December 26, 2006
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Smoking and Sin Tax
The State of Texas is raising the taxes on smoking by $1 per pack starting in January. The current cost of taxes on a pack of cigarettes is 41 cents. It will be raised to $1.41. That means a pack of cigarettes will cost about $4.50.
The American Cancer Society has said it will reduce the number of kids who start smoking. Here is the link: Link
The government has always looked for subtle ways to increase revenue. They will raise taxes called “sin taxes” on certain products in the name of discouraging unhealthy consumption. They will usually focus on cigarettes, liquor and gambling.
Do you think it is appropriate for the government to tax cigarettes, liquor and gambling at a higher rate to discourage consumption?
Comments (132)
no.
FIRST!
Yep
doesn’t matter. people will never stop their vices.
no
No it just a tax on the poor and foolish. But then the poor and foolish don’t vote, so lets screw them.
If its so bad, make it illegal, not a major revenue source. The only thing more foolish than politicians trying to tax us into better health, are the idiots that vote for people that do it.
No, and it won’t stop anything.
No!
Absolutely not. It’s completely unfair.
i don’t think it will stop anyhing.
Yes. I think deterioration of modern society could be somewhat attributed to the consumption of intoxicating/physiologically destructive materials.
Okay, enough of being intellectual.
Liquor/alcohol cause so many accidents and deaths, and cigarettes/tobacco raise life insurance bills and cost a lot in the long run.
No, it won’t stop any one from doing anything. They’ll just spend more money on their vices.
Moreover, where will it stop. We need a less intrusive government.
The government in not “discouraging” any of these sinful practices, they’re just making MONEY from them, you know like letting young American men and women BE KILLED HORRIBLY BY BULLETS AND BOMBS so the US GOV’T(i.e. GEORGE W. BUSH, DICK CHENEY) can make money from OIL in IRAQ?
SMOKERS SUCK ANYWAY, TAX THEM AS MUCH AS YOU WANT $20 PER PACKAGE OF THAT FOUL FILTH
The government needs to just butt out of our fucking lives and find better ways to increase revenue…like oh I dont know….ending the war?
-Jacob
It doesn’t hurt to try. Our state has a smoking ban for all buildings (except cigar bars and homes) and no one is allowed to smoke within 15 feet of all public buildings. I’ve noticed a decrease of people smoking outside our office building because they have to stand out in the snow, wind, rain, etc in order to light up. Maybe it will motivate people to quit.
It wouldn’t be so bad if the money went to good use. If they really wanted to tax “sin” then they should start with their own ridiculous paychecks that they write themselves!
It won’t stop “kids” from buyinig cigarettes. And the money won’t go to good use, it’ll just end up in the greedy hands of the government. And a sin tax is just plain hypocritical.
It is an excuse and a shakedown for money. You want to stop the behavior then try banning it. To attack people for their vices is extortion…
Yes.
no..
let’s see the number of deaths related to tobacco and alcohol use have not decreased with this tax increase…where is the logic behind this?
wouldn’t education be a wiser investment…but even that has its risks because people can get all the education and do nothing with the knowledge obtained.
it’s not a bad idea to cut back on that but it won’t make much difference. if someone wants to smoke bad enough they’ll find a way to smoke. same with the other two.
what they should do is tax churches. non prophet my ass. churches shouldnt go w/o being taxed. they want to keep church and state separate, i get that, and they want to keep prayer out of school. sooo, why not go one further and tax them? why should smokers carry the burden? why should alcoholics? why not over tax plastic surgery? or liposuction? or even better……..starbucks???? thats an addiction right there!
Yes
okay, i just noticed the coffee spillage on here. i never noticed the image the spilled coffe creates. clever.
Yes.
Or no.
I don’t really know. . .
No, I think if it is so bad it should be illegal.
Doesn’t matter to me anymore, I quit almost 2 years ago.
People will still do whatever they want to do but it could help stop those that might be starting the habit.
I’d be mad if I still smoked…but I do think I would cut down if I still did. I don’t know how kids can afford to buy cigarettes anyway.
yes. yes.
yes.
yes. yes.
no, but it’s better than raising taxes on neccessary items like food or gasoline.
NO….
