Congress is trying to increase the cigarette tax with a 61 cent per pack increase which will take the tax to $1 per pack. States have increased the sales taxes on cigarettes 73 times since 2000.
The health advocacy group wants the $35 billion increase for State Children's Health Insurance Program and they say that the higher cigarette tax will finance the program.
Cigarette smoking is addictive and congress has no plans to help those people who are addicted, except to tax them more and make it harder for them to survive and smoke at the same time. A person who is addicted will do anything to get a cigarette, just like any addict who needs a fix.
Why doesn’t the government help the addicted smokers try to quit? Why don’t they make growing tobacco illegal and stop it?
The government wants the money from the taxes and that is all they care about. They do not care about the addicted people.
People’s insurance will not pay for the medications to help people stop the addiction to cigarettes. The government will not help them either.
Tobacco and cigarettes could be wiped out forever if the government really cared for its citizens and helped them to kick the habit by giving them the drugs for free to stop smoking. Right now the drugs to stop smoking cost more than the cigarettes. A lot of people would stop smoking if they only had the drugs to help them stop.
If you have never been addicted to cigarettes then you have no idea what those addicted people are going through. They are like alcoholics that are addicted to alcohol. They are like caffeine drinkers who are addicted to caffeine. It is hard to quit taking in caffeine, which is addictive also, but it is easier to quit the caffeine. Caffeine takes two weeks to drop, whereas cigarettes takes a long time as it does for alcohol drinkers.
If you are not a smoker, but you are a caffeine addicted person then you should know a little of what a smoker is going through. If you have to have your caffeine to “wake” up in the morning, then you are caffeine addicted. Caffeine is bad for the body. It settles in a woman’s breast if the woman has fibers in her breast and causes great pain.
I quit caffeine in two weeks, by drinking decaf coffee and caffeine free sodas. I quit smoking eight months ago and it is much harder to quit. I still crave the cigarettes, but do not crave the caffeine. I did not start smoking as a child as many do. I started a few years ago not knowing I would become addicted.
There are ways to wipe out the cigarettes by not allowing growers to grow tobacco. The government can help the growers to change to some other crop to grow. They can also help the citizens who are addicted by giving them free medications to stop the craving for smoking.
Banning smoking in public buildings is not helping the addicted smokers, They need real help and it is time that the government steps up to the plate and helps them.
Where was the government when the cigarette companies were adding extra nicotine to the cigarettes? They were turning their heads the other way for the contributions from the big cigarette companies.
What is more important, helping the citizens, who need help quitting, or wanting the tax money and causing more problems for the citizens and making them poorer?
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
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read more blogs!
Blogs by Kandykammy:
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| New Taxes of 61 Cents To Be Placed On A Pack of Cigarettes |
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alivenwell351
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Nov 10 @ 9:30AM
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Why doesn’t the government help the addicted smokers try to quit? Why don’t they make growing tobacco illegal and stop it?
Just check out how much money tobacco gives to politicians.....and how happily politicians from ALL sides of the fence take it...
$$$ talks and all that.....
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kweenzrike
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Nov 10 @ 9:31AM
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Cigarettes already went up here by 60 cents a pack...they are making it a felony to drive across state lines to buy cigarettes where they are cheaper, like in Kentucky.... and they are arresting people and charging them for even having brought 2 cartons of cigarettes back into TN... but you can go to Kentucky and buy groceries where they aren't taxed.... and doesn't the government support tobacco growers?
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street
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Nov 10 @ 9:49AM
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Gee I bet they would just love to tax pot ,,,,
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 9:52AM
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Just check out how much money tobacco gives to politicians.....and how happily politicians from ALL sides of the fence take it...
$$$ talks and all that.....
Tobacco companies are not giving as much to politicians now. They only gave $3.5 million in contrubutions to politicans in 2006 compared to $10.5 million ten years ago.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 9:56AM
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Cigarettes already went up here by 60 cents a pack...they are making it a felony to drive across state lines to buy cigarettes where they are cheaper, like in Kentucky....
The states are putting their own taxes on cigarettes. That is why they cost more or less per pack in different states. Kentucky is a tobacco state.
This new tax is a federal tax which will be in addition to state taxes..
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 9:57AM
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They will, street, when it becomes legal. 
