No New Taxes!
Okay, I don't get into politics. I know who the president is, I know I don't like certain policies, but that's about it.
However I am concerned that congress is considering a tobacco tax increase for all tobacco products, but most harshly for cigars. A tax increase of 53.13%. That's insane. Nothing else in the US is taxed this heavily. As a cigar smoker this basically means a $10 cigar is now going to cost me over $15. I don't even want to know what these numbers would mean for all the awesome cigar shoppes across our great nation.
I know a lot of you don't smoke and even fewer don't smoke cigars. Hell, some of you may even be in favor of this. But I think it's shity, not just because it will cost me more to enjoy a hobby that provides a lot of relaxation and social interaction. Not just because it's grossly unnecessary. It's shitty because of all the retired and semi-retired older guys that work and run these little shops. Because of the farmers around the world that have jobs on tobacco farms. Because of the smokers, cigar, pipe, and cigarette alike, who will now have to shell out more of their hard earned cash for no reason. Gas prices are already ridiculous enough. I know more people than not who could stand to have more money in their pockets.
The majority of my fellow tobacco enthusiasts are not going to give up smoking if this tax goes into effect, the same way the majority of people would not give up sugar, butter, chocolate, fast food, alcohol, television, or coffee if the same hefty tax were heaped upon them. All these things aren't healthy for us and they aren't necessary to our lives. But they add that extra sweetness, that extra kick, that makes life enjoyable. I know a lot of people would complain if soda pop or coffee suddenly went up fifty cents for every dollar. For me and a lot of people who smoke cigars, it's exactly the same.
I'm asking you to please take literally two minutes and visit the link below to send an e-mail to the right people letting them know you oppose this. You only have to type in your name and address and the rest is all mouse-clicks. Even if you don't care one way or the other, as a personal favor to your humble blogger, I'd appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I'll owe you one.
Tell Your Congressmen
After you find your officials via ZIP code or state please be sure to send an e-mail to both Congress and your senator. A link for both is within the ACTION ALERT! box.
Thanks for reading and for any help from my online peeps.
- David
However I am concerned that congress is considering a tobacco tax increase for all tobacco products, but most harshly for cigars. A tax increase of 53.13%. That's insane. Nothing else in the US is taxed this heavily. As a cigar smoker this basically means a $10 cigar is now going to cost me over $15. I don't even want to know what these numbers would mean for all the awesome cigar shoppes across our great nation.
I know a lot of you don't smoke and even fewer don't smoke cigars. Hell, some of you may even be in favor of this. But I think it's shity, not just because it will cost me more to enjoy a hobby that provides a lot of relaxation and social interaction. Not just because it's grossly unnecessary. It's shitty because of all the retired and semi-retired older guys that work and run these little shops. Because of the farmers around the world that have jobs on tobacco farms. Because of the smokers, cigar, pipe, and cigarette alike, who will now have to shell out more of their hard earned cash for no reason. Gas prices are already ridiculous enough. I know more people than not who could stand to have more money in their pockets.
The majority of my fellow tobacco enthusiasts are not going to give up smoking if this tax goes into effect, the same way the majority of people would not give up sugar, butter, chocolate, fast food, alcohol, television, or coffee if the same hefty tax were heaped upon them. All these things aren't healthy for us and they aren't necessary to our lives. But they add that extra sweetness, that extra kick, that makes life enjoyable. I know a lot of people would complain if soda pop or coffee suddenly went up fifty cents for every dollar. For me and a lot of people who smoke cigars, it's exactly the same.
I'm asking you to please take literally two minutes and visit the link below to send an e-mail to the right people letting them know you oppose this. You only have to type in your name and address and the rest is all mouse-clicks. Even if you don't care one way or the other, as a personal favor to your humble blogger, I'd appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I'll owe you one.
Tell Your Congressmen
After you find your officials via ZIP code or state please be sure to send an e-mail to both Congress and your senator. A link for both is within the ACTION ALERT! box.
Thanks for reading and for any help from my online peeps.
- David
posted by BuddhaDave at
10:01 AM
8 Comments:
Cigar smokers unite! I hadn't even heard about this... I guess I had better refill the humidor before this law ends up getting passed.
Fight it! Together we shall prevail!
pish, we've had that here for about 7 years now. It's so they encourage you to stop smoking... just wait till they make it illegal to smoke in public, then you'll have something to complain about. :) hahaha
And why you smoking anyway? You have to pay for your health care! lol 5 bucks? How much do you think a years worth of chemo is?
People can be unhealthy if they want. What's next? Alcohol tax? Being overweight tax? Forcing people isn't the way to go.
And also, do some research. You have to smoke eight-plus cigars a day for a good amount of time before there's any increased health risk.
where are your sources from? obviously not from a reliable source;
" Research has found that even smoking as few as 1 to 4 cigarettes a day can have serious health consequences, including an increased risk of heart disease and a higher risk of dying at an earlier age. "
and this includes cigars too dear.
The study you just pasted says "cigarettes". Not "tobacco". Cigarettes and cigars are vastly different. One is full of poisons and chemicals that companies add, the other is pure plant leaves.
Okay this whole *looking things up on the internet to prove someone wrong* thing can get old. Allow me to be a hypocrite and add to it:
"The headline in the San Francisco Chronicle read, "Cancer Institute's Warning on Cigars: Just As Bad As Cigarettes." An Associated Press story said the NCI report was "intended to equate dangers posed by the two products." The article began, "Smoking cigars can be just as deadly as smoking cigarettes." This is like saying that riding a bicycle "can be just as deadly" as riding a motorcycle. It's true in the sense that both activities can result in fatal accidents. But that does not mean they are equally dangerous."
Actual life experience studies show that cigars have to be laced, inhaled, and smoked up to twice a day, everyday to be as harmful as cigarettes. However, this still leaves room for them to harmful. Therefore, articles you will find will say: "Yes, they are just as harmful!" When in actuality, you the average cigar smoker does not lace them, inhale them, or smoke a ton a day as opposed to your average cigarette smoker.
The point is: Charging more for tobacco products will not cause anyone to rethink their habit and/or addiction. It'll just put them in the poorhouse.
I myself really could careless about the tax (sorry Dave hun), other than the fact that it frustrates a lot of people I know and care about. I hate cigarettes and personally would laugh my ass off if/when they become illegal to smoke in public. Cigars: meh. I don't love them but I can deal with them tons better than disgusting ass cigarettes.
Gah. All done now. :)
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