Obama Raises Taxes on the Poor

[Sniperchoke]

Jan 15 2009, Shortly after Obama was inaugurated one of the first actions of his presidency was to disproportionately raise taxes on the poor. How did he do it you say? The old Potomac Two Step my friend. Well it was the cigarette tax if you hadn't guessed it. This may have been covered earlier but it still gripes my butt when people say the President wants to make poor peoples lives better. No other Federal tax hurts the poor more than the cigarette tax. It increased the tax from .39 cents up to $1.00 per pack. This tax hits the lowest 20% income earners 37 times harder than if the same money was raised through an increase in income taxes. I guess if your poor and you smoke you just got poorer. Thanks democrats for making it tougher on poor Americans to put food on their kid's table. emoDoh

 

[Jmax]

emoUpsmile ....mmmmm.....Let's see....put food on the table for my kids or buy cigerettes.mmmmm... Sounds like someone better be giving up on smoking. emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[beetlespin]

Its the smartest tax possible and one of the few I support. Wouldn't hurt my feelings if they raised it $5 per pack.

 

[Bprice]

Quiting smoking = better health. I don't disagree one raising taxes on cigs

 

[Guest]

I do not have a problem with raising taxes on cigarettes. I think the point here is the hypocrisy of this president. This is but one of many examples.

 

[beetlespin]

Its a voluntary tax kind of like the lottery. You don't have to pay it. Many of the billions spent on healthcare are attributable to smoking. Tax away!

 

[Hagen]

Oh just wait. Red meat and Bacon tax will be next and they will tax those industries out of business also! Finding bacon will be like buying heroin in 20yrs.

 

[Sniperchoke]

It has been proven many times if you increase tax on something that is addictive like nicotine in cigarettes it has no effect on the demand for that product.

 

[SpurHunter]

I am torn on this one. I would like to see $5 per pack tax, but I do know lots of folks that just cant quit and its hard on their money, besides the fact it may lead to other "sin" taxes.

 

[bbdown]

Please tell me this is a satirical post. Smoking vs. food for your own kids? Thats a strong addiction ya got there. Please get help. Seriously, seek some help.

 

[Bprice]

Spur... People CAN quit, the fact that they just can't quit is a cop out!

 

[hl&s]

I think they should tax the porno industry into bankruptcy, put a ten dollar a bottle/can tax on any kind of alcoholic beverage,triple tax gambling, and not let poor people that smoke have babies.And anybody making over 50,000 a year should be taxed double to limit the money they have for"sin" items or entertainment.</p>

Once that's done then we can pick out something else that is enjoyed by some and tax that to death. etc. etc.</p>

 

[Fishin' Junkie]

Roll your own!

 

[Jmax]

Hagen - 10/1/2009 8:38 AM

Oh just wait. Red meat and Bacon tax will be next and they will tax those industries out of business also! Finding bacon will be like buying heroin in 20yrs.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!! TAX ON BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like buying heroin!!! emoEek emoMad Bacon, Bacon, bacon....got to have my bacon...I would just have to go to jail, I would be considered a "Bacon junkie". emoBawl Jmax

 

[RattleTrapper]

So you're mad because the government raised taxes on an item that you use which serves you no benefit; the item shortens your life expectancy; it has contributed to the rising cost of health care in this country; and it is is purely your choice to use... give me a break

 

[Dirt Man]

I think that some of the organizations funded by these tax increases are the problem. The government, starting from federal all the way to county could be cut in half. There are way too many people on our payroll. America is supposed to be run ''for the people'' and ''by the people''. It hasn't been that way for a long time, so long I think it will never change. At least for the better.















emoTskTsk emoTskTsk emoTskTsk emoTskTsk emoTskTsk

 

[blazer]

hl&s - 10/1/2009 12:21 PM

I think they should tax the porno industry into bankruptcy, put a ten dollar a bottle/can tax on any kind of alcoholic beverage,triple tax gambling, and not let poor people that smoke have babies.And anybody making over 50,000 a year should be taxed double to limit the money they have for"sin" items or entertainment.</p>

Once that's done then we can pick out something else that is enjoyed by some and tax that to death. etc. etc.</p>

</p>

i agree they should up the tax on alcoholic beverages,then maybe some drunkdrivers want be able to buy it and it will make the roads a safer place,and the lake.</p>

 

[bbdown]

emoLaugh </p>

[/QUOTE]</p>

i agree they should up the tax on alcoholic beverages,then maybe some drunkdrivers want be able to buy it and it will make the roads a safer place,and the lake.</p>

[/QUOTE]</p>

People will still buy it. They just won't feed their kids!! Same drunk drivers but less childhood obesity!emoLaugh emoTongue emoDoh </p>

 

[hl&s]

RattleTrapper - 10/1/2009 2:54 PM So you're mad because the government raised taxes on an item that you use which serves you no benefit; the item shortens your life expectancy; it has contributed to the rising cost of health care in this country; and it is is purely your choice to use... give me a break

</p>

It's not a matter of being mad about anything.It's a matter of our government trying to controlwhich "sin" we can and can'tdo by excessive taxation. You nor any other taxpayer has ever paid a dime on my medical bills. Smokers are well aware of the health risks involved.</p>

If you feel that strongly about what another person does and the cost to society, do you not agree that all items that are 'bad' for you should be just as disproportionately taxed ?Or is it ok to over tax items as long as you are not the oneusing them ?</p>

Like I said, let's raise the taxes on all items that somebody somewhere has decided we shouldn't do anymore. A large tax on alcohol would help our nations finances out even more while cutting down on the number of innocent men, women, and children killed by drunk drivers. Not to mention lowering vehicle insurance costs and, yes, health care costs. Taxes should be $5 a can, minimum. </p>

Any food sold should be excessively taxed if it is not 100% nutritional...........</p>

 

[Sniperchoke]

Thanks hl&s someone finally got the point of the original post. Let me ask one more question did anyone's income taxes go down because we raised taxes on cigarettes? Mine sure didn't the gov't only takes more and more they never reduce taxes. This is why I will never ever vote for any type of tax increase. By the way seems like I remember Obama in the campaign saying he wouldn't increase taxes on anyone making over $150,000.00 Just another reason why we can't trust gov't.