Nashville, TN

If you’re a smoker and you have something to say about the new tax hike, say it here. But only after I say what I have to say about it. It is my site after all.

I’m not a smoker, and I despise being around others when they’re smoking. I feel it is an infringement on my right to breathe. So naturally, anything that is designed to hinder the sale of cigarettes is fine by me. I’m not naive enough, however, to believe that this recent tax increase is going to keep any one of you from cutting back like you should. I’m not exactly convinced that anything would do that, unfortunately. There’s too much politics involved. Too many of the wrong backs being scratched by the wrong hands. Not too mention the complete and unending lack of consumer self-worth that perpetuates the flames of industry, supply/demand, and government. These three form the trifecta of the vicious circle known as Consumerism.

For example, in an article recently published by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Senator Kurita - a democrat from Clarksville AND a registered nurse proposed two versions of our now in-tact bill, one of which would increase the tax by $1, resulting in $386.6 million additional dollars per year that would go towards HEALTH CARE. I’m sorry. Does anyone else see a problem there? Like I previously stated, none of us really believes that a tax hike is going to prevent anyone from reducing their spending on cigarettes. Cigarettes are a DRUG. People are addicted to them. They will do whatever it takes to continue buying them, regardless of the financial burden. So basically, lawmakers are saying, “Sure, go ahead and buy all you want. We’ll just use the extra tax to pay for your lung transplant.”

I believe Sally Struthers has a commercial spot about this. I think it goes something like this:

Do you want to smoke more cigarettes? Sure! We all do! Hi, I’m Sally Struthers, and I’m here to tell you how you can smoke more AND get the healthcare you’re going to need because of your nasty habit! For .42 cents a pack, your loving lawmakers will set aside your tax dollars to fund your hospital bills after you lose your lungs to Marlboro. Isn’t that great?! Don’t even THINK about crossing that Kentucky line to buy your cancer with less tax! This offer is only good on smokes bought in Tennessee.

Senator Kurita also went on to say, “You know, a cigarette tax is something that’s going to stop children from smoking.” Don’t even get me started on the reasons children do and do not smoke. Let’s just say it has more to do with what they see their parents doing or not doing, and NOT how much tax is tacked on to the pack. Kids don’t think about tax. They don’t even know it’s there. And they, like their smoking role-models, are going to buy and smoke cigs no matter what the tax rate is. As long as mom is handing over a $20 so Junior can run to the store and buy her a carton, Junior is not going to care if the tobacco tax is higher this year than last.

Don’t worry, the madness gets better. Richard Floyd a REPUBLICAN from Chattanooga, actually defended the democrat’s proposal saying this, “If it keeps one person from smoking, it will save us goodness knows how much money in health care”.

I actually have no response to this. Other than, that’s just plain stupid.

Ok, ok. I promised you could say your peace. Please be aware, though, that I am going to charge you .42 per comment to fund my trip to Utopia - a place where cigarettes, politics, and morons do not exist.