Tax Hikes - or How the Hell Can People Afford to Buy Cigarettes?

[*bratcat*]

 

[Mister Ryder]

Its the same everywhere, I've been thinking of giving up.

 

[Texan]

The taxes on tobacco are terrible. When I travel in Brazil and Mexico, I usually try to buy as many cigs as I can get away with bringing back into the country. Before 9/11 it was easier to bring back several cartons. In Brazil, I can buy a carton of U.S. made cigs for $8.50 per carton. In Mexico, they are $14.50 per carton.

The same carton in the U.S. is over $30.00.

Politicians blame tobacco companies for selling cheap cigs in foreign countries, but the truth is that the price is so high in north America because of the taxes.

 

[bluespoke]

Ah, the joy of being a reformed sanctimonious bastard who gave up over twenty years ago

 

[Cherry]

The "sin tax" is to save all of us poor ignoramuses from ourselves.

We could have another Boston Tea Party?

 

[Andreina]

UK prices

In the UK a pack of Marlboro Lights or any other mainstream brand is between $9-10. And yes, that is the price of a pack of 20.

Don't complain about $30 per carton please. LOL

Halo

 

[Texan]

I wonder how well tobacco grows here in Texas. I may have to try to grow my own. Of course, I'm sure there is some goverment agency that has some good reason why I can't.

 

[Cherry]

~looking through rules manual~

Just the 'whacky tobacky' variety.

Seriously though, I know a lot of people in Canada who buy tobacco loose and roll their own.

*cough*gag*

~looking around in duffel bag for something to make filters out of~

 

[pipercatt]

I just got back from a vacation in the caribbean, and smokes were $17.00 a carton. I couldn't believe it...

 

[SINthysist]

It may be hard to go back to unprocessed tobacky...

There must be a stable point in the Tax+Price/Demand curve. Has it been calculated? I mean for all the millions and billions we have spent, you'd think they have it on a spreadsheet. Somewhere. Why not the government just become the middle-man and set up and set that price?

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[RawHumor]

You know what it is, they have to raise taxes on cigarettes in order to pay off the laywers that they used to sue the tobacco companies, who then had to raise the prices on cigarettes in orde to pay off their own lawyers and the lawsuits.

And people think that Democrats are the party of the working class... LOL

 

[JazzManJim]

With all the immediate menaces this country faces, smoking is apparently Enemy Number One.

Though, the whole smoking thing is a really great illustration of the Cognitive Dissonance politicians have quite often. Forgive me for the temporary hijacking of this thread, but you might smile at this....or shake your head....whichever.

The strategy is to raise taxes on cigarettes on the time-tested principle that if the government wants to discourage a behavior, tax it. That works really well and it makes the government a small amount of money (smaller return on a dwindling activity). Raising taxes isn't a means of making money. For example, we discourage imported good to protect domestic good by raising the tariffs on the foreign goods. It gets more expensive, and it's not worth it to the seller. Admittedly, the government gets a very small bump of money, but it lasts about a hot second, because the good stopps arriving, and makes no more tax money. It's a way of discouraging a behavior. It's a punitive action.

However...when it comes to personal income, this principle apparently doesn't hold true in their minds (despite that it actually is true, according to any economist who can show you the numbers). They somehow believe that raising income taxes will bring a windfall of money into the government while at the same time admitting that raising taxes on cigarettes will only bring a small increase of money, for only a short amount of time.

 

[Angel]

As of this morning...the sales tax in BC has gone up to 7.5% from 7% and the taxes on cigarettes has gone up 80 cents/pack or $8/carton...raising the tax on a carton of cigarettes to over $30/carton. How do people afford it?

When you have an addiction, money isn't an issue. Smokes are about 5 bucks a pack here. Small price to pay for a small stick of comfort when you're addicted.

 

[Cherry]

How are you doing with quitting, Angel?

Still off them?

 

[Angel]

How are you doing with quitting, Angel?

Still off them?

Yep

So far, so good!

 

[Cherry]

GOOD GIRL!

 

[kotori]

cig tax in kentucky

is 3.5¢, hasn't been raised in over 40-years. Discount brands here <$18/carton, I saw Marlboros advertised for $21.95 this morning.

For a small handling charge . . .

 

[plasticman33]

That $30/carton is just the tax part of the cost. I don't understand how people can smoke and afford to eat!

That's how I maintain my youthful figure! I smoke and drink, can't afford to eat!

(Sorry honey, did I bruise your pubic bone again?)

 

[IA951]

And people think that Democrats are the party of the working class... LOL [/B]

ROTFLMAO!!
True shit man!
very true shit indeed!