The children be darned! Tobacco taxes.

[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.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I quit years ago but hubby smokes, immagine my suprise when the prices doubled overnight! I told him if he needed further convincing that quitting was a good idea this is it!

[blue]

Gee, thanks.

No problem.

AK has been throwing more and more money at education and it isnt helping. More money hasnt been the answer for many years now. Im glad I dont own a house in Anchorage where the property tax is only getting worse.

Raising taxes on the poor to pay for the Schip program is hypocritical, but "Its for the children" so I guess that makes it OK.

This investment idea is nonsense. It is not the taxpayers responsibility to pay for after school activities for kids, at least it wasnt when was a kid. Why not give tax breaks so 1 of the parents can work part time and be home when the kids are home? My own mother as a single mom paid for after school activities for my brother and me, and she busted her a$$ to do it. I guess we no longer expect people to take care of their own anymore.

If any of you want to pay increased taxes to live in a nicer area that is your choice. I chose to live on the edge of the boondocks and pay less taxes.

I hope the new taxes cause more people to quit so this scam fails.

Going from a tax of $1.50 per pound of loose tobacco to $25 per pound is ridiculous.

[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.

[Laura's Babies]

My question is when they price the tobacco products so high that they price themselves right out of business... WHERE will that money come from then? What will they tax THEN? This is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg. Will there be a fat/obese tax where you are weighed before you can buy fast food and taxed accordingly? Will there be a danger tax on ATVs, motorcycles or anything someone else deems dangerous? A tax on guns because they are dangerous and can kill? A tax on TV's, computers, and video games because they encourage people to sit inside? A unhealthy tax on foods (at the grocery store) that are not good for you? I see those all you can eat buffets going to being charged by weight of what is on your plate and you pay for each plate you fix. Once this economy stabilizes, watch how they will tax gas!!

I can see it coming, once they get use to having that money, they will not let it go and find other ways to get it. BEWARE of supporting this taxing idea, it will backfire on you someday.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

My question is when they price the tobacco products so high that they price themselves right out of business... WHERE will that money come from then? What will they tax THEN?

That's easy. They'll legalize marijuana just to tax it