes, from of a pack!  Our local, State & Federal Officials are creating another criminal element, over a pack of cigarettes!  I feel like this, if they really cared about the HEALTH of human beings, they would STOP-HALT making cigarettes!  Like illegal Drugs, they generate TOO MUCH money to stop production! 

Everyone would be FORCED to go COLD TURKEY, and get over their habit, but as long as they continue to get the revenue they do from this supposedly KILLER product, they are UPPING the ante!   

Maybe we will give up our bad habits. Like voting for idiots?

i smoke and i agree just stop production close all cigarette companies and all that make any type of booze or beer then whats next to be taxed ? keep running down the line of sin till its gone then there will be fat tax because your fat you'll be taxed for every pound your over of what your expected weigh also becuase you'll fart more you'll be taxed even higher thanks to al gore the guy that flys everywhere and talks about going green becuase the earth is getting hotter and then becuase your alive body heat will be taxed WOW wake up people soon government will have everyone except the rich by the balls and thats 95% of the people and you will do as they say and like it thats right you put them idiots in office that are spending trillions and expect you to pay for it im laughing becuse i can truly say i didnt vote for any of them.

Spot on Dave! My worry is they do think that the more crime they create they more laws and bans they can initiate and the more power they can gain. Our Government is looking like jabba the hut. An all consuming, bloating, power hungry, controlling, maniacal maniac. Keep going like they are and the streets will look like Death wish 3.

Just exactly who decided that smoking or drinking was a "sin"? I think that "gluttony" is considered one of the seven deadly sins, so are we going to tax restaurants that offer all you can eat buffets where people stuff themselves silly? I don't smoke or drink, but I don't think it's fair to pick out certain products and over tax them to the max. Bravo to the people who protested! It's time that we start making our voices heard, no matter the issue.

I'm in NY State, and our dear governor Patterson wants to tax soda pop, gym enrollments, and everything else he can think of. He is tax happy, he says if he taxes soda people will loose weight. He'll be taxing donuts next. As for me, I am going to buy a good single malt before he gets to it.

Where do I begin, lets see how about we stay within the budgets allocated instead of spending what we do not have? Just an idea.

Now people who smoke and drink are unfairly taxed compared to those who don't, so if everyone quit smoking and drinking then the government would have to come up with a "tax" to pay for things they didn't have the money for to start with.

So the healthy person who never smokes and drinks and is poor gets cancer and we all pay for their health care through higher premiums or taxes we pay for Medicare and Medicaid.

But the medical association has a lock on things as they raise their rates so they can have insurance against being sued.

This taxing thing is getting out of control due to politicians and state officials not staying within their budgets. Which correlates to promises made at election time that they could not keep.

Then the states decided to pool federal funds as opposed to giving them to the counties that stayed within the budget, so the allocated funds for that county could be used in the one that did not stay within the budget.

How about making sure that the representatives Congress, the Senate and the Administration pay their taxes on time. As well as the banks that my tax dollars are bailing out who havent paid theirs.

How about no government official is allowed to use a private jet to go back and forth across the states at $40,000 a trip and must take public transport. Then they do not need a 17% increase in a Per Diem as the public is currently paying for the private jet.

This is a grass roots thing and everyone needs to hold their state, county and city officials responsible to stay within budget. As well as insuring the sitting governor is not providing any tax breaks to foreign companies that want to do business in the US.

How about evening off the trade balance which is completely out of balance due to the tariffs and other government taxes the US must pay to do business in their country.

Our government has forgotten what they are responsible for and its time to remind them.

This is all too much for me, I'm getting drunk. Maybe it will be cheaper to smoke crack or weed, I'll look into that, since they are not taxed.

States Increasing Taxes on Tobacco and Alcohol

"Voters aren't going to show a lot of sympathy to the sin industry."

Hmmm, taxes targeted at specific groups of people for doing things other people don't like. Kinda like the 90% clawback tax on the AIG bonuses, don't you think?

Can the sin taxes for the little people be constitutional when the one on the Big Corporate people supposedly isn't?

