Smoke The Poor
Jerk billionaire Tom Steyer is campaigning for a $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes.
I hate cigarette smoking and hate the idea that I have to pay for medical care for smokers, but there are a lot of people with not a lot of money who are addicted to cigarettes and having a hard time quitting.
Those are the people whom this will hit the hardest.
Why doesn't Mr. Billionaire simply fork over a bunch of money to fund what needs to be funded?
Because this is about forwarding his particular politico-religious ideology, that's why.
Phil Willon reports in the LA Times:
Steyer, who has spent tens of millions of dollars backing Democrats vowing to fight global warming, adds substantial financial heft to a campaign expected to be bitterly opposed by the billion-dollar tobacco industry.California currently charges 87 cents a pack in taxes. By contrast, New York taxes cigarettes $4.35 a pack.
Which is how Eric Garner ended up dying after cops tackled him for selling "loosies" that hadn't been stuck with the big tax by the state.
Steyer wants to be Governor of Calif. He isn't looking for a solution. He's looking for an issue.
Wfjag at October 8, 2015 12:09 AM
If the government can force you to buy healthcare that they kinda sorta pay for, why cant they tell you what else you can do with your body?
lujlp at October 8, 2015 12:52 AM
How Eric Garner died. Exactly.
Tax something high enough the market will create an "underground" alternative.
charles at October 8, 2015 5:44 AM
"California currently charges 87 cents a pack in taxes. By contrast, New York taxes cigarettes $4.35 a pack."
And in New York City, because of the cigarette taxes, a bag of heroin is cheaper than a package of cigarettes.
Dwight Brown at October 8, 2015 7:10 AM
Wow, Dwight. Sick.
Amy Alkon at October 8, 2015 7:22 AM
Lower the Social Security taxes on smokers. They die younger. I'm not a smoker, but I can play the fairness game, too.
MarkD at October 8, 2015 7:37 AM
Just remember that when the Koch brothers advocate for issues they support like prison reform and legalizing recreational drugs they are subverting democracy and are public enemy # one for all good righteous liberals but when Steyer spends his billions on his pet causes that is just hunky dory.
Shtetl G at October 8, 2015 7:59 AM
"Tax something high enough the market will create an 'underground' alternative."
Yep. And when the thing in question is a vice of some sort, the underground will evolve into organized crime. La Cosa Nostra exists in the U.S. largely due to Prohibition.
Cousin Dave at October 8, 2015 8:24 AM
I left LA for Austin about 18 mon ago. 6 weeks ago I was back in LA for work in Hollywood. I went into a number of clubs and the marajuana smoke was like walking into a wall. It seems to have become even less illegal since I left. But the up-shot is, it's not smoking that people are in a religious jihad against. It's tobacco.
Kevin at October 8, 2015 12:29 PM
Leave a comment