Kentucky (tobacco country) has a bill in process to raise taxes. Taxes here are still low for tobacco products, even tho they raised taxes on it last year.
We have folks coming in from surrounding states buying here.
We have the bans in place already except for one...... Churchill Downs... and thats pissing off the business owners.
Horse racing is kinda synonymous with smoking.... Can you just picture all those rich ole guys sitting around with a big stogie and mint Julep ( bourbon country too. ) Got a lot of vices here and a lot of money made from vices...lol
I watched a debate the other night on PBS and the lawmaker that introduced the bill was just your typical lawmaker.
He at first spoke of health issues and then he flubbed up and said Kentucky has a huge deficit and needs the money from the taxes.
Of course the other side of the debate pointed out to him that Ky gets alot of revenue from the border states and it will make more by not raising taxes.
One reason to raise taxes would discourage teens from smoking. They would not be able to afford them. WHAT ? ok whatever you wanna believe. I can remember when I was a kid if I needed to buy cigarettes I didn't eat lunch.
But you just cannot explain it to a non smoker.
So then the rebuttal was.....I am sick and tired of
my health insurance having to pay for all the health issues that come from smoking.... and that understandably is a concern of most folks. Right ???
Me being kinda tired of government control my own self had a thought of fairness....you know taxes for all... Not just for those nasty smokers . This has been discussed before but worth saying again.
All restaurants with a buffet ........higher taxes( much higher taxes)
All fast food establishments .......higher taxes
All products made with sugar and fat.....higher taxes
Sugar
Butter
Flour
Bread
Cereal
ON and ON . I am sure you guys can think of a lot more.
DIABETES , HEART PROBLEMS , AIDES , all high costs to the public.
you get the idea..... Lets be fair to all the citizens. I know what some will say ... Food is a gotta have, smoking is a choice.
You have a choice to eat the right foods...
I hardly ever go out to eat.... so higher taxes on any eating place, makes me no never mind....Wont effect me at all. I just wont
ever go out to eat.
Government control..... Its well on its way.
I will STFU now....lol
Total Prevalence of Diabetes & Pre-diabetes - All About Diabetes - American Diabetes Association