Obama tax pledge ... up in smoke

[BeAChooser]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D979POSG0&show_article=1

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of President Barack Obama's campaign pledges on taxes went up in puffs of smoke Wednesday.
The largest increase in tobacco taxes took effect despite Obama's promise not to raise taxes of any kind on families earning under $250,000 or individuals under $200,000.

... snip ...

"Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
He repeatedly vowed "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime."
Now in office, Obama, who stopped smoking but has admitted he slips now and then, signed a law raising the tobacco tax nearly 62 cents on a pack of cigarettes, to $1.01. Other tobacco products saw similarly steep increases.

... snip ...

"No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama's plan will see one single penny of their tax raised," Joe Biden said, "whether it's their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax."

... snip ...

Government and private research has found that smoking rates are higher among people of low income.
A Gallup survey of 75,000 people last year fleshed out that conclusion. It found that 34 percent of respondents earning $6,000 to $12,000 were smokers, and the smoking rate consistently declined among people of higher income. Only 13 percent of people earning $90,000 or more were smokers.

Taxes on an addictive substance. Shame on you, Obama.

 

[Upchurch]

Minor in the overall scheme of things, but okay.

 

[Unabogie]

Just curious, what legislation was this a part of?

 

[Whiplash]

I'm getting fed up with the high prices on cigs myself. I admit I'm a smoker. But it's not just my own selfish rationale. I really do believe there is something rather tasteless about jacking up prices on such a highly addictive substance. I feel this is taking advantage of people. They know that many will continue to pay through the nose because they don't want to go through the pain of quitting. I don't see how this can be morally justified. I believe it's taking advantage.

I don't care who is responsible. I'm not pointing any fingers here. I'm just angry about the situation. These are tough times in many ways, and I don't want to have to quit right now. But I will be damned if I will keep paying so much. I wish I didn't have to be forced to deal with this right now.

If smoking is so bad, move to have it outlawed. Stop this charade of keeping it legal but punishing us more and more and more, and raping us on the taxes.

 

[joobie]

almost everyone i knew that smoked swore up and down they were going to quit when cigarettes hit $2/pack.

since then, one person i know has quit smoking.

 

[Dr Adequate]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D979POSG0&show_article=1



Taxes on an addictive substance. Shame on you, Obama.

I bet the one person in the world dumb enough to interpret that as a pledge to freeze tobacco taxes is outraged.

 

[Malkuth]

It truly is insane that cigarettes, with all the synthetic toxins added, remain legal, and a huge source of official revenue, while the far less harmful cannabis, which many studies have shown to be remediative of certain conditions to some degree, remains illegal.

 

[Upchurch]

It truly is insane that cigarettes, with all the synthetic toxins added, remain legal, and a huge source of official revenue, while the far less harmful cannabis, which many studies have shown to be remediative of certain conditions to some degree, remains illegal.

If you make tobacco illegal, you'll only drive it underground where it will get worse. (not to mention devastate southern agriculture.)

That being said, I have less sympathy for smokers than I probably ought to have.

 

[NobbyNobbs]

Obama's promise not to raise taxes of any kind on families earning under $250,000 or individuals under $200,000.

<snip>

signed a law raising the tobacco tax nearly 62 cents on a pack of cigarettes, to $1.01. Other tobacco products saw similarly steep increases.

Raising taxes on tobacco <> raising taxes on families or individuals. IMO, the tax on tobacco is a voluntary tax. There is no penalization at all if you refuse to pay it by not buying cigarettes.

It's pretty clear to anyone with a brain that his refusal to raise taxes implies your 1040 won't be affected.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Raising taxes on tobacco <> raising taxes on families or individuals. IMO, the tax on tobacco is a voluntary tax. There is no penalization at all if you refuse to pay it by not buying cigarettes.

Exactly. It was quite clear that Obama's "tax pledge" was in reference to Federal Income taxes.

 

[Malkuth]

What part of "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime" is unclear?

 

[Whiplash]

If you make tobacco illegal, you'll only drive it underground where it will get worse. (not to mention devastate southern agriculture.)

That being said, I have less sympathy for smokers than I probably ought to have.

Even as a smoker, I understand that some non-smokers feel that way. And I don't hold it against them.

I guess I just felt a need to rant a little.

 

[Upchurch]

What part of "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime" is unclear?

Mine haven't.

 

[Malkuth]

Mine haven't.

If the Obama had made the statement "You will not see any of your taxes raised by a single dime" to you specifically, in a private telephone call, speaking only of your personal tax burden, then I would say fair enough.

But he didn't. He made that statement to the nation, specifically to the lower income portion of your population, which is of course, by design, the great majority.

