A correlation between State tobacco tax rates and the number and alarmism of news stories

[sofarsogood]

I have not found a news story about this. I believe I'm observing it as I search for ecigarette news stories.

The States with the highest cigarette taxes can be seen here State Cigarette Tax Rates in 2014 | Tax Foundation Search on the word e-cigarette in google news and you start to notice a correlation between the number of news stories out of the high tax states compared to the low tax states and you'll notice the news stories from high tax states are the most alarmist and bombastic. To me that's pretty good evidence that this is about the money and the public health be damned. A more rigorous survey of what I think I'm seeing would be interesting.

 

[HMav]

This is not surprising. You will also find higher tobacco tax rates in many states with higher MSA outstanding payments. One of the biggest problems is that the MSA payments go down if fewer people smoke. The states have already sold off the rights to the MSA payments for pennies on the dollar (get your cash now from structured annuity payments!). More vaping = less smoking = less MSA money and less tobacco tax money. This not only puts the states in positions of not having money they promised to pay investors, but also not having money needed to run the state (you didn't really think that tax money was to pay for smoker's medical care, did you?). This has the added effect of causing the state's credit rating to decline, making harder to get loans and costing the state more in interest.

It is ALL about the money. Trillions of dollars. If all the smokers quit overnight, it would cause a worldwide economic collapse, and the governments would go with it.

 

[pennysmalls]

What I really want to know is what were states doing for cash flow before the MSA? And why does it seem like going back to whatever that was is not an option any longer?

 

[Harlen]

It all boils down to the money the government wishes to take it all

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

What I really want to know is what were states doing for cash flow before the MSA? And why does it seem like going back to whatever that was is not an option any longer?

They would have to increase other taxes or even cut programs and live within their budget. This forces them to demonize e-cigarettes so they can continue to collect taxes from the dirty evil smokers who have managed to escape their clutches. I am really beginning to believe that BG is more involved in the ANTZ movement than I thought.

 

[Kent C]

It all boils down to the money the government wishes to take it all

People talk about 'greedy businesses'. Yep - Phillip Morris wants everyone to smoke Marlboros. Coca-Cola wants everyone to drink Coke. Exxon Mobile - gasoline; Johnson & Johnson - baby powder and sundries (as well as medical devices/pharmaceuticals). Etc., etc. etc.

Government takes money from every transaction in the form of income tax, property tax, sales tax, corporate tax, death tax, etc. Who's more greedy? Those who actually work to produce and sell products or deliver services at the highest price the market can handle? Or the gov't that makes money regardless of the product or service delivered, by doing nothing?

 

[sofarsogood]

I am really beginning to believe that BG is more involved in the ANTZ movement than I thought.

What unites us is we are non smokers who got that way by vaping. We are poltiically active to protect our access to the vape market and to help other people get free of tobacco.

What unites the anti crowd is their various interests in many many billions of tobacco tax money which is the lion's share of total tobacco revenues. To improve political support government earmarks some tobacco taxes for programs that feel good and sound high minded and pay salaries to a lot of people who think we are the very essence of evil. They pretend that the tobacco companies are the villians when they are the source from whom all blessings flow for the anti folks. The government doesn't persecute the tobacco companies, it protects them. But now the impossible and unthinkable has happened. A cure for tobacco addiction has been discovered and is spreading like a viral youtube video. They can't control it without staring a new war on drugs and discrediting the values their institutions represent.

My christmas present to one of my brothers was his first setup and some eliquid. He's sitting at home at the moment with no cigarettes in his posession since mid afternoon. Life is good.

 

[WillyZee]

BG is bleeding millions daily in lost cigarette taxes ... they've finally noticed, vapers have quit smoking for good.

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

BG is bleeding millions daily in lost cigarette taxes ... they've finally noticed, vapers have quit smoking for good.

But according to the ANTZ that's only anecdotal proof. This may be good in a way, BP, FDA, CDC and their alphabetical minions yelling how there is no proof they work while BG and all the above watch us leave the plantation and take their free money with us. The tobacco slaves have created their own way of dumping a bad habit and our masters are starting to feel the financial pain, their 40 year free ride on our backs is soon to be over.

May they live in interesting times.

 

[Jingles]

They made me smoke out in the cold one too many times. When they told me I couldn't smoke at an outdoor stadium, I had had enough. Time to look for an alternative. I found ecigs 3 and a half years ago and haven't looked back.I think I would have really enjoyed being a smoker back in the 60's, smoking on airplanes, in restaurants, etc..it's not the same in 2015. They overplayed their hand as far as I am concerned, so I don't feel sorry that they are losing tax money!

 

[pennysmalls]

They would have to increase other taxes or even cut programs and live within their budget. This forces them to demonize e-cigarettes so they can continue to collect taxes from the dirty evil smokers who have managed to escape their clutches. I am really beginning to believe that BG is more involved in the ANTZ movement than I thought.

That was my point. Apparently there is no going back to the way it was before the MSA. As HMav states, the fall of the tobacco industry would result in a world wide economic collapse and I'm beginning to think this is true. I think this is going to turn out to be a very remarkable time in history. If our leaders are smart they will start to wake up to what is really taking place and begin to take measures to prevent such a disaster.

 

[sofarsogood]

I just read a news story about my home state, michigan. The republican governor is calling for regulation of vaping the same as cigarettes to protect chldren. Michigan state government gets 4% of its revenue from a $2 cigarette tax, about $900 million. Protecting the government drug trade will probably be a non partisan issue here in Michigan. My vaping road map is self sufficiency, DIY and rebuilding. It's time to go up tempo on that. Anybody got a good recipe for coffee or coffee ice cream?

 

[DC2]

What I really want to know is what were states doing for cash flow before the MSA? And why does it seem like going back to whatever that was is not an option any longer?

Getting money from the MSA is an addiction FAR stronger than nicotine.
And as they get more of it, they get addicted to using it.

If we ever win this battle, they will not reduce their addiction to the added money though.
They can't because it's already spent, or at least accounted for.

They will just have to switch to something else.
Which of course will be sugar, fast foods, and anything else that contributes to obesity.

 

[DC2]

They would have to increase other taxes or even cut programs and live within their budget. This forces them to demonize e-cigarettes so they can continue to collect taxes from the dirty evil smokers who have managed to escape their clutches. I am really beginning to believe that BG is more involved in the ANTZ movement than I thought.

At first it was Big Pharma for the most part.
But Big Government is getting more involved every day.

 

[DC2]

But according to the ANTZ that's only anecdotal proof. This may be good in a way, BP, FDA, CDC and their alphabetical minions yelling how there is no proof they work while BG and all the above watch us leave the plantation and take their free money with us. The tobacco slaves have created their own way of dumping a bad habit and our masters are starting to feel the financial pain, their 40 year free ride on our backs is soon to be over.

They are quickly backing themselves into a corner.
And they are using all the tools at their disposal to prevent the walls from closing in.

Unfortunately, they are doing a pretty good job at it.
Hopefully not a better job than we are doing.