NY taxing the hell out of Smokers, this so soo wrong

Well let me start this by saying that I do smoke. Well generally only when I go out, but I think that it still counts. Now I believe that there is nothing wrong about taxing the heck out of smokers. I mean no one is making us light up day after day, this is something that we choose to do each time we ligt up. Of course I know that ciggaretts are addictive, but I also know that we make the decision every time that we buy a pack. Bottom line is if you cannot afford to buy ciggaretts then you probably should not be smoking. And if less of us actually do smoke then I think that it can be of advantage to the environment. Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with smoking, again I do smoke. But I believe that smokes are not somethig we need. It is something that we elect to purchase, and I am all for it. If however they were to increase gas tax, or something that is "needed" by the American people I then would have a problem with that.

LOL yea we have a "Sin" Tax here in NY which I personally think is absolutely ridiculous!..I get my ciggies off the rez and only pay $10-11 for a carton so that works for me....I know in Canada though (ontario anyway) a pack of ciggies is over $10....has been for some time now actually

I also think it is wrong to tax the smoker like that. If they do this all the time then why not over tax the people who buy beer and whiskey since those can kill, maybe not the person who is drinking but innocent people can be killed from a drunk person or a person drinking. Why not over tax the people who buy from fast food places, oh I could go on and on.
If people want to smoke, drink, eat fast food or whatever the raising taxes on them is not going to stop them from doing what they want to do.

I'm no longer a smoker but that is rediculous!The smoker's have rights also, and we need to start helping them with their rights, even though we don't smoke. It's just not fair to the smoker at all. It's gonna get just like prohibition did in the 1920's...Lori

I think that is a good enough reason to boycott the companies and just quit smoking... for nothing better than taking your money out of the government's hands If there is no more addiction to the product they won't be making any money. Same for alcohol... stop the demand for it the price either goes down or they go out of business.

I quit smoking before they ever went above $2.40 a pack. I would not pay more than that and when the price went up I stopped, and being sick as H3ll was a good reason not to ever go back to them. Those companies will never get another dime from me.

I think they can get away with this tax because it is a determent from smoking, and if anyone is still willing to pay the money to feed the addiction they will put the screws to those people, because cigarettes are not necessary for life.

For those who need cigarettes to stay sane, I feel sorry for them because the people in government are making out like bandits.

Everywhere is taxing the crap out of us. The county I live in thankfully isn't doing it that much. It's about 3.91 for a pack of cigs here but go to the next county a block over and they are almost 8.00 a pack. Unreal!

I actually think both should be taxed but honestly, I think smokers should be taxed. Most of them are rude, inconsiderate and don't care about smoking laws. They'll stand around building entrances and puff away even though in my state you can't smoke within 25 feet of a building entrance. They blow smoke so it gets in people's faces and they have to continously buy their lovely product and smell bad. I know it sounds wrong, but I hate smokers. People in my family smoke and just don't give up, so it's not like I don't know smokers and know how much money they spend on ciggarets, but if they're willing to keep smoking, they have to pay the price.

WHAT? Why don't they tax alcohol. They would be able to collect alot that way. Especially with all the politians that make the good money and are always having a drink.

I totally agree with you! Why tax something that is addictive? Tax something thats easy for people to give up if they want...like...i don't know...lima beans perhaps? They have smokers between a rock and a hard place. If smoking is a "sin" why not make it illegal? Hmmmm...lets see....THEY WON'T GET ALL THAT TAX MONEY? I'm so glad I don't live in NY anymore. Its 4.50/pack here in NH as it is. I'm a smoker and I vote too, darn it!

Well...it sort of does make sense in a round-a-bout way. Smoking and second-hand smoke cause diseases that cost states money later down the road in health care costs (let's face it...most people do not have health care coverage these days). So, if smoking is the cause of some of that health care stuff then why shouldn't there be extra taxes for doing it? Someone mentioned fast food...and that makes sense following the same line of thinking except that I eat healthy 80-90% of the time so I am really not causing any health issues on the rare occasion that I choose to eat at McDonald's. And, an obese person isn't harming anyone else. But, maybe there should be higher taxes on that, too. I don't know. I*think* the tobacco companies are taxed extra, but I am not sure on that. They definitely should be.

I don't know...this is one of those situations where I can sort of see both sides of it I guess and I don't know which one is right and, since I do not smoke, it really isn't an issue I have reason to be passionate about. (And politics are not something I am passionate about either so remove smoking and just talk taxes and I am still not up in arms over it). I did smoke at one time, but usually only when I went out...and I could have easily gone without even then if it was going to cost me that much. No big deal. (to me).