highdudgeon
New Member
Okay, I'm guessing that I'll probably draw fire here, but let's go.
Cigar media routinely bashes SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/schip.asp and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Childre...urance_Program). They are overjoyed that Bush has used his rare veto to overturn a program that would expand healthcare for uninsured children largely with taxes on tobacco products.
Now, let me get one thing straight: there are 41 million Americans without health insurance. Most are children. SCHIP, since 1997, has helped over 5 million families with children get the insurance their children need in order to thrive. Preventative medicine is more cost effective and healthy and inexpensive than trips to the ER by uninsured patients. Helping poor children is an unquestionable good.
Meanwhile, few people can argue with a straight face that Big Tobacco in US has been a Bad Thing. This has been one of the most nefarious and frankly disgraceful industries, bar none, selling dangerous products to all comers -- including children.
Also, no one in their right mind can argue that tobacco is entirely safe. Smoking cigarettes is dangerous, carries a high risk of numerous and potentially deadly healh problems. Cigars are safer, no doubt, but second-hand smoke is an issue and cancer of the mouth is no sniffing matter. However, I smoke cigars, avidly so, I understand the risks, and I know they are puny compared to a two-pack a day habit of smoke into the lungs. Cigarettes are an addictive and, as far as I'm concerned, foul habit that is a Bad Thing for healthy living. Cigars? You can be a track star and smoke cigars.
So, the tax is on tobacco products and, overwhelmingly, on cigarettes. Fine. People in Europe pay much more for cigarettes and Americans should, too. It might even dissuade some smokers.
Cigars? This is largely a luxury market for most of us. I don't think I have one cigar that costs under $4 in my collection. The average is probably around $7-12, depending on country of origin, a stick and some a good bit more. Do I really mind paying a few cents or even a buck more for my vice knowing that it will help children in need? No. I view it as a civic responsibility. I am partaking of a luxury, it is a luxury not without risks to me and to the healthcare system, and there is a dire need for young people to get the health care they need. Is your dime or dollar per stick that important? Is it, really, that you're willing to undermine the program?
Sure, we can tax other things. I live in Europe is gas is something like eight-ten bucks a gallon depending where you are. We can tax chocolate, bedding, whatever. Tobacco makes sense, though, because the profit margins are there, the problems to society are there, and I could care less about people crazy enough to still smoke cigarettes given all we know about its evils. As for cigars, well, why not? The tax is small, compared to cigarettes, and few of us have a six cigar a day habit. Frankly, I think we should feel proud to own up to some civic responsibility and not bitch and moan about a small hit on the pocketbook. If everyone did that about everything, we would have no taxes, and that would mean no government.
Cigar media routinely bashes SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/schip.asp and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Childre...urance_Program). They are overjoyed that Bush has used his rare veto to overturn a program that would expand healthcare for uninsured children largely with taxes on tobacco products.
Now, let me get one thing straight: there are 41 million Americans without health insurance. Most are children. SCHIP, since 1997, has helped over 5 million families with children get the insurance their children need in order to thrive. Preventative medicine is more cost effective and healthy and inexpensive than trips to the ER by uninsured patients. Helping poor children is an unquestionable good.
Meanwhile, few people can argue with a straight face that Big Tobacco in US has been a Bad Thing. This has been one of the most nefarious and frankly disgraceful industries, bar none, selling dangerous products to all comers -- including children.
Also, no one in their right mind can argue that tobacco is entirely safe. Smoking cigarettes is dangerous, carries a high risk of numerous and potentially deadly healh problems. Cigars are safer, no doubt, but second-hand smoke is an issue and cancer of the mouth is no sniffing matter. However, I smoke cigars, avidly so, I understand the risks, and I know they are puny compared to a two-pack a day habit of smoke into the lungs. Cigarettes are an addictive and, as far as I'm concerned, foul habit that is a Bad Thing for healthy living. Cigars? You can be a track star and smoke cigars.
So, the tax is on tobacco products and, overwhelmingly, on cigarettes. Fine. People in Europe pay much more for cigarettes and Americans should, too. It might even dissuade some smokers.
Cigars? This is largely a luxury market for most of us. I don't think I have one cigar that costs under $4 in my collection. The average is probably around $7-12, depending on country of origin, a stick and some a good bit more. Do I really mind paying a few cents or even a buck more for my vice knowing that it will help children in need? No. I view it as a civic responsibility. I am partaking of a luxury, it is a luxury not without risks to me and to the healthcare system, and there is a dire need for young people to get the health care they need. Is your dime or dollar per stick that important? Is it, really, that you're willing to undermine the program?
Sure, we can tax other things. I live in Europe is gas is something like eight-ten bucks a gallon depending where you are. We can tax chocolate, bedding, whatever. Tobacco makes sense, though, because the profit margins are there, the problems to society are there, and I could care less about people crazy enough to still smoke cigarettes given all we know about its evils. As for cigars, well, why not? The tax is small, compared to cigarettes, and few of us have a six cigar a day habit. Frankly, I think we should feel proud to own up to some civic responsibility and not bitch and moan about a small hit on the pocketbook. If everyone did that about everything, we would have no taxes, and that would mean no government.