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Kentuck
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Nov 10 @ 10:03AM
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I am sorry, I have to sort of disagree with you. The state and Federal tax is for theones that use tobacco. They have the choise to quit.
Quit or pay some people say that they cannot--they do not have the will to.
I quit smoking on 12/10/78 and have never smoked again and nor do I run from people that do. I thik my onlyt weakness is the smell of a good cigar or pipe.
People can Quit--it they wish.
My Mom and My dad both were smokers--they both died of Lung Cancer.
So, they have 2 things to give a reason to quit--price and death. And boy you do not want to come down with Lung Cancer
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 10:11AM
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They have the choise to quit.
Quit or pay some people say that they cannot--they do not have the will to.
Yes they have to chose to quit, but it is so hard. They need help. Not all people are as strong as you and I and can quit on their own.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 10:16AM
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Kentuck, it would be much cheaper for the government to give out free medications to people to help them quit than to have to pay the hospital and doctor bills when they get cancer and heart trouble and all other things that cigarettes cause. 
It would be a smart move on the government's part. Then the government could stop complaining.
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chr2004
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Nov 10 @ 10:40AM
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I enjoy smoking, I know it's harmful to my health and is some what expensive but I think I should have the right to smoke or quit, as long as I do not offend anyone. I pay my fair share of taxes everytime I get paid. I agree with a few of the comments posted, it's all about $$$$$$, the folks in Washington would be hurting without all the kickback $$$$$ they recieve from various special interest groups. It's like the current oil prices, they are at a record high, who is benefiting from that, not any of us I can assure you of that.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 10:48AM
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I enjoy smoking, I know it's harmful to my health and is some what expensive but I think I should have the right to smoke or quit, as long as I do not offend anyone.
Yes you have the right. I respect your right to smoke if that is your wish. I am just concerned about the people who want to quit but can not afford the medications to help them quit.
You are right it is all about the kickbacks in Washington. People who smoke are supporting the federal government and the states with their high taxes and that is not right.
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oldgrayindian
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Nov 10 @ 10:51AM
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Couple of quick comments. Tobacco (smokers) actually pay 1/3 of all taxes paid daily
in the US. If smoking ended then everyones tax would have to increase just to make up the short fall.
The US Public Health Service estimates that 52,000 die yearly from smoking related
illness. But we have 58,000 deaths from drivers driving drunk yearly. We have 87,000
deaths from bathroom accident yearly (yep lets tax the showering folks). We lose
an estimated 100,000 children in the US from Child abuse and hunger every year.
The largest and worse of all is obesity and heart disease from bad diet, lack of exercise, which is the 2nd leading cause of death.
We have spent a billion dollars a day in Iraq for 6 years, that alone would fun National
healthcare for 20 years and childrens health care for 50 years with what they are perposing. We as Americans have with our tax moneys given the Iraqs 340,000 dollars per family ( check the data )...I don't care if you smoke or not that is a personal choice
that we each have. But over taxation is not just a smokers problem it is each one of us and our children and our grandchildren....we are now 7.9 trillion in debt (up from 900
billion in 2000 seven fold).
Lets work on getting healthcare for everyone and protecting our families from
floods, hurricanes, tornado, fires, and lack of drink water. We have people (children
starving on the streets)...but we focus on the smokers as evil doers....
get real wake up and do something for everyone and lets get the facts and do something about all the real problems.
Dr. Dobert White Eagle,MD
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youaremissed
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Nov 10 @ 10:58AM
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And where does the tax go??? I know in my state they use it for anything other than smokers health care which was the original sales pitch on it... LOL give me a break its just mo money for pork barrel projects... Legalize pot make tobacco illegal... That will help our farmers, stop imports of pot and even decrease drug imports especially if they tossed those taxes at drug treatment programs instead of the stupid failed war on drugs... Our prisons are full of addicts that need treatment not prison... How stupid is that!
People die of cancer from smoking and alcohol as well , we attempt to treat the symptom   but not the cause...
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chr2004
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Nov 10 @ 11:03AM
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I agree with oldgrayindian, we need to concentrate on taking care of the homefront first, and stop wasting our hard earned "heavily taxed" dollars on the rest of the world. Today's politicians resume should read, "job description" I will make it a point daily to screw over the people that voted me in and believed in me.