If they can discourage those, then they can discourage anything… And anyway you look at it, they’re trying to control the American people.
pshh, yeahh.
Don’t smoke and don’t care.
Personally, I think people have the right to kill themselves slowly if they’d like, but they always end up hurting me too byb making me pay for their healthcare. So, I’m in favor of taxing them more so it costs me less.
Not really, no. It won’t make a difference either. What is another dollar to kids these days?
hey ther were 2 many comments on the CHRISTmas xmas one so i thought i wud leave mine about it on here i 4 one HATE it wen ppl say x mas it is taking christ out off it i dont care bout the whole x means christ do u realy think thats y they put the x ther cuz its greek for christ no our country 2day is trying 2 take christ out of everything out of schools and courthouses last year we could not even say merry christmas at work places we had 2 say happy holidays now u try 2 tell me how ther not trying 2 take CHRIST out of christmas on that one u cudnt even say it ther not represinting him with the x as a greek meaning ther trying to X him out of the very holiday that is all bout him and jesus is the hole reason 4 tha season CHRISTmas is the celebration off jesuses brirthday its not about the fat guy in the red suit now days i dont even think ppl no wat the holiday is realy bout well ther is my lil piec of mind on that one
NO. I think it shows government (politicians) are hypocrites. If cigarettes are so bad for people, then why doesn’t the government make it an unlawful product? I am NOT an anti-smoker. I don’t smoke, but it is a LEGAL substance and as long as it is legal then people should be able to smoke without government cashing in on it. Politicians are hypocrites.
i dont really care. let them do what they want. apathy
I think they ought to tax the cigarettes and alcohol. Who do you think is going to pay when some bozo goes out drunk driving and kills someone? Probably not the bozo! Who do you think is going to pay when an 80 year old man that has smoked his whole life has emphezema and an oxygen tank strapped to him 24/7? Probably the government, not the man. So yeah, they cost taxpayers more, and they ought to pay more taxes. Makes perfect sense to me.
No, because it doesn’t work. At all!
Gambling, not really.
Cigarettes and liquor, of course. They’re bad for you. If the government can make drugs illegal than this is perfectly okay too.
Yes. They are luxuries…no one requires them so if you have them, you are choosing to administer those drugs to your system. Additionally, smoking leads to health problems later that the gov’t funds research to cure and the health system to handle. Alcohol and gambling are vices that tend to attract crime. Alcohol can lead to poor decisions that often require police intervention. I am cetain that the amount of trouble that those “industries” cost is not even close to the amount of tax revenue generated by them.
With all that said, it is up to the indivual state to choose how to get revenue. I know my state has had simlar tax on tobacco for the past few years ($1.35/pack) adn that the alcohol tax is paltry for beer ($0.25/gallon) and high for other alcohol (18% liquor+6% sales tax)
Wow talk about obsessions
The topic is sin taxes and and we see an attack against Bush and Christianity supposedly on this toic.
People are so whacked. The scary thing is that they vote
It won’t work.
of course, they don’t want thier citezens to die of horrible diseases
” they don’t want their citizens to die of horrible diseases”
Then ban it!
They don’t because it about money not health.
yea…y not
yup
ok i can see why theyde tax cigs
but not gambling and liquor
and i don’t see how its fair calling it a sin tax when not everyone is christian!!!
thats down right insulting
It feels like it is proper. No one would want to argue that we are deterring youth from smoking, and silently and mostly unargued a couple of things happen.
One, taxes go up.
Two, the government passes more legislation on morality.
Legislation on morality and more taxes.
The machine grows.
How I wish I could have political rallys on xanga, and awaken people, but I cannot, I can do nothing more here than type my righteous opinion and one out of 153 comments may actually come by and say hi, and they agreed anyway.
Who is going to change this?
Only EVERYONE can.
You know in your heart this is wrong. Fighting terrorists, protecting children, get your strings pulled and go along with it slackjawed. I’m not sad, for there is nothing I can do. Chicken friend steak n eggs for breakfast! That’s what I’m going to worry about!
Fried, not friend. What a funny slip.
