Standing Up For Smokers

Now, I don't personally smoke, but you've got to be kidding me when it comes to taxing smokers for everything under the sun. Now, Senator Gordon Smith wants to bump the tax on tobacco products from 41 cents to an even dollar, a 168% increase. He's pushing that to pay for the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP).

Now, no one is going to argue that a childrens health insurance plan shouldn't be cut, but every time you hear about some big increase on tobacco products. The reason politicians do this is because no one stands up for smokers. You would hear people call for his crucification if he offered to bump up gasoline taxes by 168%.

All I'm saying is, start putting taxes on things that everyone uses so that everyone pays for the benefit that everyone uses. Taxing smokers to pay for something completely non related isn't fair to them as it wouldn't be fair to tax computer parts to pay for road construction.

Travis
travis@rightwinglunatic.com