The children be darned! Tobacco taxes.

[joycenalex]

blue, i've been going around and around on this in my head and in conversation with friends.i don't smoke so that sin tax isn't paid for by me, but i do have an alcoholic drink from time to time and i pay that sin tax. i don't have kids either, so i get no direct benefit from my school taxes on my property, yet those school taxes SOMEONE else paid for made my schooling possible, that schooling made it possible for me to be a tax paying and productive citizen. kids got no choice in who their parents are. that kid deserves the same chance you got and i got. keeping kids healthy is a good thing, maybe they won't smoke, eat cheese doodles by the bagful, shoot speed, maybe one of those kids who gets that health insurance in alaska won't get tetanus cause the kids' parents could get those childhood vaccines cause of the health insurance for them.
i'm downright peeved when i make that tax payment, and i crab up a storm, but it's my paying back for what someone paid for me when i was a kid.

[Edwina's Secretary]

kids got no choice in who their parents are. that kid deserves the same chance you got and i got. i'm downright peeved when i make that tax payment, and i crab up a storm, but it's my paying back for what someone paid for me when i was a kid.

I do not have children. I am self-employed and pay taxes that would make the eyes of many roll back in their heads.

I consider it the price for living in a civilized society.

I consider the portion that goes for schools and parks and other "kid stuff" pay back as joycenalex says.

I also consider it an investment. Kids who are in school or at the park or after school programs are not breaking into my house or spraying graffitti on my building or getting knocked up.

They are getting an education so that when I am retired they can pay for things...roads, police, firefighters...and yes...social security.

[lvpets2002]

I am so glad I quit smoking years ago.. I sure Do Not miss it one bit.. You will feel so much better & food will taste so differant..

[Catty1]

Hey, blue - good on ya. {{{{hugs}}}}

And the money you save can go to YOUR favourite charity. Bonus!

[Pinot's Mom]

I also quit smoking many years ago, thank goodness.
I also have no (human) children.
I also pay taxes that would make your head spin (has anyone ever heard of Howard County, MD? Look it up - you'll be amazed) - BUT we have the best schools in the area (at least), there are families from Japan coming to this county to send their kids to school. This translates into retention of higher real estate values, even in a bad economy, and really good county programs. That's another part of the investment - it's generally a better quality of life where your taxes are higher. BEFORE ANYONE LANDS ON ME ABOUT THAT STATEMENT - I said GENERALLY - there are always exceptions.
I also consider these costs an investment.

[pomtzu]

I also quit smoking many years ago, thank goodness.
I also have no (human) children.
I also pay taxes that would make your head spin (has anyone ever heard of Howard County, MD? Look it up - you'll be amazed) - BUT we have the best schools in the area (at least), there are families from Japan coming to this county to send their kids to school. This translates into retention of higher real estate values, even in a bad economy, and really good county programs. That's another part of the investment - it's generally a better quality of life where your taxes are higher. BEFORE ANYONE LANDS ON ME ABOUT THAT STATEMENT - I said GENERALLY - there are always exceptions.
I also consider these costs an investment.

I'm rather familiar with the Ellicott City/Columbia areas, so I know exactly what you're talking about! It's a beautiful area, and I can understand your higher taxes to keep it that way. And yes - saying that it's an investment is very true indeed.

[carole]

Well i alway's thought no matter how high the taxes go, people will still continue to smoke, so Blue you have given me hope that one day my son and his girlfriend will quit too , i know they really want to, and are saving for a house, just think how much quicker that will happen if they do.

Anything that makes people quit is always a good thing in my mind, and i speak as a former smoker, having given up twenty eight years ago, and never gone back. YOU CAN DO IT and good for you no matter what the reason, you will benefit in the long run.

Yes well all of us pay taxes that we get no benefit from, but that is what living in a civilised country means, IMO, Edwina's Secretary put it well, my thoughts are along the lines of her's.

[Edwina's Secretary]

II also pay taxes that would make your head spin (has anyone ever heard of Howard County, MD?

Now I am confused. My brother keeps telling me that about Montegomery County Maryland!

[Hellow]

Gee, thanks.

[Pinot's Mom]

Now I am confused. My brother keeps telling me that about Montegomery County Maryland!

Montgomery County is next door - they're more on the Washington DC side of things, but yes, they have excellent schools as well. Howard and Montgomery are both very nice, but I prefer to be a little further from DC personally, as I commute to Baltimore.

No reason for confusion - they basically sit on top of each other.