It’s like a double-edged sword, really. It won’t necessarily stop anyone from smoking, but it’ll increase revenue for companies. It just annoys smokers and helps out the companies. They should try doing something that really makes smokers stop without benefiting themselves.
raise the tax to $100
To a certain extent.
Truely destructive substances are banned outright. It only makes sense that somewhat bad products are limited in its distribution (in a market economy, this means artifically elevated prices through regulation and taxes). There ought to be a limit to this, though. It is a fre country. Beyond a point, the government oversteps its bounds and tramples the self preservation of entrepreneurs.
I don’t like the idea, but I think it can be appropriate.
It’s the government’s attempt to try.
Personally, I think that if kids want to smoke ‘em so bad, they’ll find ways to get money.
Why not. On two fronts:
If it will not affect the consumption of those things (as some mights have said) and the rate of consumption is inelastic, it would mean a much higher tax revenue for the government. Now, I really can’t say (or decide) where the tax money goes, but as long as it prevents the government from going into deficit, I’m fine.
If it does affect the consumption (in whatever the eyebrow-raising studies they are basing themselves on), it would actually decrease the consumption, resulting in healthier general public. I think that’s a good thing.
So yeah, that’s what I think.
Absolutely. Economics 101. The cost to society, such as increased healthcare costs, needs to be covered somehow.
re: Leonisafaefreak
ok i can see why theyde tax cigs
but not gambling and liquor
and i don’t see how its fair calling it a sin tax when not everyone is christian!!!
thats down right insulting
Come on. I’m an atheist, and I see the wisdom behind these regulations. Particular practices are destructive towards society to the point that their limitation or banning outweighs the outright loss of liberty. We can agree that hard drugs (heroin, crack cocaine) should be banned. We can agree that the distribution of automatic weapons should be severely limited.
Ciggerates and gambling lie in that grey area: Not exactly evil, but not entirely good either.
Of course it is appropriate. I really wonder if anyone who strongly disagrees with that has enough understanding that they should be voting.
the government doesnt have a right to dictate how we should treat our own bodies.
and the sin tax here in new york is ridiculous. 7 bucks a pack
well, they all have a negative impact on the lives of others around them. if they want to destroy their bodies in private, that’s fine, but smoking and drinking fuck with other peoples lives as well. gambling, maybe, but there’s nothing we can do to stop that. so w/e.
No, it isn’t appropriate. It isn’t going to stop people from smoking, reason being, there are a lot of people that will go without food just so they have the money to smoke. If anything, it is going to increase the poverty levels in this country, which is one of the last things that we need. And it won’t stop “kids” from smoking, and it’s the same with drinking.
Yes.
I get to “Boston Tea Party-ish” to even answer this properly.
Oh yeah I left out the most important part: THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY. Either let the people smoke in peace, or ban it. But they have no right to do that.
Nope, I think it targets those who can least afford it.
Yes. It’s perfect. It’s understood as something bad, and people will continue to do it. But they’ll always pay the price.
The government in not “discouraging” any of these sinful practices, they’re just making MONEY from them, you know like letting young American men and women BE KILLED HORRIBLY BY BULLETS AND BOMBS so the US GOV’T(i.e. GEORGE W. BUSH, DICK CHENEY) can make money from OIL in IRAQ?
Posted 12/26/2006 10:13 AM by Lionsgrrr1
You know the economy got it’s boost from oil about 4 years ago, right? It was a lousy 11%
Go ahead, tax it. Maybe my friend, a 13 year old, will stop. Even though she hasn’t had one since July.
Make one person mad, make another happy. That’s how it works. Compromises are signs of weakness. Raise the tax. Everyone’s complaining the governments in debt
Perfect! I always thought that smoking was a waste of money and you could donate to charity instead. I just hope this tax money goes to a good cause and not something stupid like war…
No – and what about junk food and fast food – is not Gluttony a sin also?
absolutely.
” they don’t want their citizens to die of horrible diseases”
Then ban it!
They don’t because it about money not health.
Posted 12/26/2006 11:29 AM by trunthepaige
My father is addicted to cigarettes and I don’t want to see him go into a rehab centre with a bunch of heroin addicts! You can’t just make something illegal all of a sudden!
NO. I don’t do any of these things, but this is America, and people shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg if they want to smoke.
