Who's Really Addicted To Tobacco?

[papajohn67]

Picked up our local Seattle Times newspaper this morning because of the front page story, "State sends smoker a message, smoker gets $8,000 bill".

Like many States Washington continues to chase down smokers who order cigarettes online or out of State. Seems this guy has had his wages garnisheed. A "possession penalty of $10 a pack was added to unpaid taxes. BTW Washington State has the 3rd highest cigarette taxes in the Country @$2.03 a pack.

What really kills me was the Washington State Department of Revenue spokesman who was quoted as saying, "we believe everyone should pay a fair share of taxes". Did he say Fair?

Two other articles on the inside pages, "Smoking foes push for tobacco regulation" & my favorite, "No Smoking? Coffers feel the pain....fewer smokers mean less revenue for states, feds".

My heart is bleeding for them.

[borndead1]

That crap completely ENRAGES me. It is yet another disgusting invasion of privacy, and goes totally against free market capitalism. It's like "the system" doesn't want to play by its own rules.

[donp]

IMO it is an example of a growing trend of extremism in our country. If it wasn't tobacco it would be something else. It is less the issue with tobacco (IMO) and more one of a mindset. It brings into sharp focus what the revolutionary slogan really meant during the years leading up to, and during our countries' fight for independence ie: "live free or die"; "taxation without representation is tyranny", etc. etc.
Someone said in a recent post in a different thread recently that our country is going to hell in a handbasket, and while I don't agree, I am worried about extremist trends I see damn near every day in our national news.

[King James]

Well Wisconsin is about to pass you as our crooked governor is trying to get a $1.25 or something a pack tax on cigarrettes.. and between a 35-40% tax on cigars PER CIGAR! regardless of the price of each cigar. This is after he just ran and got re-elected saying " I will not raise taxes" the budget came out last week and he has proposed 1.7 billion in tax increases...not to mention all the fee increases on licenses, marriage certificates and anything else you can imaging...It's just complete BS and I hope people wake up and take a stand against this prick

[taltos]

I can't understand why this does not go against the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution. My state of Massachusetts has added a line to the state income tax form for out of state taxable purchases. They give us an out by letting us pay a flat fee of $35 for sales tax due. Outside of internet purchases, my wife and I have started paying cash for out of state purchases. I would probably cancel a credit card or stop using a vendor if I ever found that they were giving my purchase information to an agency of the government. That is not why I did my time in the Marines.

[Coffee Grounds]

In my state right now they are trying to add .55 additional tax on cigs.
Right now its about a $1 tax on each pack. They say they will use that .55 tax to help to provide health insurance to the ones that can't afford it.

I do not have details on the proposed bill but it might not get passed and here is why. Some of our local politicians are cigarette smokers. They really might shoot it down. Because they smoke.

[Hoplophile]

Welcome to the Nanny State, gents. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Some folks with a plan:

www.freestateproject.org

[cigar no baka]

Originally Posted by Hoplophile

Welcome to the Nanny State, gents. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Some folks with a plan:

www.freestateproject.org

Thanks for the link. Sounds like a good idea. We can fill up at least one state with freedom-loving citizens and tell the nanny staters there to GO TO HELL!!!