I just want to see how NYS is going to pay for their health-care, and balance the budget that they promised to do when they raised the tax on tobacco products when people will either quit smoking or buy their tobacco products out of state.
Re June 22 article, “Budget leans on smokers yet again”: I must preface this letter by saying that I am not a cigarette smoker or drinker of alcoholic beverages. That said, I am furious over the state’s proposed increase in cigarette taxes. Smokers have consistently been burdened by them and it’s time some other New Yorkers kicked in. Let’s start with alcohol. A lot of people have quit alcohol for various reasons, myself included. I don’t like alcohol, so as a New Yorker, I want that taxed as heavily and as frequently as cigarettes. Alcohol is a killer and destroyer of families and health. If they made it so expensive you couldn’t buy it, we wouldn’t have to worry about such things as drunken driving, dysfunctional family systems and expensive medical care due to the ravages of alcohol on the physical body. Jails and prisons would empty because people weren’t committing crimes caused by irrational, alcohol-fueled, behavior. Police wouldn’t be called about loud parties or many of the domestic violence calls. Seems to me we’d be in better shape in every way if we started taxing alcohol as heavily as cigarettes and gave smokers a break!
According to the US Center for Disease Control, the Real Cost of smoking to the American taxpayer is $10.49 per pack. Smokers should at least reimburse the taxpayers for the cost of their addiction.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
The tobacco tax is increasing... I can't wait until the tobacco tax finally equals the cost that ALL New Yorkers pay for smokers tobacco addiction.
Hell....I say make cigarettes .25 a pack. If cigarettes kill, just think of the money that will be saved since these people won't live very long any way. You would save on pensions, social security, medicare and medicaid! It would be a win win for the smokers AND the taxpayers! Am I right or am I right?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The state Legislature is to be commended for making New York No. 1 in the country for cigarette prices with the $1.60 per-pack tax increase [June 23 Gazette]. The American Heart Association, along with other public health groups, has been urging passage of this measure, which will improve the health of New Yorkers. The measure will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the health of our community. We believe it will encourage thousands of smokers to quit. As importantly, it will discourage thousands of children from starting.
ANNE SAILE Ballston Lake The writer is president of the American Heart Association’s Capital Region Advisory Board.
The people who really need to smoke will buy their tobacco products out of state and yes many might quit so explain to me how all this money that the needs is going to be generated by this tax?
Cigarette mail sale ban a blow to Seneca economy BY CAROLYN THOMPSON The Associated Press
SALAMANCA — A new federal law going into effect Tuesday puts an end to using the U.S. Postal Service to mail cigarettes, and nowhere will it be felt more than Indian country in New York’s Southern Tier. The Seneca Indian Nation, whose member-owned businesses dominate the discount mail-order cigarette industry, said the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act will gut its $100 million-per-year tobacco economy and eliminate 3,000 jobs held by workers in and outside the tribe. The tribe’s businesses are estimated to sell four of every fi ve packs of mail-order cigarettes. “It’s a major impact, a major obstacle we’re going to have to fi nd a way to overcome,” said J.C. Seneca, a counselor of the 8,000-member nation. Health and anti-smoking groups cheer the mailing ban as a way to limit teenagers’ access to cigarettes. Cigarette giant Philip Morris USA praises it for keeping smokers from dodging state taxes, which the Senecas don’t charge. In New York, the excise tax is currently $2.75 per pack, but is being raised to $4.35 per pack. ....................>>>>................>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/Default/Layout/Includes/SCHENECTADY/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=SCHENECTADY&BaseHref=SCH%2F2010%2F06%2F29&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=A5&EntityId=Ar00503&AppName=1
Hell....I say make cigarettes .25 a pack. If cigarettes kill, just think of the money that will be saved since these people won't live very long any way. You would save on pensions, social security, medicare and medicaid! It would be a win win for the smokers AND the taxpayers! Am I right or am I right?