Stop kids from smoking my ass… That won’t stop them. It’ll just make people spend more on cigarettes. It’s not fair to the adults who legally buy these for their own consumption.
We shouldn’t try to force people to quite, either. Many people LOVE smoking. Some make it into a hobby, besides just an addiction. They LIKE it.
I don’t see why wine tastings are considered so good, but then someone pulls out a cigarette or cigar and people raise an eyebrow. If people want to smoke, let them smoke, and don’t rip them off for it.
I think it’s pretty out of line for the government to decide what sins are acceptable enough to be legal, but not enough to be regulated by free market practices. I know I wont stop smoking.
Haha, sin tax… what’s the going rate for deception and mud-slinging?
no… its freedom of choice.
Is it right for our government to legislate morality?
not really. i don’t approve of smoking/drinking/gambling, but that doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t be allowed to do it without extra taxes.
i see where they are going with this. They are trying to raise the tax to discourage smoking, but I really don’t think this will head anywhere. First of all, the only reason why people smoke is to relax the senses and because it is addictive. If people could stop smoking, i`m pretty sure they will. Taxing higher will only screw the addicts, but it won`t stop the addicts.
I know many smokers, and this would be unfair.
That’s not why they are doing it…it just sounds good. They’re doing it because they can.
yup
Yep
Personally, I don’t think this will have any effect on the number of kids who start smoking. There was a man who owned a place called “mickey mart” that sold cigarettes to kids for five bucks a pack. It didn’t keep us from smoking, just smoking less as often.
I don’t think the governments concern lies within the youth of today adapting bad habits, but as another way to make a buck.
texas is cheap
smokes in NJ were . near 6 per pk 18 months ago….
i dunno now….
thankfully
my son quit
Yes.
yes. Those things kill you and others around you….church doesn’t
yea… but very good points were made… but i’m all for it… but then if that’s the principle, increase the price to discourage bad things, then they should raise the price on Mc Donalds, HORRIBLE for you, i dunno, lol. when did government become daddy???.. enough of my rambling… they should sell it at a decent price, like everything else should be sold
eh… lol, there are other ways to do things… people will continue to smoke and drink and gamble til the coming of our King and pay whatever price it’s at…the government needs to stop pretending to be our parents, and SIMPLY JUST DO THEIR JOB
there ya go.. i’ve had a paradigm shift… i don’t think it’s appropriate
wow i make myself giggle
Since when does the government have a right to over tax some people but not others. Equal my ass.
No, I think its pretty rediculous for a government to try and keep its people from having vices. We are humans, we have vices and they shouldn’t be taxed.
Eva.
Although I think higher taxes on such things are a great idea, I do not believe that it will discourage some of the people who do smoke or drink to stop. It may discourage a few, but you would have to really tax those suckers to make any difference.
And although banning liquor and tobacco would also seem a great idea, it would still be hopeless to do so. Just like in the past with prohibition and now with illegal drugs, people are not going to stop what they are addicted to just because it’s unlawful. Humans are slaves to their wants. And it is pitiful that we just can’t do self-control.
Sure, if people have a problem with it they can dress up like Indians and empty the goods at local ports into the sea.
its not fair. While i don’t agree with the use of such things, its a person’s right to do so. They can’t tax the old people who need medication because AARP will jump all over it. So they’ll tax the young kids who smoke because they can’t fight back.
Yes.
okay, i just noticed the coffee spillage on here. i never noticed the image the spilled coffe creates. clever.
Posted 12/26/2006 10:27 AM by bizyma
So that is what all the talk was about. I see Jesus.
4.50? that’s not bad
I work at a local conveinence store in my area
in pa marlboro’s are 4.37 and a pack of newports is 5.02
so 4.50 seems just about right
Yes, i would like a fast food tax, it will help me alot!
I swear here a packet costs like 10$ or something, I’ll have to ask my parentals when I see them.
Yes. I would prefer that they outlaw smoking altogether, but… a tax will do.
I always knew our state was one of the smartest. Then again, the whole texas school board sucks terribly.
I absolutely think it’s appropriate
No!