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chr2004
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Nov 10 @ 11:04AM
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Awesome blog KandyKammy
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:06AM
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Couple of quick comments. Tobacco (smokers) actually pay 1/3 of all taxes paid daily
in the US.
That does not seem fair to the smokers.
We have spent a billion dollars a day in Iraq for 6 years, that alone would fun National
We had that money before the war in Iraq, Why was it not spent on health care before and not saved for a war?
We have people (children
starving on the streets)...but we focus on the smokers as evil doers....
I do not think that is true. Around here everyone gets food stamps and there are no hungry kids on the streets. They eat better than I do. I see their grocery carts at the grocery stores. Anyone who is poor can get food stamps. I do know, for a fac,t that some of the parents do sell the food stamps for half price to get money for cigarettes and pot.
Smokers are not the evil doers in my opinion, they just got addicted and when they want to become free from smoking they can not afford to do it.
I respect their rights to smoke if that is their wish.
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 11:07AM
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Kandy...
Very good blog pointing out the falseness of the government.
When I asked my doctor for the prescription of the drug that really helps to stop smoking and asked if he had any free samples or anything else that would help knocking the price down, since health insurance does NOT pay even one cent (the wonder pill costs $118.00 for one month, one needs at least 2 months worth of medication, to get off the addiction...), he laughed. He said: "Of course they don't pay for this drug. They'd rather pay thens of thousands for cancer treatment."
I often wondered why every other tax (or so) goes on the cigarettes. Why not tax the beer a bit higher? I guess it would be too unpopular, wouldn't it?
And everybody knows that cigarettes are very bad for the health of the smoker and the second-hand smoker.
It is of course also proven that alcoholics are a nuisance to themselves, to their families and to society, probably killing way more people than does cigarette smoke (prove me wrong on that one?....) but THAT is not publicized all the time. And I guess too many politicians and officials drink.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:12AM
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And where does the tax go??? I know in my state they use it for anything other than smokers health care which was the original sales pitch on it... LOL give me a break its just mo money for pork barrel projects...
Yes where does the money go. It is not used for the health care for the smokers. I think the smokers pay enough in taxes on cigarettes to pay for their health care if the states and federal government would use for them and not use the taxes for other purposes.
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 11:13AM
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Like my father in law say... Everybody stop smoking all at once, then hear all the states scream about no tax revenue coming in. And while we are at it, lets increase the tax on booze at the same rate as smokes, raise the tax on junk food, soft drinks, anything that is not organic.
Don't misunderstand, I'm a smoker and have been for 30 years, yeah, I'd like to quit but so far after several attempts have been unsuccessful.
One thing that makes my butt pucker tho are the "reformed " smokers, just like reformed drinkers, reformed christians that get on their high horse and look down their noses at those of us who do smoke, who do have a drink, who do NOT go to church , did they have the same disdain for themselves at that time that they do for me now?
It reminds me of a joke I heard once " All these smokers were sitting outside the back door of the work having a smoke, one lone guy sitting all by himself, not smoking. A smoker co worker says" what are you doing out here... you don't smoke? He replied nope, but I drive a SUV "
ok, I'll shut up now and have another smoke 
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graygoast
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Nov 10 @ 11:14AM
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Just one question .... Why is it, every time we have this alleged "Public Health" debate, dose it end in a tax increase. Taxes are political ... Taxes are NOT public health!
Ohhh ya... and government sponsored gambling and liquor  ... ya know... by definition ... these activities qualify for action under the Ricco statutes btw.
A massive conflict of interest by the very people, (governments) that are SWARN to protect us, (us includes the welfare of tobacco users btw). Whats next ... prostitution? Are we going to make obesity a felony? Do you really want 20% of the population in revolt, (tobacco users), voting against every school bond, Park project ect ... think about it folks ... when is the last time your fav politician or bond issue or referendum was elected or pass by a 20% Margin.
Godspeed
Gry
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530Meliss
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Nov 10 @ 11:16AM
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If the government puts a tax on milk and walking.... I'm in big trouble. If gas taxes help push gas to $4.00 a gallon, I'm in trouble but knowing how many people die from smoking, I can only hope the taxes you pay for cigs, at least partially covers the public health care that is expended WHEN you get lung cancer.
