"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Sunday, March 29, 2009
That Tears It!
The Nanny State has just upped the price of my smokes. The official spokes-rabbit of Paco Enterprises throws down the gauntlet.
I always wondered what would happen if the tobacco companies went "Ellis Wyatt" and burned all their tobacco fields and shut down their processing plants.
Years ago, to punish the evil smokers, Goverments at every level imposed extra taxes on cigarettes...to protect "the children" and recoup some of the money spent to care for us sick puppies. That was so easy, and raised so much new money for them, that every year or so, they increased the taxes again. When cigarettes in San Diego County went to $4.25 (we paid about a buck and a half less than that on base), I decided to have my own private Boston Tea Party - I don't pay the tax if I don't smoke - so I quit smoking 15 April 1997. Evidently I wasn't the only one with that idea, and many more people have quit smoking. So many that Government is no longer raking in the dough for their pet programs...not to mention their pockets. Cut programs? Cut spending? NAH! Simply RAISE the TAX AGAIN!
I hear that same pack of Marlboro Red is nearly eight bucks now. Their gonna take it, the only choice we have is which tax we're gonna pay.
Hey Paco, perhaps we can trade. I need the old fashioned, but cheap, thermic light-bulbs. Buy a gross for me and I'll drive down through Acwasasney (sp?) Indian reservation and pick up a bunch of smokes.
The total, blatant governmental hypocrisy over tobacco goes all the way back to James I of England, who also hated the "noxious weed", but was very happy to tax it. As has been every government since.
They're being raised on all tobacco products. I smoke Winchester Little cigars (which, for all intents and purposes, are simply strong cigarettes). In D.C., they went from about $3.50 a pack to over $6.00.
May I suggest that Pacosan got the short end of the stick. She Who is Never Wrong and Never Lets Me Forget It buys her stuff on the Rez. Hers went from $32.50 a carton to $40 a carton. The Yojimbo acquired big supply of pipe tobacco as the price hasn't changed yet.
But presumably the Big O's opening up to Cuba will allow you to join the rest of the civilised world and enjoy some decent cigars, so not all bad surely?
I always wondered what would happen if the tobacco companies went "Ellis Wyatt" and burned all their tobacco fields and shut down their processing plants.
ReplyDeleteIs that on all tobacco, or just cigarettes? Does that tax hit the premade, or are roll your own exempt?
ReplyDelete/Thinking that Red Man will be more popular than ever.
The feds are SO full of shit. They'd be up the creek for revenue if all the tobacco users quit en masse.
ReplyDeleteWhich way to the nearest reservation, Paco? They still gots da cheap smokes...
ReplyDeleteTW: tordet: Paco finally snaps and declares open hostility over tobacco tax: "That tordet!"
Years ago, to punish the evil smokers, Goverments at every level imposed extra taxes on cigarettes...to protect "the children" and recoup some of the money spent to care for us sick puppies. That was so easy, and raised so much new money for them, that every year or so, they increased the taxes again. When cigarettes in San Diego County went to $4.25 (we paid about a buck and a half less than that on base), I decided to have my own private Boston Tea Party - I don't pay the tax if I don't smoke - so I quit smoking 15 April 1997. Evidently I wasn't the only one with that idea, and many more people have quit smoking. So many that Government is no longer raking in the dough for their pet programs...not to mention their pockets. Cut programs? Cut spending? NAH! Simply RAISE the TAX AGAIN!
ReplyDeleteI hear that same pack of Marlboro Red is nearly eight bucks now. Their gonna take it, the only choice we have is which tax we're gonna pay.
Hey Paco, perhaps we can trade. I need the old fashioned, but cheap, thermic light-bulbs. Buy a gross for me and I'll drive down through Acwasasney (sp?) Indian reservation and pick up a bunch of smokes.
ReplyDeleteWimpy: Done!
ReplyDeleteThe total, blatant governmental hypocrisy over tobacco goes all the way back to James I of England, who also hated the "noxious weed", but was very happy to tax it. As has been every government since.
ReplyDeleteSwampWoman,
ReplyDeleteI think taxes are being raised on all kinds of tobacco. There was an article on it in this morning's Examiner. Unfortunately, I can't find a link.
They're being raised on all tobacco products. I smoke Winchester Little cigars (which, for all intents and purposes, are simply strong cigarettes). In D.C., they went from about $3.50 a pack to over $6.00.
ReplyDeleteMay I suggest that Pacosan got the short end of the stick. She Who is Never Wrong and Never Lets Me Forget It buys her stuff on the Rez. Hers went from $32.50 a carton to $40 a carton. The Yojimbo acquired big supply of pipe tobacco as the price hasn't changed yet.
ReplyDeleteBut presumably the Big O's opening up to Cuba will allow you to join the rest of the civilised world and enjoy some decent cigars, so not all bad surely?
ReplyDelete