As long as things related to health issues are on the tax table why not consider taxing bullets. Surely that is detrimental to good health. Then there is the beef issue. They have reported for years that eating beef everyday will lower life expectancy by 10years. What about taxing thongs... either kind. What about bicycling? Lots of people get killed on bicycles. What about taxing homelessness? That is a growing target. Now that group has few advocates and is pretty defenseless. On the other hand why don't we rent out spaces in public parks for them to pitch their tents. It makes about as much sense as taxing one group or another to death. Abolish tax breaks for corporations and subsidies in general. Equalize the taxation for all.

Why don't taxers post their expenses online so the taxpayer can see what they do and do not want to pay for. Give us the line item veto.

Joke, joke, joke.

Maybe tax the greedy & ignorant.

We may not have many problems then, because most politicians couldn't afford to be in office anymore?

I'm personally tired of paying for a "Political Welfare System" because of most of their actions.

Government officials getting compensated better than most of us. They have better benefits than most of us. They live in better homes than most of us. They commute with better accommodations. They eat better than most of us. What's wrong with that picture? Personally, when someone lives better than who provides for them, something's definitely worth looking into & changing. Won't take too much digging lately. Would you think they do that through taxation? Duh!

Well said.

And I, for one, would just like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Uncle Sam for telling me what's good for me....again.

Where's the BK and McD's tax? Not a fan, but evidentally enough people in this county are. I know most people will say tobacco and obesity are apples and oranges when thought in terms of healthcare costs, but I digress, most people I know who have passed due to smoking died pretty quickly, a few years. Obese people can live a really long time, with high blood pressure, diabetes and a host of other problems.

this is so very wrong on so many levels. Thanks lawmakers, again, your doing a great job

Yes, about 45,000 people die in automobile crashes each year in the US, roughly the same number as die by being shot with a gun. Compare that with the 400,000 that die each year as the direct result of smoking. The use of alcohol and tobacco should be taxed, heavily, because there is a direct connection to the use of these products and healthcare costs to this society. And no, it doesn't matter whether or not you have health insurance. If you don't then we pay for your healthcare directly through the medicare or medicaid programs or in the increased cost of healthcare via bad debt or charity care. If you do have health insurance then we pay through the increase cost of American goods. One reason that American made automobiles cost thousands more than their foreign equivalents is the added cost of health insurance.

Also Robby, the reason why you should pay for education eventhough you have no children is that it is in your enlightened self-interest to do so. As you get older you will need services provided by those younger than you -- nurses, doctors, police, fire, EMS, lawyers, etc, etc, etc. You will be infinitely better off if those young people serving you are not stupid. Also if the children of all of those engaged in "low life whoring" have a good education then they will get jobs and pay taxes to pay for your healthcare and social security payments instead of being a continued burden to society.

Finally someone with some sense!!! ^_^

Personally, I think they should raise the price of cigarettes to the point where the taxes could cover the amount of money used to treat people with smoking related illnesses.

So hey Matthias......then I assume you are 150% behind the junk food taxes, etc? Right?

I think we should legalize marijuana and tax it - especially in CA.

But we are not going to "do" anything about it and they know it.

Hell just what i need another tax just retired from military cant find a job because no one is hiring in my field.  Wht do i have my two vices i smoke and i drink a little.  now they take that away to cause i cant afford it.  In virginia they jumped it by almost 13 dollars a carton.  How is this right when it takes but 40 cents to produce a pack of cigs, yet we pay 5.00 a pack.  Just who is this going to does not go to my health care i know that much.   

It is refreshing to see Jennifer who is apparently someone who can use a calculator. You are taxed for everything and depending on where you live how much that tax is worth can be astounding. When will people start adding up all the "secret" tax money they pay after they get their check from work? You think people are mad now just give them some calculators and see what happens. Where does all this money go I wonder?

vincent-334663, my guess is that the extra money you pay on cigarettes are finding their way into someones pocket. I believe all that extra money you spend on cigarettes should go into your health care, but unfortunately the government likes to ruin good ideas. In my opinion it makes sense to heavily tax tobacco and alcohol, but the tax money should go into health care and not some politicians pocket.