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chr2004
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Nov 10 @ 11:17AM
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In the city I live in, I know of homeless children who are living in children's shelters etc...., because the parents are non working dope heads, I would much rather see my taxes help them out. At X-mas, we pull names from a tree that has names of kids who are needing a Christmas, 20 yrs ago the tree was 3 ft, had maybe 20 names on it, the tree last year is 6ft, and has over 50 names on it, I'm not sure where my tax dollars are being spent, I think I know who is taking them.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:17AM
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When I asked my doctor for the prescription of the drug that really helps to stop smoking and asked if he had any free samples or anything else that would help knocking the price down, since health insurance does NOT pay even one cent (the wonder pill costs $118.00 for one month, one needs at least 2 months worth of medication, to get off the addiction...), he laughed. He said: "Of course they don't pay for this drug. They'd rather pay thens of thousands for cancer treatment."
That just burns me up Travel. They do not want anyone to quit. Most people can not afford that drug.
I often wondered why every other tax (or so) goes on the cigarettes. Why not tax the beer a bit higher? I guess it would be too unpopular, wouldn't it?
Yes why don't they tax the beer where it will be $4.00 a can. People who drive drunk cause more deaths than those who smoke.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:22AM
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Just one question .... Why is it, every time we have this alleged "Public Health" debate, dose it end in a tax increase. Taxes are political ... Taxes are NOT public health
That is their psychology that they use on the people so they will accept it graygoast
Ohhh ya... and government sponsored gambling and liquor
They do not mind drunk drivers killing others, besides they drink liquor themselves. Gambling is big money and the government gets its share.
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chr2004
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Nov 10 @ 11:25AM
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I think we are all in agreement that, the government is in control, doesn't matter who we vote for, they will do as they please or see fit, democratic dictators.
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 11:30AM
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Not everybody who smokes gets lung cancer , my dad died of Small Cell Lung cancer (he WAS a amoker) and according to his doctors at DUKE... Small Cell lung Cancer is not caused by smoking, and what of all the people who die of lung cancer who have never smoked? I am not saying all non smokers go light up one, just don't preach to me on how to live my life, especially when I make an effort to NOT smoke around non smokers.
Light 'em if ya got 'em
I'll shut up now
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:34AM
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One thing that makes my butt pucker tho are the "reformed " smokers, just like reformed drinkers, reformed christians that get on their high horse and look down their noses at those of us who do smoke, who do have a drink, who do NOT go to church , did they have the same disdain for themselves at that time that they do for me now?
You are so right there. I have been there and quit, but I know what how hard it is to quit cold turkey. I do respect your right to smoke. I just think people who want to quit should get help.
You are taxed to death just because you smoke and that is not right. It is time that they stopped picking on smokers and help them if they want help and stop complaining about them.
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oldgrayindian
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Nov 10 @ 11:36AM
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Kammy
All you have to do is just look up what the National Institute of Health and the Presidents committee on homelessness has to say and the numbers. If you have no place to live there is no food stamps. less than 2,000,000 people or even eliligable
and that isn't 1 millionth of the population. You say you are conservative does that mean that you believe that children are responsible for taking care of themselves
and those who fall through the cracks should just be left to die. We have millions of children up for adoption in the US but we actually adopt most children out side the US. Churches send billions of dollars to overseas missions and spend almost nothing in the US. There are 563 reservations in US the per capa income is 5,000 a year,
have one of the highest infant death rates in the world (not just the reservations but as a country). People need to wake up we are destroying ourselves from the inside.
And By the way for you a good southern lady 80% of people on welfare are white,
I know my fact because this what I do for the US Senate. You should travel to Washington,DC, Phoenix,AZ; San Diego,CA; Atlanta,GA: and even your own backyard Jackson,MS...and then tell me and the rest of the world that we are taking care of our own people. Most folks are barely making it.
Oh, by the way we have in the last 5 years given companies 1 trillion dollars to move outside the US, have baled out 12 airlines for 908 billion dollars, spent
almost a trillion dollars on space fight. We spent nothing to re enforce dikes and levees in the southeast even after the president had been warned by US corps of Engineers. WE have bridges that are falling down or getting ready to fall down.
Our biggest terrorist thread ourselves not people 10,000 miles away.
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 11:38AM
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Here a question to the Americans (many of you know that I'm not a citizen yet, but just a greencard holder...)
