About 25% of Americans still smoke. Heavy new taxes, designed to discourage smoking went into effect today. So far, smokers have been pretty laid back in their acceptance of the prejudice and discrimination of their fellow Americans against them. Eventually there will be a backlash.
It is a myth that smoking costs society. Smoking is actually a big bonus. Most smokers die young and die quick. They use only a small percentage of the health care services that a person who lives to be old does and even less in retirement and Social Security benefits. The government should celebrate and encourage smoking.
At 25%, smokers could be a powerful swing voting block. The first major political party to include a rollback in tobacco taxes could well gain control of the Federal government for the foreseeable future.
1 comment:
I quit smoking in 1984, but now have an occasional cigar.
I think taxing smokers because they can is legalized theft. If taxes are necessary, they should be equally spread across society. Think "consumption tax."
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