Bumble... Your system would work great if the Smokers would JUST DIE... but unfortunately Smokers linger with very expensive diseases like Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Heart Attacks, COPD, etc. The Cost of their self inflicted addiction is pushed on the non smoking taxpayers.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Bumble... Your system would work great if the Smokers would JUST DIE... but unfortunately Smokers linger with very expensive diseases like Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Heart Attacks, COPD, etc. The Cost of their self inflicted addiction is pushed on the non smoking taxpayers.
Then I would guess that you are also in favor of taxing sugar and items that contain government regulated 'fat', right? Cause today, diabetes is epidemic due to the overeating of these 'bad foods'! Costing the taxpayers. Right? And I would guess that you are also in favor of taxing the hell out of alcohol which when driving under the influence, kills and cripples, right? Not to mention the liver transplants that are due to excessive drinking, right? Same with taxing tanning salons. Which by the way is probably the most racist tax ever! WHO USES THEM?? DUH!
It reminds me of books I've read about Hitler........he too tried to create a 'perfect' race! Outcome????
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Then I would guess that you are also in favor of taxing sugar and items that contain government regulated 'fat', right?
WRONG!
All the things you mention (sugar, fat, alcohol, tanning) if used as directed & in moderation will not cause health problems in most people. There is NO safe amount of tobacco use, and any amount can be harmful.
Once again... The Center for Disease Control states that the real cost of smoking related disease in America, is $10.49 a pack. Smokers should pay the cost of their addiction instead of forcing non-smoking Americans to subsidize their drug abuse.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
All the things you mention (sugar, fat, alcohol, tanning) if used as directed & in moderation will not cause health problems in most people. There is NO safe amount of tobacco use, and any amount can be harmful.
Once again... The Center for Disease Control states that the real cost of smoking related disease in America, is $10.49 a pack. Smokers should pay the cost of their addiction instead of forcing non-smoking Americans to subsidize their drug abuse.
Tell me - what are the "directions" for using alcohol ("Use as directed") ?
~As directed: WARNING. DRINKING WINE, BEER AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING PREGNANCY CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.
~In moderation: Drinking in moderation is defined as having no more than 1 drink per day for women and no more than 2 drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days.
(US Center for Disease Control)
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
OBJECTIVE--To study the association between Alzheimer's disease and nicotine intake through smoking. DESIGN--Population based case-control study. SETTING--City of Rotterdam and four northern provinces of The Netherlands. SUBJECTS--198 patients with early onset Alzheimer's disease, 198 controls matched for age and sex, and families of 17 patients in whom Alzheimer's disease was apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Age of onset of dementia, relative risk of Alzheimer's disease. RESULTS--89 of 193 patients with Alzheimer's disease had a history of smoking compared with 102 of 195 controls. Among the patients and controls with a family history of dementia, smoking was significantly less common in those with dementia (40/95 with dementia v 55/96 controls; relative risk 0.35; 95% confidence interval 0.16 to 0.7. The risk of Alzheimer's disease decreased with increasing daily number of cigarettes smoked before onset of disease (relative risk 0.3 in those smoking greater than 21/day v 1 in non-smokers). In six families in which the disease was apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder, the mean age of onset was 4.17 years later in smoking patients than in non-smoking patients from the same family (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest an inverse association between smoking and Alzheimer's disease, although smoking cannot be advocated for other health reasons. We speculate that nicotine may have a role in the aetiology of both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Logged
. The risk of Alzheimer's disease decreased with increasing daily number of cigarettes smoked before onset of disease (relative risk 0.3 in those smoking greater than 21/day v 1 in non-smokers). In six families in which the disease was apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder, the mean age of onset was 4.17 years later in smoking patients than in non-smoking patients from the same family (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest an inverse association between smoking and Alzheimer's disease, although smoking cannot be advocated for other health reasons. We speculate that nicotine may have a role in the aetiology of both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
