April 1st the feds levied a tax increase of 65cents / pack on cigarettes. That is a whopping increase. Not to be outdone, the state of Minnesota (where nothing is legal) wants to add a dollar to that tax. We are $4.5 billion in budget deficit.
Smoking increases health care costs. Tax the sinners. We have trillions in indeptedness.
What if the additional federal tax and the proposed state tax cause people to actually quit smoking? We will have a budget shortfall. Isn't that what happened when the price of gas went ballistic and people drove less? Less revenue.
We are used to conflicting public statements. You need to save more eventually became you need to spend more. Drink green tea for your health became drinking very hot green tea causes esophageal cancer. Do you think they will be saying, "Smoke 'em if you got 'em" for the public good soon? Your country needs the revenue.
In the meantime, be kind to smokers. They are either quitting and edgy or going broke.
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