I am pretty certain that in CA - the cigarette tax goes to school funding. Go figure.

To the people who demand smokers to quit cold turkey - let me tell you that cigarettes are more addictive than heroin.

I am a former smoker who needed Zyban to quit. I tried cold turkey so many times, but the physiological urge to smoke was too strong. I used to wish for a drug like methadone. Well, I got it with Zyban.

I quit 2 weeks before 9/11 and have not picked up a cigarette since then.

It's not easy to quit smoking without medicinal help and the nicotine patches are not it. They are nicotine.

i should say we should all take the day off for one day and see what happens to them if we was not around to do thier dirty work but would all just get fired they would just get the illeagls to fill in for the time we are gone. they dont care they dont pay the taxes

THANK YOU! For showing common sense!

Don't give 'em any more creative revenue ideas, FO. I'm not sure I could afford it, and my smoker's lungs already make breathing a bit of a chore!

Waaaaaah... cry me a river. Smoking is a disgusting filthy habit and the majority of smokers are careless, inconsiderate and think the world is their ashtray, nevermind offending the rest of us by poisoning the planet and subjecting us to all the toxic carcinogens they produce which have a direct impact on OUR health.... INVOLUNTARILY.

I'm all for the tax increase on booze too. Maybe it'll keep all the alcholic lushbuckets at home if they can't afford to hang in their watering holes all night.

Gemini you sound like a person from one of the recovery groups..Spilling your swill because you cannot drink anymore and anyone that does is an alcoholic lushbucket, as I suppose you also were...

hey gemini

i think you should have to pay a bitXX and moan tax , maybe it will keep the annoying people who think they are better then everyone else quiet

may as well tax our air also....

Don't worry that's coming to. We have to do something about that evil CO2 afterall.

Instead of a child tax credit, add a tax for every child born to a person, that where most of these sintaxes go is to support kids, that the parents can't afford to raise on thier own. And the rest goes to just general government waste some examples of which are... In Charlotte the CMS school board is broke, they are laying off teachers and librarians, and halting new school construction. Yet they managed to save never mind high school, but middle school athletics, because thats important, but teachers and librarians are not! Why does every school need a new design, is the architect someones husband/wife design one school build it it twenty times, thats what all big retailers do, that is why McDonalds can build anew store in weeks, not months or years.
CMPD also broke, thier newest crime figting tool, fat cops on those fancy 2 wheel $4000 electric thing a mabobs, give them a $200 bike, it costs a whole lot less, goes faster, and will get the in shape.
They are going to use the fed money to hire more cops, that not a bad idea, but the prison system is broke, so they are releasing people ahead of schedule? HUH so I will pay for more cops to arrest criminals, so that the lockup canlet another one out before his time, and then lets not forget, that for every cop who makes the arrest, and takes teh gun fromthe bad guy, we pay a DA who knows how many times the cops salary to stand incourt week after week, and argue with tax payer paid public defender to get him the prson time he will not serve.
But yes, a pack of smokes and bottle of beer is what is costing this nation all of its time, money and resources.

Gemini: sorry smoking disturbs you so much but is a stress relief to some of us what else would you have us do go take a jog after a 15hour shift hell i am going out to my pourch have a seat and have a beer and a cig. At least i am not beating my kid. then again you probably dont know what a hard day is.

Typical tax something I don't like response gemini618. How about they tax something you enjoy but others dislike? What that be fair to you? And no, I don't smoke and rarely have a drink but I am tired of all the cry babies like you who want the gov. to ban and tax everything you don't like.

The gov. is always quick to tax things the majority doesn't like first since crybabies like gemini 618 are always first to approve of it. Why should one segment of society be taxed while others who are a burden actually get paid for producing a even larger burden such as people receiving public assistance while still squirting out kids. They don't pay taxes yet get back money? How the heck does that happen?