Yes! I love it, the death rate for tobacco use in NYC has been dropping in recent years =]
The tax is more enforcable than an outright ban on the product. Prohibition demonstrated that.
Yes there should be a tax.
There sould even be a sex tax you must pay when you turn 18.
Yes.
As a 17-year-old, I am not allowed to buy cigarettes. However, I have a job. I don’t care about a dollar. Adults, who I suppose they are also trying to “discourage”, make a lot more money than I do. Most people do not care about a dollar. Unless they raise it to 20 bucks a pack, no one’s going to care. If we’ll tolerate $3/gal of gas, and the horendous prices for perscription drugs (because we’re spoiled), it can be assumed that we’ll pay if we want it enough. I truly doubt that the government really cares if people smoke. This is all about making money, and they just want to make it look better by saying it’s discouraging people from buying cigarettes.
Fuck people who are rude about smoking.
Enjoyin’ your own damn ciggerette is one thing, but being a drunk skank about it is another.
Fuck people that dance and smoke waving their cigarette too close to comfort to me.
Fuck people that don’t smoke their cigarettes but watch them burn.
Fuck people who smoke djarms or other clove cigarettes..that shit’s gross.
fuck people that smoke while eating…what’s the fucking point?
yeah, they should be hella taxed because I gotta pay for these smokers when they complain about having lung cancer.
boo hoo!
tax little debbie treats too, i hate seeing fat people eat those, it’s So annoying. They’re just getting fatter and sicker so i gotta pay for it.
fucks.
+ raising liquor taxes in russia curbed their horrendous rates of alcohol abuse
eh, people are probably just playin’ more roulette these days
yes. and take those taxes and use them on education about why those items are bad.
Oh shoot yeah! Works for me!
That’s a hard one – I still smoke and selfishly I’d say “No – they shouldn’t tax cigs” – LOL – but intelligently I know it doesn’t matter – we might bitch and complain but until someone wants to stop smoking, drinking, doing drugs – whatever it may be – they will do it regardless of the cost.
They can do whatever they want. It won’t keep people from smoking. It may even create more crime in the pursuit of that precious nicotine. Making pot illegal doesn’t stop anyone from using it. Not allowing people to buy alcohol until they’re 21 doesn’t keep underage people from buying it. Anyone who thinks money will keep people from ingesting any sort of substance, whether legal or not, is fooling themselves.
No. This is a free country, and people should be able to buy whatever they want without people getting up their asses about it. Hey, if someone wants to go ahead and get lung cancer from smoking, be my guest. It’s not my life your ruining, it’s yours.
-KrIsTiN-
Sounds good to me!
no, Its stupid. they dont actually want people to stop doing these things they just want to make more money from it.
we pay 10 dollars here
i dont think it would necessarily stop people, but yes, it is appropriate
Not gambling, but the other ones, yeah.
They are not trying to discourage consumption. Like they care. They just know where to tap and so that is what they will do, as always, to make a profit. They really should tax porn. Big money there.
I don’t think it makes much of a difference–if people want to smoke then they’ll pay for it anywhoo.
m/
I don’t think that morality can be legislated. But I think that the government can always figure out how to squeeze an extra buck out of the American citizen.
L,r
sure. the gman has to make his money somehow. you want higher income taxes instead?
Why not? If people are going to be stupid and ruin their health, why shouldn’t the government try to profit?
And for those who say banning it instead of taxing will work, did you take a history class in your lifetime? What happened during Prohibition? Oh yeah, everyone just started illegal breweries and nothing changed.
absolutley, they’re trying to get people to quit unhealthy and sometimes fatal habits ((except for the gambling..)) and I’m all for that, there’s no harm in trying to get someone to stop a bad habit that could possibly harm you in irrepairable ways. I know that if I did smoke, paying extra money, or a tax, would encourage me to stop because I wouldn’t want to waste my money anymore than I already was. Same would go for drinking and possibly gambling. I don’t see the harm in it.
I don’t think that will work. All I can see that causing is holes in the wallets of unhealthy, probably unhappy/stressed people. Right idea. Wrong means.
Sure. Why not stop a few people from smoking and get some money, too?
…to discourage consumption?
Are you kidding me? They’re doing it to make money – they don’t want consumption to be discouraged!