Everybody here (or almost) seems to complain of the way the tax money is spent.
Now these are public dollars and therefore it should be possible to actually find out where all the money goes, at least on a state level.
Question: why does no one complain? Why does no one do anything about it? Does the American citizen have NO legal option and rights to intervene? To ask questions? To demand explanations and changes?
This is a democracy after all....
.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:40AM
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If the government puts a tax on milk and walking.... I'm in big trouble. If gas taxes help push gas to $4.00 a gallon, I'm in trouble
I am dead is that happesn Meliss
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 11:44AM
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good point travelwoman. We do have "watchdog" groups who do find out where all this money is wasted. The problem is (IMHO) that politicians promise one thing to get voted in and then once in it's like "screw you" Much like Best Buy
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:46AM
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Not everybody who smokes gets lung cancer
That is true lazareth. Just because a person gets lung cancer, it does not mean that smoking caused it. My mother in law died from lung cancer and she never smoked in her life and was never around smoking. Her husband dipped snuff.
So why does everyone always say he died from cancer because he was smoking?
Just as many die from lung cancer that do not smoke.
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 11:51AM
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...lazareth...
We do have "watchdog" groups who do find out where all this money is wasted .
and THEN?
They watch... and then, what happens?
.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:54AM
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All you have to do is just look up what the National Institute of Health and the Presidents committee on homelessness has to say and the numbers. If you have no place to live there is no food stamps. less than 2,000,000 people or even eliligable
Down here in the south the homeless can go pick up their food stamps and SS checks at the post office.
You say you are conservative does that mean that you believe that children are responsible for taking care of themselves
Everyone here who signs up for food stamps and is poor gets them, no matter where they live, with friends, relatives or where ever.
I have not said a word about poor not getting food stamps. I just said there are not poor starving kids on the streets in the south.
I also know that most of the people on food stamps are white. I see them in the lines at the grocery stores with their food stamp cards.
I also know that most of the ones on food stamps do not want to work. They are abusing the system that is there to help the ones that really need the help.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 11:58AM
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Question: why does no one complain? Why does no one do anything about it? Does the American citizen have NO legal option and rights to intervene? To ask questions? To demand explanations and changes?
We do complain Travel and it does no good. They are like Hillary, they evade the questions and will not give a straight answer.
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 12:05PM
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...Kandy....
We do complain Travel and it does no good. They are like Hillary, they evade the questions and will not give a straight answer
and the American people have no means other than (voiceless ?) watchdogs for doing something about stuff like that?
If it were in my country.... there would be quite a few steps one could undertake, and one might even end up changing things...
America is a democracy, too. People should have options to do something about how their tax dollars are spent...
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 12:13PM
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We try Travel, but we get very little done. I belong to groups that try to make changes via the internet.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 12:15PM
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A special to all who commented on this blog May God Bless you in any tihng that you do.
Merry Christmas to all.
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slimshaggy32
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Nov 10 @ 12:17PM
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what i love about it is..........there so bad for you...but they keep selling them..........wonder why?..oh yeah cause they get paid off.....if cigarettes are so bad and there is no argueing it.then why sell em.........this country is run by crooks.plain and simple.....THE END IS COMING
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 12:26PM
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...slimshaggy...
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 12:34PM
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...Kandy....
I think that the sad truth is that many people like to complain and whine and wallow in all that "the politicians are all liars" and "we can't do anything about it"... when they actually COULD do something about it.
I'm sure there are means. I keep saying: this is a democracy...
I'm glad to hear that you do stuff on the internet. It would be better if others would do something, too.
When in 1992 (or 1993?) they put taxes on cigarettes in Canada that made the price of one pack $6 (or was it $10 ?), all the people could think of was to somehow run to the US and buy their cigarettes there, or find some on the black market.
All that energy and time could have been put to better use by fighting the arbitrary government decision AND demand to see where the tax money gets spent.
Unfortunately, I was not able to keep track with what happened then, in Canada, but I noticed that in 1998, a pack of cigarettes was down to less than $4. Therefore, I would think that somebody did something about it...
But here, things are orchestrated in a smarter way. Today the additional tax is $0.61 per pack. When every smoker got used to that, there will be another $0.70 or so, and again, and again, and again.