How about quit having kids. How about the gov. stop spending money. When I run low on money I have to cut back but yet the gov. just tries to find a new way to tax people. First it is the so called six taxes, then drivers, then sales taxes and then it is what ever else they can come up with with. It never ends. Has anyone lese gotten sick of 50 to 60 percent (or even more) of their hard earned money being stolen. I know I have.

Eventually they'll get around to taxing something Gemini puts value on, then we'll see if his tune doesn't change.

Don't worry, it'll happen....

Gemini618

I guess they all can cry a bit better because tampons do cause toxic shock syndrome, mascara can cause blindness possibly leading to other tragedies & used lipstick smudges can contain illness causing bacteria formations. All harmful to others.

Opps too late! They already tax our food. Air is around the corner.

The ignorance tax will vote them right out of office.

Short list of things that make much more sense to tax than cigarettes and alcohol:

All sports in schools: enormous medical costs result from sports, and the costs of administration and equipment are phenomenol, as evidenced by the loss of other programs like librarians, teachers and other programs that enhance learning. No real education comes from these elitist 'school activities', and our tax dollars support them. If students (and their parents) want to 'play', then let them pay.

Vehicles that get less than 25mpg. This needs no explanation.

Strip joints: Everything about these places are totally undertaxed. When was the last time you paid a tax for a tuck or a lapdance? No, none of the girls paid a tax on it either: under "food service", you estimate your income for 'tips', and believe me, NO ONE EVER TELLS THE TRUTH. The only income "Candi" or "Destinee" reported last year to the IRS was her paycheck (usually restaurant scale @ $2.13 an hour) and $100 (if that) in tips.

Off-shore bank accounts of American citizens. Also, no explanation necessary.

Moneys wired to Mexico. Over $26 trillion in the past 3 years has been 'sent home'. Think what a 20% tax on this money could do!

Churches and other 'charities': Most don't have to report ANY income, and many rake it in like Midas. They own more and more property every day. Why shouldn't this be taxed? (I am in total agreement over the Separation clause, and I'm not saying that the Gov't should interfere with the churches or charities programs or functions; it should just make them accountable for all the money and property that goes above and beyond those functions.)

There are plenty of others, but, sorry: I have to get to work so I can pay MY taxes.

Gemini you sound like a person from one of the recovery groups..Spilling your swill because you cannot drink anymore and anyone that does is an alcoholic lushbucket, as I suppose you also were...

Eric, I am a member of one of those recovery groups. We would never call a practicing alcoholic a "lushbucket". We understand the nature of the "beast". Gemini is most likely just a troll.

Taxing booze is not going to stop anyone who has a drinking problem from drinking. Just like making all the other things people smoke, snort, shoot, etc. illegal does not keep people from doing them.

"Sin Tax" won't keep anyone from doing what they want to do. It will just piss them off and hopefully piss off enough people in the voting booth the next time around if their memory doesn't fail them.

Gemini...You sound like one of those holier-than-thou-I'm-better-than-you people. Just because YOU think smoking is digusting. But for those of us who have made an ADULT decision to smoke regardless of the many hazards the FDA claims come with them. The people who are trying to get rid of smoking altogether come up with just about anything negative to put out there about smoking. Second-hand smoke is a scare tactic. My mother smoked for 34 of my 44 years. NO ONE in our family has breathing problems, lung cancer, and all the other "dangers" you people spew to the public. All of this non-smoking crap is getting out of hand. In Manhattan KS, they've prohibited smoking in bars even. This is the way I see it, if you are 21 yo, you are considered an adult, you should be able to make an adult decision. If a establishment allows smoking and you don't like smoke, DON'T GO INTO THAT BUSINESS! For waiters and waitresses, if you knew the place you applied to allows smoking, DON'T APPLY THERE. But no, you people get on your high horse and ban it altogether. Whatever happened to a happy medium? C'mon people it's time for YOU to be responsible and grown-up. Stop letting local, state, and federal governments make your decisions for you. Grow Up! Once all the smokers have quit, what's next? What are we going to ban next?

