The children be darned! Tobacco taxes.

[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

[Puckstop31]

Here is my $.50 on the tax issue.

Keep it LOCAL. If you want to live in a area with high taxes and the services they provide, do so. I know the Ellicott City, MD area myself. I have a uncle that lives there and he is VERY wealthy. You have to be to live there.

Keeping tax rates varied, depending on locale is the way, IMHO, the founders intended it to be. It provides the citizens the choice to live in an area that suits how they want to live. Plus, it is in line with the 10th Amendment.

Personally, I would MUCH prefer to live in a area with as low of taxes as possible. Just the basics is all I need/want. Roads, trash removal, public water, fire/police. I'd LOVE to not have to pay school taxes as my children are not going to public schools. I believe that educating MY children is MY responsibility, not yours or "ours". Again, this is my opinion and you all are certainly entitled to yours. So why not keep tax levels for such things at the local level and give he people their CHOICE back.

I never want to impose my way of life and views on you. So please do me favor of not suppoting laws that force your views on ME. It is what this country is supposed to be... We are promised, LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS. We are NOT promised equal results. Free people are never equal and equal people are never free.

If the Constitution does not define a power to the Federal Government, then the power to do the undefined things is given to the STATES, as per the 10th Amendment. If you want that to change, then AMEND THE CONSTITUTION. I find it quite disturbing that our previous President and our current President don't seem to care. Odd for a sitting President who was supposedly a Constitutional Professor to not pay attention to this, no?

/soap box

[Edwina's Secretary]

btw Blue...when did you become a socialist/liberal???...worrying about the poor.

Quiting smoking is difficult. But it can be done whether you are rich or poor.

Sin taxes are as old as....well sin.

[blue]

btw Blue...when did you become a socialist/liberal???...worrying about the poor.

You realy do have a sick sense of humor.

I am poor, its self interest. Less taxes means I can enjoy the things I enjoy and keep more of my money.

[lizbud]

They have banned smoking in your own car here in Indiana. In Monroe
county (Bloomington,Ind.) a proposel to ban smoking in a car with kids
under 13yrs old, passed and is now law in that county. I wouldn't have
believed it, but it happened.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7164861

[joycenalex]

[QUOTE=Puckstop31;2136932]Here is my $.50 on the tax issue....
Personally, I would MUCH prefer to live in a area with as low of taxes as possible. Just the basics is all I need/want. Roads, trash removal, public water, fire/police. I'd LOVE to not have to pay school taxes as my children are not going to public schools. I believe that educating MY children is MY responsibility, not yours or "ours". ...." end quote
puck, where does the money for education for the doctor who delivers hannahs' kids come from? it comes from all of us, and it is our responsibility.

[Puckstop31]

[QUOTE=joycenalex;2137076]

Here is my $.50 on the tax issue....
Personally, I would MUCH prefer to live in a area with as low of taxes as possible. Just the basics is all I need/want. Roads, trash removal, public water, fire/police. I'd LOVE to not have to pay school taxes as my children are not going to public schools. I believe that educating MY children is MY responsibility, not yours or "ours". ...." end quote
puck, where does the money for education for the doctor who delivers hannahs' kids come from? it comes from all of us, and it is our responsibility.

Keep reading and you will see this....

I fully understand where you are coming from when you talk about education being the community's responsibility. Not all people have the ability, time and/or money to carry out the massive task of properly educating their own children. As such, no child should be denied a proper education because of these issues. Thus while it hurts to pay those taxes at times, I do understand their purpose. "

All that said... I do not believe in the idea that "it takes a village" to raise child. You might and that is fine. I'll keep paying my taxes to support a broken system, but i'll never let any government tell me that I can't educate my own children if I choose to and do it right.