 

[Gangularis]

I bet the one person in the world dumb enough to interpret that as a pledge to freeze tobacco taxes is outraged.

Seriously, this argument that he broke his tax promise by referencing an increase in a sin tax is absurd. A cigarette tax is not a "tax bracket" issue with regards to income.

Even as a smoker, I understand that some non-smokers feel that way. And I don't hold it against them.

I guess I just felt a need to rant a little.

If the Obama had made the statement "You will not see any of your taxes raised by a single dime" to you specifically, in a private telephone call, speaking only of your personal tax burden, then I would say fair enough.

But he didn't. He made that statement to the nation, specifically to the lower income portion of your population, which is of course, by design, the great majority.

It's not your tax.. it's a tobacco tax.. it's a tax on an unnecessary, and unhealthy lifestyle..people can quit smoking and quit whining about it. I quit smoking a year and a half ago, cold turkey, after being a smoker for 13 years..I still miss it sometimes.. but get some will power and stop whining about the prices of your filthy habit. It is a disgusting, expensive, smelly, unhealthy, and increasingly unwelcome habit, in the United States. The only reason you don't quit is because you're still willing to make excuses for yourself.. "oh, but i'm stressed out, and i need it".. Get to the point where you're done making excuses, and just drop the habit. It's not a relaxant, you don't need it to deal with stress. If you need to relax, have a glass of wine.. and stop stinking up the air. Smoking is just flat out STUPID.. it serves virtually no purpose but to the ill addicted that need their fix. I'm all for raising the taxes to the point of forcing everyone out of the habit...if that's possible.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

The Forum Gods have not gifted me with a smilie to equal .

 

[Whiplash]

It's not your tax.. it's a tobacco tax.. it's a tax on an unnecessary, and unhealthy lifestyle..people can quit smoking and quit whining about it. I quit smoking a year and a half ago, cold turkey, after being a smoker for 13 years..I still miss it sometimes.. but get some will power and stop whining about the prices of your filthy habit. It is a disgusting, expensive, smelly, unhealthy, and increasingly unwelcome habit, in the United States. The only reason you don't quit is because you're still willing to make excuses for yourself.. "oh, but i'm stressed out, and i need it".. Get to the point where you're done making excuses, and just drop the habit. It's not a relaxant, you don't need it to deal with stress. If you need to relax, have a glass of wine.. and stop stinking up the air. Smoking is just flat out STUPID.. it serves virtually no purpose but to the ill addicted that need their fix. I'm all for raising the taxes to the point of forcing everyone out of the habit...if that's possible.

People who think the way you do are a big part of the problem. Such hostility and lack of any concern for the people who are hooked. You quit, good for you. The fact you find it so easy is irrelevant to anyone else. We are not all the same.

The idea that questioning if there is anything wrong, ethically, with continually raising taxes in an oppressive manner, on a highly addictive product, is "whining", is comically ridiculous. I'm not expecting people to automatically agree on the issue and say it's wrong. But your /handwave of it is ridiculously far from a reasonable debate on the subject.

 

[Gangularis]

If you want to quit bad enough, you will. I don't care who you are. You've obviously just not reached that point, yet.

 

[The Fool]

Seriously, this argument that he broke his tax promise by referencing an increase in a sin tax is absurd. A cigarette tax is not a "tax bracket" issue with regards to income.





It's not your tax.. it's a tobacco tax.. it's a tax on an unnecessary, and unhealthy lifestyle..people can quit smoking and quit whining about it. I quit smoking a year and a half ago, cold turkey, after being a smoker for 13 years..I still miss it sometimes.. but get some will power and stop whining about the prices of your filthy habit. It is a disgusting, expensive, smelly, unhealthy, and increasingly unwelcome habit, in the United States. The only reason you don't quit is because you're still willing to make excuses for yourself.. "oh, but i'm stressed out, and i need it".. Get to the point where you're done making excuses, and just drop the habit. It's not a relaxant, you don't need it to deal with stress. If you need to relax, have a glass of wine.. and stop stinking up the air. Smoking is just flat out STUPID.. it serves virtually no purpose but to the ill addicted that need their fix. I'm all for raising the taxes to the point of forcing everyone out of the habit...if that's possible.

I read your post and was reduced to tears. You have hit the nail on the head and pointed out to me the absolute folly of the 42 years I have been smoking.

I've decided to quit.....after I have one last cigarette.

Hang on, I just bought a fresh pack....at the end of the pack, promise....

paid $13.45 for 25 fags......you Yanks should stop whining.

 

[Gangularis]

lol.. glad i could help...

yeah, i guess i was being a bit of a nazi about it.. I've just lost tolerance for smokers. I get to be a snob to smokers, now.. see.