So people just whine for a few cents, but don't get their butts off the couch for doing something about taxes and tax dollar spendings in general...
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Hoosier52
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Nov 10 @ 12:38PM
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These "non-smoking" groups take on a life of their own. Once smoking is illegal, then they'll go after some other "class" of citizen...maybe drinkers, overweight people...
Being a libertarian, I just want these "specialty organizations" to get out of my life. Feel the same about the government too.
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 12:47PM
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and kudos to you Kandy for this blog 
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 12:56PM
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Once the politicians are in office would someone PLEASE tell me what we can do at that point? Can we impeach senators, congressmen for breaking their promises?
promises on health care for ALL,(affordable) (including help for low cost smoking cessation meds) promises for lower taxes, promises for protection of our 401K's,
promises made for the WORKING PEOPLE of america , taxing more is not the answer, whether it taxes for food, smokes, booze, gas, 
So if ANYBODY out there on MD has a GUARANTEED solution , DAYAMM, I''ll vote for ya!!!! (as long as you are telling the truth )
love to you all
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 1:02PM
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AND OMG, why don't we tax MILK AND WALKING
<<<<< wanders off muttering to herself
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 1:10PM
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AND public health cafre? Hah... I pay for my own insurance ... to the tunes of 30 bucks a week.. When I go and join one of those class action lawsuits against tobacco companies (by the way, my dad raised tobacco for a LIVING) or I SUE RJ Reynolds because I got addicted to cigs, then you can critisize me as a smoker 
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Hooks
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Nov 10 @ 1:31PM
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Travelwoman,
The common man can raise his voice in protest, and use his vote to change things! The watchdog groups can more closely scrutinize things, help keep us informed of wrongdoing, so that we know how to effect change.
Okay, our air quality is conducive to lung problems, to the point that many smokers who get lung cancer probably wouldn't, if the air quality were better. Someone mentioned small cell cancer earlier, and it sounded like people wanted to blame the smoking, which is one of the problems. If you smoke and get lung cancer, it's automatically diagnosed as smoking related. Twenty two thousand plus people get lung cancer a year from "Radon" and it seems to increase yearly as more and more construction is done! I'm not trying to defend smoking here, I'm trying to stop the bullying with misinformation that is used by groups that want to terrorize people in order to profit their organizations. 
This country from the beginning has been financed by tobacco sales! Since the first tax was levied on tobacco in 1864 hundreds of thousands of trillions of dollars has been rasied by federal, state, and local governments! Roads, schools, government buildings, and military equipment have been built using the revenue. Health, education, and numerous other programs have been financed by it. Now as smoking is declining here, they are losing revenue, and soon you will see tax increases in other areas!
Tobacco companies could care less if they continue selling tobacco products in this country, as they make more money on what they export. They also have used their money wisely, and own the companies that make so many of the other things we use day to day. Just look up R.J. Reynolds and see all their holding companies!
Here is a link where you can see what has gone on with tobacco since the beginning, and what part it has played in our history! tobacco in history
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lazareth
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Nov 10 @ 1:35PM
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TY Hooks, you said it much better than I
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tentfire
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Nov 10 @ 1:36PM
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Wonderful blog with excellent points.
I always thought a good "starting" point would be for everything other than pure tobacco in a cigarette to be banned. I think the additions to the tobacco are far worse than the tobacco itself. If all of the 'extras' were taken out of the cigarettes, people's nicotine and 'garbage'(non-tobacco stuff in cigs) intake would automatically be reduced. Then quitting from there might be easier.
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Hooks
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Nov 10 @ 1:56PM
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In 1620 you could buy a nice wife for 150 pounds of tobacco in Jamestown Va.  But, at the same time if you were caught using or possesing tobacco in China or Mongolia, you faced decapitation! 
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 2:48PM
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These "non-smoking" groups take on a life of their own. Once smoking is illegal, then they'll go after some other "class" of citizen...maybe drinkers, overweight people...
They will take up someother cause then.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 2:55PM
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Once the politicians are in office would someone PLEASE tell me what we can do at that point? Can we impeach senators, congressmen for breaking their promises?
