Be glad you don't smoke

[TropicalBob]

Good overview story on the sad, sorry state of cigarette smokers in America today. The price of a pack of cigarettes in Florida went up $1 today, thanks to a new tobacco tax.

Stressed, broke smokers struggle with habit - Addictions- msnbc.com

 

[emus]

"Antismoking groups, from the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to the American Heart Association and the Campaign for tobacco-Free Kids, all call for e-cigarettes to be removed from the market."

Higher Florida cigarette tax could increase sales of e-cigarettes - St. Petersburg Times

 

[Elendil]

They are up to $8-$9 per pack in Chicago proper.........

 

[Rhetoric Camel]

yup, went into a store to grab my girlfriend her Marb's and they said $7.99 and I said "holy **** those went up fast" expensive as hell now, it's insane

 

[Moonlighter]

******* *******!

 

[greyeyes]

Another story about the tax increase in FL.

A heavier cost to lighting up | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader

 

[Mary Kay]

Emus, Did you read all the comments in the artical you posted? The last one from a lady who saying that smoking grapefruit juice in a e-cigarette would then be totally harmless! I wish someone had posted back Yes! Because you have now killed your device, dufus!

 

[gashin]

In So California it went up around a dollar at places around me for Camel Crush - most smokers I know aren't affected by it that much.

 

[geeker]

Where's the ACLU?
People who are addicted to nicotine are being held hostage by the government. Now, I'm not trying to pigeonhole anyone, but the demographics of smokers is typically lower income, lower level of education. You can then presume that these people's disposable income is less. The government is taking money out of the mouths of the smokers' families. Think of the CHILDREN!

I AM being facetious, but the ACLU has taken on cases less straightforward than this. Of course, they don't care about smokers.

I don't give a rat's patoot about anything the ACLU finds important enough to pursue most of the time. Someone ought to file a case here, though.

 

[emus]

Emus, Did you read all the comments in the artical you posted? The last one from a lady who saying that smoking grapefruit juice in a e-cigarette would then be totally harmless! I wish someone had posted back Yes! Because you have now killed your device, dufus!

true. true. lol.

 

[BARENETTED]

I heard near ten bucks a pack in the most corrupt state in the union here.

 

[Elendil]

I heard near ten bucks a pack in the most corrupt state in the union here.

Funny, it doesn't show that you are from Illinois.......................

 

[Vicks Vap-oh-Yeah]

Where's the ACLU?

I AM being facetious, but the ACLU has taken on cases less straightforward than this. Of course, they don't care about smokers.

I don't give a rat's patoot about anything the ACLU finds important enough to pursue most of the time. Someone ought to file a case here, though.

There will be no white knight riding in on his charger to rescue the fair maiden in this story. There isn't an organization in this country that would touch smokers rights with a 10 mile pole..... smokers are the new proto/sub human species - poor, sick addicts who can't make the hard decisions (or even the easy ones) in their lives.... we're ripe targets for the nanny state.

The perceptionary shift has been a good 30 years in the making, but is now complete in every detail..... "Smoking is evil. Smoking will kill you. Smoking will kill them around you." Ask any child under the age of schooling, and you will hear from them these concepts.

There needs to be another subtle shift - that alternatives to tobacco are acceptable, welcomed, and lauded as the technological advances they are. Until we see that shift, we will continue to be force-fed the "Quit or Die" mantra, and will be consigned to the gutters and sewers of the world.

 

[Moonlighter]

Where's the ACLU?
People who are addicted to nicotine are being held hostage by the government. Now, I'm not trying to pigeonhole anyone, but the demographics of smokers is typically lower income, lower level of education. You can then presume that these people's disposable income is less. The government is taking money out of the mouths of the smokers' families. Think of the CHILDREN!

I AM being facetious, but the ACLU has taken on cases less straightforward than this. Of course, they don't care about smokers.

I don't give a rat's patoot about anything the ACLU finds important enough to pursue most of the time. Someone ought to file a case here, though.

I wanted to add to your point about the poor and limited income folks.
For many years now, people on food stamps have offered 50 cents to every 1 dollar of food stamps. That's how "many" of the poor buy their smokes. (and other things of course like underwear or shoes)
The value offered can be even greater depending on how bad the person wants tobacco. I have been offered so many deals over the years in grocery store parking lots. Screaming deals like 25 dollars for 1 hundred in food stamps. (No-I didn't do it)
A lot of the folks on food stamps have kids.(going hungry)
Like you say it hurts the poor the worst and the kids that need to be ""protected from cigarettes"" are going hungry so the mom and or dad have a smoke.
The fault of the Government tax is that the tax exceeds the value of the retail product many times over. That to me should be criminal. That's worse than a loan shark.
The people elected to manage the government and protect our country have been able to get in there and pass (unrealistic) tax increases on ONE group of people to pay for special interest projects unrelated to tobacco while creating more of a deficit that won't become managable.


