This is going to be a short diary, cause my point is pretty straightforward. I also realize at some levels it won't be too popular. I smoke. Yes it is a nasty habit. As somebody that is 39, 5'4, 135 pound male that is more fit than the "average" American I have to admit I should quit.
But alas it is something I enjoy and it is legal.
I normally buy my cigarettes by the carton cause there is a huge price difference (like $11.75 per buying the same # in individual packs). But I was running behind today and went to my little convenience store up the street. As my 3-4 purchases were rang up I noticed the price seemed off.
I asked if the price of cigarettes had increased. The shop owner pointed to a sign that said taxes had increased 168% to cover SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) costs.
Ok, I admit I somehow must have missed the .68 cent price increase in the SCHIP Bill.
Look, I don't mind paying taxes to smoke. I would be willing to pay more in taxes (just not on cigarettes alone) to ensure children have health care (heck everybody for that matter). My issue is I don't see how it is remotely fair to put such a burden on smokers. Should my smoking be one of the primary ways SCHIP is funded?
More and more I see us making one "class" of folks pay a disproportional amount of taxes to fund this or that, even if it is an issue that should be funded by the population as a whole. Smokers. Somebody that wants to buy a six pack of beer. A gal that is a gun owner and uses a lot of ammo. We are just subgroups within the population as a whole that are getting screwed.