Once they are in office, people tend to forget what they promised. We can have a recall vote but that is very hard to do. There has to be petitions with mwny names on them. It would take a group of people from across the state to get that done. Most people are too lazy to help with that.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 2:56PM
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AND OMG, why don't we tax MILK AND WALKING It will come, it will come. Just give it time.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 2:59PM
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AND public health cafre? Hah... I pay for my own insurance ... to the tunes of 30 bucks a week
I have to pay my own insurance also. I worked my butt off and I get nothing free. I just do not understand why others do not have to work their butts off also and not depend on someone else to pay their insurance.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 3:04PM
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The common man can raise his voice in protest, and use his vote to change things! The watchdog groups can more closely scrutinize things, help keep us informed of wrongdoing, so that we know how to effect change.
Now that is the truth. It takes groups working together to get things done.
If you smoke and get lung cancer, it's automatically diagnosed as smoking related. Twenty two thousand plus people get lung cancer a year from "Radon" and it seems to increase yearly as more and more construction is done! I'm not trying to defend smoking here, I'm trying to stop the bullying with misinformation that is used by groups that want to terrorize people in order to profit their organizations.
That is the truth. They always blamb it on smoking. Radon gases causes lung cancer also.
Now as smoking is declining here, they are losing revenue, and soon you will see tax increases in other areas!
[QUOTE]
Yes they will find something else to tax, Maybe that is when a tax on milk will come in.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 3:15PM
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I always thought a good "starting" point would be for everything other than pure tobacco in a cigarette to be banned. I think the additions to the tobacco are far worse than the tobacco itself. If all of the 'extras' were taken out of the cigarettes, people's nicotine and 'garbage'(non-tobacco stuff in cigs) intake would automatically be reduced. Then quitting from there might be easier.
They were putting extra nicotine in cigarerttes. That is what was so bad. That is what addicted people to them so quickly. That should be against the law.
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travelwoman
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Nov 10 @ 6:02PM
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Once they are in office, people tend to forget what they promised. We can have a recall vote but that is very hard to do. There has to be petitions with mwny names on them. It would take a group of people from across the state to get that done. Most people are too lazy to help with that.
It looks to me that not many people actually know how this democracy works, what one can do when one is not content with the elected officals and/or how they spend the public dollar. And it also that of the few who know how it works, even less want to get off the couch and DO something.
Hint... hint.... one starts with "letters to the editor" in every possible newspaper, and ends up in a protest march with TV coverage AND collecting the (many) signatures necessary for a petition (or whatever it's called here.)
At least that's what they do in democracies of other countries....
But.... that would imply that like-minded people would need to get together and actually get organized.....
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Kandykammy
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Nov 10 @ 6:28PM
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Hint... hint.... one starts with "letters to the editor" in every possible newspaper, and ends up in a protest march with TV coverage AND collecting the (many) signatures necessary for a petition (or whatever it's called here.)
At least that's what they do in democracies of other countries....
Great idea, but, alas, most people want to sit home and complain instead of getting out and getting things done.
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ericp672
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Nov 11 @ 7:35AM
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This is really weird legislation. Ok, let me just say I don't like smoking. I think it's disgusting and rude, but whatever, I also believe people should be allowed to live as they wish. That said, the Democrats are really pushing for this S-CHIP expansion hard and the means by which they are intending to raise the necessary money to do it are almost absurd. Here's why:
In one argument they claim raising the cigarette tax will generate the billions of dollars needed to fund health care for children (which is really a pipe dream, but that's their position). Then, almost in the same sentence, they say raising the cigarette tax will discourage people from smoking. I mean seriously...WHAT?! One of these arguments is probably more true than the other, can you guess which one?
Most likely, continuing to raise the cigarette tax, although for anyone who doesn't smoke means nothing, is simply going to create an even bigger incentive for people who DO smoke to quit...if they have to choose between gas for their car and groceries or cigarettes, only an idiot would choose more cigarettes. And therein lies the fatal flaw. If the smokers start to quit in droves, they won't raise the money needed for S-CHIP expansion, and then it becomes taxation without representation. So what they'll do then, is try to write yet another unjustifiable tax into the nation's income tax like they are trying to do to help pay for the Iraq war. I'm seriously amazed Americans aren't marching on Washington with torches, pitchforks, and nooses right about now.
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exvagabond
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Nov 11 @ 8:22AM
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Screw the cigarette tax. Just buy cigarette tobacco and roll your own. Or smoke a pipe. These kinds of tobacco carry only a sales tax, and not the "sin" tax of cigarettes. It's a hell of a lot cheaper, and the tobacco is better grade. So don't whine about cigarette taxes: there's an easy way out.