Have any of you noticed how our society has started to become like the futuristic movies that we see where the government has taken over and everything is banned, and you guys are falling for this willy-nilly.

What is it with this "sin tax"? Are we taking the sins out of the Bible or are we making them up as we go? So whatever the majority doesn't like is a sin? Is that how it works? Who determines what is a "sin". Is the Sex industry being taxed like this too?

Sheller - I am one of THOSE ex-smokers. I absolutely get nauseated by the smell anymore. I could care less if you smoke. Just don't smoke around me.

I think we should also tax JUNK FOOD like chips, processed foods, McDonalds, fast food, etc. etc. Since it looks we are on a path to national health care, I demand more money be contributed from people who don't take care of their health with vices such as cigarettes, alcohol, and JUNK FOOD.

Here in arizona the reservations got smart, they just charge it anyway and take the 50%+ pure profit.

You get an answer?

You would care if it was something you liked and/or enjoyed. This doesn't affect me. I don't drink and I quit smoking. The 200 extra dollars a month is nice! It just isn't fair to tax one group (or two smokers and/or drinkers.) You are just another self righteous non smoker.

We are going to start taxing your tampons because they contain Rayon, and we don't believe rayon is a moral thing to put in your tampons, so you now have to pay 300% MSRP.

You wouldn't be saying "Tax them" then. Freakin hypocrit.

Heather, you dont smoke or drink, so its easy to say raise the taxes.  How about a 100 per cent surcharge on mascara and lipstick?  Or a 50 percent surcharge on haircuts at the salon?  Call your Congressman and demand that they do so.

Tootsie, John Doe and Teamster..... all ASSININE arguments with no relevance whatsoever. Apples and oranges. Nicotine and alcohol are DRUGS....drugs which cause millions upon millions of deaths each year and have an impact not just on those who indulge but also those who come in contact with them.

When mascara, lipstick and tampons start killing millions, pollute the environment and pose a health risk to innocent "victims" ... then you can bitch and moan all you want. Only a real LOSER would waste their time and energy fighting for the right to be able to poison themselves and those around them.

Gemini: People in the oil industry, garment industry, mechanics, what about pumping gas etc.they are all hazardous to peoples health..Should we also single them out and raise their taxes?

ok what about the animals your make up is tested on? ... ohhh thats right dogs love having mascara in thier eyes , no victims here??

Gemini, alcohol, when drunk responsibly as the majority of people do, does not affect anyone but the drinker. It actually has proven health benefits when drunk in moderation. I agree that cigarettes are all around bad and there's nothing good about them, but as long as someone is smoking them away from me and others who choose not to smoke, it is their right to do so. I don't mind taxes on things like cigarettes and alcohol as they are luxuries, but this is getting a bit excessive.

Well hey, lets all support a higher tax on disposable diapers! Maybe some people will quit using those disgusting things and there will be less of them in our landfills!

I say add $3.00 to every gallon of gas, that will be the right thing to do, then I will need to walk for my smokes, and beer. Add up what cars cost, they say a $TRILLION a year for the next 15 to 20 years is what it would take to get all af americas roads in proper shape, then there are the 40,000 PLUS killed each year, the who know how many injured, the cost of snow removal in a large part of the nation, the amount of toxins these this produce, what with emmissions, old tires, old batteries, old cars left on the road side,
yep I drink, I smoke, and I would love to see a $3.00 a gallon federal gas tax, and a GPS controlled mileage tax put on cars, and yes I own and drive a car. But I would love see all the self righteous bastardos who don't mins my beer and smokes going up live with a gas tax.

The day will come,

Hell, raise taxes on red meat, candy and clothing. Lets do this across the board, tax everything! Tax the family pet!

Gemini, caffeine is a drug too. Is your next campaign going to be for the elimination of coffee, tea and soft drinks??

Everyone has a vice or two and many act as relief valves. You need to pick up a bad habit to let off steam and maybe you'd be less of an a** on this board..

Ignorant statement. Gut their pocket books? Hit 'em when their down? Just throw them in prison? I guess we could ring up thoughts like that to our often neglected educational system? GET REAL!

