At Least We Still Have Cheap Cigarettes

[fishinwrench]

Maybe those church basket gobbling poor bastages who are such a drain on society should just KEEP smoking, eating chips and playing x-box so they'll hurry up and die. Between malnutrition, cancer, stress and lack of exercise they should start dropping like flys any day now.

You think that stopping smoking is gonna suddenly make them to seem noticeably more respectable to you?

If any banning gets done it should be parking lots near Bars. Aren't drunk drivers still the #1 scourge of the nation? Hitchin'posts only I say..... and no giving alcohol to horses, mules or goats!

[ness]

Holy chit, there's a lotta nonsense in this thread.

Tax on poor...huh? Those packs of smokes cost the same regardless of who buys them.

More poor people smoke than rich, so it's targeting the poor and downtrodden?

Cheaper butts stimulate the economy....how dat?

Health is behind the initiative?...nope -- soaking smokers (and drinkers) is a time-honored way to raise money.

Why would the petroleum industry care?

Wrench -- I need a translation

MO tax the lowest in the US just highlights a missed opportunity. But, I guess you're all content with the performance of your schools -- especially St. Louis and KCMO districts

[moguy1973]

And why don't you believe they should just ban cigarettes?

I do...I hate smoke. I work in the casinos and my health would be tons better without having to breathe 2nd hand smoke.

But if they are legal the state should try make some money off them when other states are making many times more than Missouri is.

[Greasy B]

Petroleum marketers and convenance store owners financed the campain partly because the gas stations on the boarders of the state do a banner business to out of state customers. Come to north St louis county and count all the Illinois license plates at the gas stations along HWY 270. If your an Illinoian your a fool to not stock up on gas and smokes in Mo.

[Gavin]

Think we oughta thank all the folks that choose to live like a rockstar and die early...We wont be on the hook for their Social Security & Medicare;>)! Funsucking deadlife's seem to live forever:>)!

[Jack Jones]

Amazing all the people who stick up for smoking and all their arguments (it's my body, my choice,....tax on poor people). Look, it's a product that has been proven to cause seriously debilitating medical issues both to those who use it and those around it. It's a product whereby the makers were proven to specifically manipulate it to make it more addictive. It's a product that the makers deliberately gave to soldiers on the cheap and free in order to hook them into a lifelong addiction, knowing of its health effects. Can anyone name another legal product that we find acceptable that does that? If anyone supports this, I cannot understand why they wouldn't also suport the legalization of cocaine and heroin. The same arguments would apply. Yet, we won't legalize them, or even legalize marijuana which actually has proven medical benefits.

I was a smoker for over 15 years. his was before the days of restrictions and carding you, back when you could put the money in the machine at the local diner or tell the clerk they were for your dad. It was a horrible mistake given my already reduced lung capacity. I did it because the folks I idolized did, so of course I wanted to be like them. Before anyone calls that dumb, remember, that's the exact reason capitalism works...a desire to keep up and be one of the crowd. It harmed me, and I regret it. I truly wish it hadn't been available so easily.

If it was up to me I'd love to see tobacco outlawed and the scientists and executives that manipulate it and peddle it prosecuted criminally. Extreme....maybe? But if anyone here has ever watched a loved one die of lung cancer you may understand. And if it's right how come no one is out there saying to the meth heads, "hey, it's your choice.....we have to respect that".

In the end, I'm very disappointed this tax didn't pass and sorry for the young of Missouri who won't get that benefit.

[Chief Grey Bear]

It's a product that the makers deliberately gave to soldiers on the cheap and free in order to hook them into a lifelong addiction, knowing of its health effects. Can anyone name another legal product that we find acceptable that does that?

Soda pop

Buffet's

If you want to tax something to raise money, tax something the everyone uses. Like canned goods. How about a $.01 tax on that? You wouldn't even know it. Or maybe a $.25 tax on pop? I don't see a problem with that. Maybe it is time to start taxing churches? They seem to want to run this country. Maybe you need to pay to play.

[Ham]

Whats next? A sin tax on Diet Coke? I've never seen a skinny person drinking one.

Whats next? A sin tax on Diet Coke? I've never seen a skinny person drinking one.

You haven't fished with me.

[Greasy B]

Taxing vice is as old as time. The question of what constitutes vice is what our society is confronting. Maybe it will be big macs and big gulps.

Maybe it is time to start taxing churches. It's not wrong to debate these questions. It probably more wrong to just except things the way they are.

[Justin Spencer]

Soda pop

Buffet's

If you want to tax something to raise money, tax something the everyone uses. Like canned goods. How about a $.01 tax on that? You wouldn't even know it. Or maybe a $.25 tax on pop? I don't see a problem with that. Maybe it is time to start taxing churches? They seem to want to run this country. Maybe you need to pay to play.

I guess there are two ways to think about it. Small taxes on things that everyone uses is a good way to raise funds but hurt everyone. Higher taxes on things that aren't neccessities could potentially make a big difference in how state budgets are balanced, and only hurt you if you choose to purchase these "luxury" items (poor people can choose not to use these things just like rich people). I personally believe that taxing things that harm you, whether cigarettes, soda pop, fast food, beer, etc. is a good way to raise money and possibly push people into a healthier lifestyle (lord knows the country isn't doing it on it's own). Unlike Gavin, I think these type of taxes should be voted on by the people because we shouldn't have this type of tax forced on us, but if the majority wants it then fine.

As a side note, I think a one cent tax on every text could generate some huge revenue and might slow down texting while driving, and slow this rediculous practice of looking at nothing but your phone all day.