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Kandykammy
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Nov 11 @ 11:39AM
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In one argument they claim raising the cigarette tax will generate the billions of dollars needed to fund health care for children (which is really a pipe dream, but that's their position).
I would like to know what they are doing with all of the other tax money that they have already added in previous years to cigarettes.. Is it put into health care? I think not.
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Hooks
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Nov 11 @ 3:20PM
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I can't get an exact figure, but it seems that a pack of cigarettes with manufactors cost, and retailers mark up is still around a dollar. I did find some interesting information from the state of Washington.
The Department of Revenue estimates that Washington state loses approximately $220 million in cigarette tax revenues each year through semi-illicit or downright illegal means. (this is what is lost, not what they collect.)
Cigarette Tax Breakdown
State General Fund - 23 cents
Water Quality Account - 8 cents
Violence Reduction/Drug Enforcement - 10.5 cents
Health Services Account - 41 cents
Initiative 773 Health Services Account - 60 cents
Federal Excise Tax - 39 cents
Total Taxes per pack = $1.815
Washington's $1.815 of taxes per pack includes the federal excise tax but not the state and local sales taxes and ranks as one of the higher tobacco taxes in the nation and means the average cost of a pack of cigarettes is now just over $5.
There is no other one dollar item that you have to pay so much tax on! As this cigarette revenue declines, they will make it up with something else!
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Kandykammy
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Nov 11 @ 5:19PM
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There is no other one dollar item that you have to pay so much tax on! As this cigarette revenue declines, they will make it up with something
That is not right to add that much tax to cigarettes. Thanks for the other information. Five dollars a pack. Unreal. 
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sparechange64
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Nov 11 @ 10:13PM
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cpntributions to politicians have little if nothing to do with it ... it's a major industry with JOBS ... who wants to be responsible for job losses, none
and now the example of nearly $2 taxes per pack ... maybe in your state, but MN, WI, and IL are much different ... it's more
the fact that these "SIN" taxes are imposed neither surprise me nor do I disagree with "some" amount ... but now ... they have depended on this money for so long ... more and more people are quitting due to health reasons ... means less money for the gov ... means higher taxes to cover their losses ... it is simply a foolish thing to do for them
and hey ... how about the $3 per cigar tax coming
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Kandykammy
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Nov 11 @ 10:27PM
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they have depended on this money for so long ... more and more people are quitting due to health reasons ... means less money for the gov ... means higher taxes to cover their losses ... it is simply a foolish thing to do for them
Yes they are going to get the money one way or another.
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Gemologist57
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Nov 12 @ 11:08AM
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Kandy, Great Blog!!! But, I think some of the people responding have sold Humans short by saying things like, I want to quit, but I am not strong enough... For those that want to quit, That comment, I'm too weak, in and of itself, is just a crutch... "Oh, I'm too weak, I can't do it..." There are very few creatures on this planet as strong as we Humans are - Mentally, Physically and otherwise... If You truly want to do something, even quitting smoking, and You give it Your best, You CAN do it... My mother died of smoking related health problems - other extended family suffer with smoking related problems, so I do understand the grip Nicotine has on its addicts... But, Unexpectedly, and unrelated to to the (Non-Smoking Related) Cancer I have battled for over 30 years, I spent last week in the ICU here... As I said, I don't smoke, Never have, But I was told I would not make it through the night of the 29th... In spite of the Cancer that I have battled since I was 16 - and won, I was able to fight off another life-threatening problem this week... So I laugh at those who say they are too weak to do something for their own good - It is just a lazy, cop-out! Again, Yes You Can - If I can, ANYONE can!!!
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Kat_luvr
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Nov 12 @ 12:34PM
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Notice it is only on Ciggies and not Cigars that the rich fat cats smoke? otr the other tobacco products?
I quit nearly 2 yrs ago but still ......... ..TAXES TAXES AND MORE TAXES 
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bevrice
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Nov 12 @ 10:34PM
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Recent studies show that coffee is actually very good for you and that everyone should have at least two cups a day. This will delay or keep you from developing diabetes 2. It also keeps you from getting parkinson's disease.
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