Hey Gemini-

You drive a car? A hybrid? No? Guess what, you are polluting the air quality for everyone, and contributing to ozone depletion. Oh, wait, a car is necessary....doesn't have to be, ride a bike.

Hey, it's an option. And just because you or someone else doesn't like the option doesn't NOT make it an option. If you believe that strongly in what you are saying......

I totally agree with you. "second hand smoke is killing us" I bet that Big Mac is helping right? Wait...no...you got a diet coke! ;) That makes it ok.

Plus, I love all these do-gooders....I don't want my kid to smell smoke....whilst they are feeding the fat little bastages mickey dee burgers and fries.

LOL. ROFL.

The new SCHIP tax affects tobacco, and thus smokers -- who don't receive and benefits from that program.

How fair is that?

States Increasing Taxes on Tobacco and Alcohol

"Voters aren't going to show a lot of sympathy to the sin industry."

Hmmm, taxes targeted at specific groups of people for doing things other people don't like. Kinda like the 90% clawback tax on the AIG bonuses, don't you think?

Can the sin taxes for the little people be constitutional when the one on the Big Corporate people supposedly isn't?

get 'em lucky!...

Sidebar....What is this crap that you can't use caps on newsvine? My comment above would convey my thought exactly if I was able to use caps. "Shouting" give me a friggin' break. How the hell can you shout by typing. this crap has gone too far. All the sensative people off the internet NOW!

i wonder how many people are killed a year when peoples fat rolls get in the way to steer a car away from danger?

hahaha.... perfect comment!!!

Because then you'd piss off way more people. They want to piss off the least amount of people possible. Gods forbid that those Swiss Cake rolls coast $2 a box instead of $1.25. I quit smoking almost 2.5 years ago, and I still look at the price of smokes and I still nearly drop a gasket when I see the prices. They were climbing when I quit, but holy hell they just kept on going. O_O I still like a good adult beverage from time to time, and damnit I will NOT be forced to go to bottom shelf booze because it's now the price that the mid-level stuff was. >_<

If they want money, why not grow POT, they could have farms grow it as cheap or cheaper than tobbaco, and they could sell it for for $20 per pack, those who smoke it will save a furtune, and the government would have a cash cow on thier hands. Not only would they be bring huge sums in, they could drop a huge number of DAs, police could work on other things, the public defenders office could reduce staff, and millions would have a clean record to get a job and pay taxes,and buy packs of pot.

I guess it might be more equal if they weighed people once a year and taxed them by the pound, think of what kind of health issues that could prevent including pregnancy. Makes about as much sense and that would certainlly pass the tax penalty around.

I still haven't let go of the guns and ammo tax yet.

However, I do like robby's suggestions in regard to the self-perpetuation of certain aspects of the judicial system parasites.

As long as we are engaging in flights of fantasy, go the whole way.

maybe this IS a new beginning. maybe everything mentioned in various blogs will end up being "taxed" in one way or another, maybe the unbelievable debt this country has run up is going to put an end to everything. If this is truly a tax intended to 'help" then make cigars and cigarettes illegal but wait that would take away a lot of needed revenue wouldn't it.

robby

and you havent even mentioned the benefits from hemp .. rope, clothes, paper, oil, ect... the list for hemp is incredable long thousands of uses

The health nuts are in California or most of them and that state is in financial ruins. So because they are so healthy they do not need more tax dollars then the state of kentucky where a lot of folks smoke. They just need to pay their taxes and stay within budget.

"Where the h--l are my rights."

I don't believe it says anywhere in the constitution that you have the right to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol.

If these @!$%#s are taxing "sins", I guess I'm going straight to hell.I just got done taking care of my horses, helped the neighbor with morning chores, and am now enjoying a glass of port. I am also having a smoke. I may or may not purchase a bottle of single malt scotch this afternoon, If I am a sinner, I am a very productive one. Tonight I will bring my beautiful haflinger in from the pasture, do some portraits of her, and feed four lovely draft horses. I went for my 50th year check up and my Dr. said if I were any healthier he would be afraid. I weigh 110 pounds, of muscle, and I bet I could kick Gemini's ass. And I am a female.