And I won't even start complaining about all the forest land GONE now in my state because of(tree hugger) people making laws and not having a clue about the consequences of leaving tons and tons of ignition material on a forest floor.
Because it's too late now the forests burned........

Cigarette taxes should be limited to the sales tax of a state and our PV are NOT causing ANY issues with anyone other than special interest groups trying to obtain government grants to create a nice career for a few.
My electric toothbrush is no more harmful to a kid than these are to me as a veteran smoker. Electric toothbrushes are medical devices that put chemicals(drugs) into kids bodies. (tooth paste)
How much tooth paste is safe and does it have a child proof cap?
I'm trying real hard not to wake up angry and go to bed angry over this whole mess.

 

[Elendil]

I wanted to ad to your point about the poor and limited income folks.
For many years now, people on food stamps have offered 50 cents to every 1 dollar of food stamps. That's how "many" of the poor buy their smokes. (and other things of course like underwear or shoes)
The value offered can be even greater depending on how bad the person wants tobacco. I have been offered so many deals over the years in grocery store parking lots. Screaming deals like 25 dollars for 1 hundred in food stamps. (No-I didn't do it)
A lot of the folks on food stamps have kids.(going hungry)
Like you say it hurts the poor the worst and the kids that need to be ""protected from cigarettes"" are going hungry so the mom and or dad have a smoke.
The fault of the Government tax is that the tax exceeds the value of the retail product many times over. That to me should be criminal. That's worse than a loan shark.
The people elected to manage the government and protect our country have been able to get in there and pass (unrealistic) tax increases on ONE group of people to pay for special interest projects unrelated to tobacco while creating more of a deficit that won't become managable.


And I won't even start complaining about all the forest land GONE now in my state because of(tree hugger) people making laws and not having a clue about the consequences of leaving tons and tons of ignition material on a forest floor.
Because it's too late now the forests burned........

Cigarette taxes should be limited to the sales tax of a state and our PV are NOT causing ANY issues with anyone other than special interest groups trying to obtain government grants to create a nice career for a few.
My electric toothbrush is no more harmful to a kid than these are to me as a veteran smoker. Electric toothbrushes are medical devices that put chemicals(drugs) into kids bodies. (tooth paste)
How much tooth paste is safe and does it have a child proof cap?
I'm trying real hard not to wake up angry and go to bed angry over this whole mess.

I know in Illinois food stamps (and WIC) are disbursed via a debit type card that is reloaded each month with the allocated food stamp amount. WHen the card is swiped at the store it will not allow the card to be "charged" for non approved items (like cigs). It also solves the issue of reselling that you mentioned before.

 

[Moonlighter]

I know in Illinois food stamps (and WIC) are disbursed via a debit type card that is reloaded each month with the allocated food stamp amount. WHen the card is swiped at the store it will not allow the card to be "charged" for non approved items (like cigs). It also solves the issue of reselling that you mentioned before.

They do it differently now. And they still do it a lot.
The card holder buys your food with their card and you pay them cash 50 cents on the dollar. Still happening every day of the week.

 

[Elendil]

They do it differently now. And they still do it a lot.
The card holder buys your food with their card and you pay them cash 50 cents on the dollar. Still happening every day of the week.

Guess I gotta start thinking more like a crook...

 

[Moonlighter]

Guess I gotta start thinking more like a crook...

I see and hear a lot in my neighborhood

 

[denec]

NYC still pays the most out of anywhere in the country $10-12.25 depending upon what you smoke

not sure what the cheap stuff goes for because i never smoke them

 

[JRS42082]

Vicks had it right on the money. It took a number of years and a lot of advertising, but smokers are now the only group of people who are allowed to be discriminated against. Everyone else's "problem" is a disease, where our choice subjects us to the worst taxation and discrimination in the entire world.

We need to stand up and show the world that we are not degenerates, we are intelligent people who have found a way to enjoy our addiction without harming our families and ourselves. If all the non-smokers were smart, they would be EMBRACING our movement...as it is the ONLY option out there that shows NO harmful effects and actually WORKS.

If every single one of us took a smart approach, taking the time to educate the non-smokers and attempting to convert other smokers (within reason, obviously. I'm not talking about trying to MAKE them switch. Just let them know as much as they will listen to.) Over time we can break the negative stereotype, and perhaps even be ACCEPTED by others.