Anyone else outraged by the proposed Federal Excise Tax on cigarettes that will cost an additional $1/pack?

Question

This supposedly to help pay for children's health care? I don't have children. Also no coverage of my own. Aren't taxes to be shared by everyone? Why should smokers (the majority of which are not well-to -do) pay for everyone's health care!? Say what you will about the dangers of smoking, I'm 39 & only I can decide what is right for me!
If this proposal passes, it's not going to deter any existing smokers to quit! Even if it did, then there'd be less people to pay the tax- sounds a bit like a self-defeating logic.
As it stands right now, a 22,000 large group of people would be needed to become "new smokers" in order to make this work! More self-defeating logic! I urge anyone who believes America is not a Communist Nation to write or call their representatives & congressmen about this! If a $1/gallon of milk tax were proposed, people would be up in arms! I don't drink milk, BTW. But why should I care if those who do have to pay for government health care programs?

Answer 1

This proposal disgusts me! I am not a smoker, but I believe people should be free to smoke if they choose to without the government taxing the hell out of them.
And if the government passes "universal healthcare" this will only be the start. Anything they deem unhealthy or dangerous will be taxed. So even though I may not be a smoker I do enjoy drinking alcohol, bungee jumping, riding my motorcycle, and fireworks.

Answer 2

1. I am an ex-smoker. I feel a lot better since I quit. My house and clothes smell so much better. My wife says that kissing me no longer tastes like licking an ashtray.

2. If the poor people you mentioned cannot afford this extra Excise Tax on their cigarettes, maybe they should buy better food instead of cigarettes.

3. Did you know that the most expensive part of a bottle of alcohol is the bottle. The most costly part of the retail cost of a bottle of alcohol is the Excise Tax.

4. Maybe we should also Excise Tax bullets, ski masks, and all crime paraphernalia.

5. Yes I am getting off topic here. The point is that Excise Taxes or Sin Taxes do work. I am now 60 years old. I quit smoking 11 years ago when cigarettes jumped by 50 cents. I am serious about feeling better and glad the smell of cigarettes is gone. If you want to smoke, smoke. But I should have to subsidize your life style and more than I should a drunks.

Answer 3

Its known as SIN tax, hows that for not mixing government with religion!!!
You say you don't have children, try owning a home at 65 and having to paying School tax to your local government that isn't really fair either.
BTW if everyone in America that has health insurance like I do $500 + a month, could give that money over to a united health care system I don't think there would be a problem for children to get health care.
As stated on Oprah "should a poor mans child get the same advantages of the health care system as a rich mans child"

Answer 4

Scary, isn't it? The thing that was most upsetting to me was the potential of taking away tax credits for charitable deductions and interest in mortgages. That truly helps my family. There could be a misunderstanding on my part about this, perhaps those deductions are only being taken from those making 250K or more? But, even then, the charitable contribution thing is very very bad. We donate all the time to church, animal shelters, cancer research, lymphoma society, victims of paralysis, etc. etc. The tax write off is helpful to us. If we lose this, we may not be able to afford to do it any longer.

Answer 5

Just as Michael M stated --- but, with intent !!
The government is Intentionally destroying the tobacco industry ---- THAT is what this is all about --- it truthfully doesn't have a damned thing to do with "health care" or any other such ----- anything !!!
Thing about the destruction OF the tobacco industry that the NONSMOKER doesn't get --- and is certainly NOT being told --- is --- the FACT that --- Tobacco has had BILLIONS of dollars of taxes levied against the products for decades --- That money going to fund all kinds of programs on the Federal AND State levels of government ---- when the tobacco industry goes down --- those dollars will HAVE to come from somewhere --- because these agencies and bureaus are NOT going to shut down !!! Where are those Billions of dollars of taxes going to come from ?? From the NONSMOKER as well as the ex-smoker ---- Only thing is --- the Smoker has been paying these all along -- by themselves --- and when these new tax alignments happen -- the (then) ex smoker will STILL be getting off considerably lighter financially than they were --- it is the NONSMOKER that is going to see their taxes go through the roof !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

To be outrage is normal specially to all concern and wil be affected on this issue. I don't smoke but most of my friends and co workers are.

It's just a proposal, it's not in effect yet.
There still time before this proposal take effect.
Two options
First stop smoking.
2nd this will avoid paying this tax.

When someone smoke people surround with this person also affected.
So it will be fair enough to tax people that cause problem to others.

Answer 7

How many times a day do I have to breath that crap in? I am just tired of smoker crying over the tax hike. When they could care less about the people around them! Stop smoking and save your life and the people around you. Hate to be the guy that smoked all his life only to find out his wife of 60 plus years is going to die because of that. Iron-ie!!!!!!

Maybe the tax hike will help off set the amount of money you guys have milked out of this country via medical! I dont smoke, so that means I have to pay for your medical?

Answer 8

I think that healthcare for children is of the utmost importance.
I don't think it's right for a parent to ever have to worry about getting the proper medical care for their child, because they cannot afford it. But I also do not think it's fair to impose this responsibility on JUST smokers. Why pick on just them? And if we do that, where does it stop? Should we tax people that like to engage in certain hobbies, or listens to a type pf music?
Even if you don't agree with smoking, that is your personal choice, but don't just pick on them because it isn't PC to smoke right now!

Answer 9

Eventually smoking will be illegal so you should plan to quit. I think there should be $5 tax per pack to fully cover health care costs across the board. Same for fat people, tax the fried foods they eat to pay for the bypass surgeries and diabetic supplies they will eventually need.

Answer 10

I agree. It is one more step to Communism. Though they are attacking the sin taxes first they will go after the "necessities" next and since no one has stopped them thus far.

Shameful and sad that America is going Communist under our noses and truly UnAmerican the way the politicians are doing it "under the cover of night" by sneaking these things into something that if someone disagrees they can say " Why do you hate Children?"