Amen my Brother!

More taxes? Another sin? Exactly that! Well said.

Preaching to the Choir

Don't give them any ideas!

Ok, now your starting to see a little better. The only problem is, we as the everyday voter really have no say on who runs this country. Yes, we vote and maybe the person you voted for will win but your vote made no difference. Big business, Unions and the rich control who runs things. No matter how much we bitch about the way this country is run, it will never improve. We have become so lazy we believe the politicians have our best interest in mind. All they want is the chance to bend us over a little more. Don't look for anything at the street level to get better.

And the problem with this would be what ????

Next would be a bicycle tax or how about a tax for walking?

The problem with that Gemini is when everybody quits smoking, drinking and are healthy as a horse is government will still not stay within its budget and will be looking to tax your toenail clippings.

How about the government that works for us stay within budget. If they don't they get booted. And while I am at since they are so keen to do away with the car companies benefits for which my parents worked 51 years total to earn a retirement. Lets do away with lifetime benefits for government workers.

You can spout out about you don't like smokers or drinkers all you want but the water you drink and the air you breathe is and has been polluted with a lot more crap by big business and government agencies looking the other way. Which will give you cancer faster then smoking cigarettes and a beer or wine.

But I can see by your spurts on this blog that those things just aren't important. So with that being said I will take it a step further, if I pay more taxes to drink or smoke then I will also excercise my right to smoke any damn where I please and dare a non-smoker to come up and sit next to me and ask me to put it out.

Toe Nails would be a growth industry...

EXACTLY, that is the whole problem, the same people who spend the money, get to to write the tax code, from cities with poor ( mismangaed schools ) all the way to the feds, each gets to waiste all they want, and then just add a new TAX.

Robby

Please don't single out schools as the example of mismanagement in cities - not when teachers are now buying even the paper and pencils students need to learn anything, not to mention computers. films, science equipment, etc. Schools get nothing, deal with poor maintenance, live with leaking ceilings, clogged toilets, broken windows, etc., and good, experienced teachers are being forced out because they cost more than the "newbies".

The only thing schools get are all the (not cheap) TESTS needed for NCLB so the ones with the most academically needy students can get even less. We are sacrificing an entire generation of salvageable children to the correctional system because of this. But schools and teachers always seem to get dragged in as the scapegoats in every argument, even one on "sin" taxes.

Pinch,

Mismanaged schools along with mismanaged government are parts of the problem. It's all interconnected. Poorly educated students usually don't think as clearly as the ones that are better schooled. Therefore, they make ignorant statements & choices affecting us all.

Some teachers I've had have been good, while others have not been. Some should have retired or quit years ago. But, stay in schools "teaching" because of an outdated tenure system that does little good for us. Hooray for the good effective teachers because they are the heart of our country.

Getting back to the original subject about singeling out smoking & drinking with obvious excessive taxation, a lot of interfering, ignorant, self serving people are making life in this country not worth living anymore. It revolves back to education doesn't it?

Have you ever thought that government tries to keep the citizens poorly schooled so that they are more easily managed? Thought has crossed my mind several times lately.

Pinch:

First of all... Thank you for being a teacher.... I agree with you about not dumping on the Teachers as a point of mismanagement. It's amazing what teachers are doing. My sister is a K-5 Phys-Ed/Health teacher who is also the Schools (and a few others ) Computer manager. I could not be a teacher as I would be brought up on charges of child beating the first time a kid gave me sass.... I have no patients with children.......My sister has the patience of a saint..hell she has me for a brother........ In her classes she has the kids write (English) about monitoring averages (Math) of their various activities in class, she gives tests, yes tests.

The problem with municipalities is that the Unions, and I'm talking Police and Fire, all have a strangle hold on the budget with the costs of benefits. I don't mind as a tax-payer paying for benefits but their better than mine and I work in corporate business that uses profits to pay for the benefits.

I say the sin tax should be on any family that has more than 2 children. I realize that this will never happen and it's a pipe dream of an idea from a childless man by choice. My mother spoke the curse that she would have children just like me.... OH NO, NOT ME.. I'm not going to have children that would be anything like me in any way not if I can have any say in it.. Maybe I should get a tax break for not having children and causing a burden on the system....

Just think if every family was restricted to 2 kids... how much smaller everything could be. No need for HUGE CARS AND HOUSES. Child health care could go down. Fewer children in School. Parents wouldn't need huge jobs to pay for it all. Someone might be able to stay home with them and raise them to be decent citizens.

By the way I realize that this last have is total Sarcasm with just a glimmer of reality.

i hope so... moonshine is wwwwaaaayyy better then the crap on the shelves

Uh huh, Your'e very ready to watch somebody being treated unfairly are you?
Keep this in mind when they get around to treating you unfairly.
Our government is very ready to take care of us when it's none of their business.
We have had a MIssissippi legislator propose a law that would keep restaurants from serving fat people.. Hope you're not overweight.
I live in Tn. I quit buying cigarettes and eating out here in 2007, when they raised the taxes and passed a no smoking in public places law.
I bought cigarettes in Kentuckyy since then.
About the same distance to Missouri that's where I'll be buying them. now.
I dont know how many there are like me, but the $44 a week, I've been spending in Kentucky, is now going to Missouri

Barb,

So will you be walking to your new job?

Because the car is the next thing they wil go after, kills more people,and you have no choice, you took a job in a bar, you knew they allowed smoking. Even if I walk or take the bus, I must put up with car exhaust, and that in an inclosed are will kill you in minutes.
So please Barb, find a lob any job close to home, and walk.

oil company posted record profits last year , why arent we going after the profits by big company a 1% tax on oil companys profits would generate more money the the sin tax and they are part of the economy problem ... anybody remember when the price of everything started to climb? when the oil companys where charging 4$ a gallon

Confused????

Yes, you are.
Oil companies did not charge $4.00 a gallon, wall street did that. as for taxing them, why not just tax gas, it is the same thing, and unlike the companies it is sold in every state. so lets add $3.00 per gallon in tax, for all the non-smoking, non-drinking people to be able to share in paying thier way.

The price of Gas was attached to the future's market, yes, But the OIL Company's still declared RECORD Profits from that price as well.

chevron profits for 2008 18.7 billion

bp FIRST quarter profits 7.6 billion

shell FIRST quarter profits 9.1 billion

exxon mobil FIRST quarter profits 11.4 billion

tell me again how they cant afford it

@Grizltyear

Welcome to Washington state rules of governing. Next will be a higher gasoline tax to pay for road projects (wait isnt that what the other taxes are for)

Um, did you forget during the Dbouche regime all those fuel taxes went to corporate welfare which is why our roads are completely devasted. Also, Dbouche wanted to keep fuel costs high to benefit big oil in America while paying oil workers $9/hr and 16 hrs a day.

BP & Shell made less money due to investing into alternative sources such as Solar & Wind. They are looking more long term compared to others.

im not for increasing fuel tax im for increasing tax for profits of fuel companys .. the us taxpayer needs more money if we are going to fix the economy not less

I would rather be a bleeding heart liberal then a no heart conservative.

I would rather be a bleeding heart liberal then a no heart conservative.

I'd rather be a no heart conservative than a no brain liberal.

Come on people. There really isn't such a thing as a true, full all-out, completely conservative or liberal. Everyone has varying degrees of each. I guess we define ourselves to the one we agree with the most, however, why must we always make it out like a sports game. My team is better than your team. No wonder this country is in trouble. A house divided always falls. We are in big trouble people. Oh yeah, lets blame the liberals...no wait, lets blame the conservatives...no wait....lets blame......

Wendy

I agree, but with respect to the citizens of the country. The politicains alays start a catch 22 fight so no one watches what they do or have done.

The time for blame is pointing at both sides of a government that has failed its obligations due to its corruption and greed.