I haven't posted here often...But I think what bothers me, is all the "anti-smoking buzz" we are hearing lately. I don't know about anyone else, but here in California, a carton of generic cigarettes could be bought 6 months ago for $12.50...They are now $22-26 dollars, and the name brands run 32-24 before tax!!! I have heard from cigar smokers, they are being hit up also. And have heard Clinton is proposing another tax hike...
What ticks me off is this is purely political,and therefore, has become "politically correct"...But I have a very strong opinion here. Not just because I am a smoker, which I am, but there are other reasons also. Mainly it is "taxation without representation". In California, Rob Reiner introduced this tax...Now, he either is very wealthy, and can afford it, which he is, or doesn't smoke. I lay you odds 10-1 that he doesn't smoke. AND NONE OF THE TAX MONEY IS GOING INTO ANYTHING EVENLY REMOTELY RELTAED TO SMOKING AND/OR ITS EFFECTS, PERIOD...IN FACT, THE PROPOSITION IS VERY ILL DEFINED, meaning "VAGUE", and leans towards, I believe, education for children. Not, mind you, education regarding not smoking....just general stuff. It is total BULLSH*T...It would not be so bad if the extra $5.00/carton (which is what it is) went towards programs specifically aimed towards research for lung cancer or programs geared towards those who smoke, who would like to stop...DESPITE THE EXHORBITANT TAX INCREASE, I WOULD AT LEAST UNDERSTAND....But my smoking has nothing to do with children's education. Everyone should pay for that, as our children are our future. The two are completely unrelated. So, why did it pass????? BECAUSE WE ARE A MINORITY. I THINK BETWEEN 20-25% or less of the population in California smoke. Talk about not being represented...They say we are a hinderance to their health systems. Well, what about overweight people, people with high blood pressure, people with diabetes, and on and on....I can go into Marie Calendar's restaurants any day of the week and see overweight people, or people with high cholesterol, eating Pies, cakes, and mashed potatoes with gravy. And what about McDonalds??? Aren't they advocates of fries, meanwhile people are dying everyday from heart attacks, specifically linked to obesity? What about Candy manufacturers...Shouldn't they be penalized for selling sugared sweet to just anyone, despite the fact, that some of those are borderline diabetics???? The list goes on folks....NOTICE ROB REINER DID NOT ATTACK ALCOHOL???? GEE I WONDER IF THE MAN AND HIS FRIENDS DRINK!!! (DUH)!!!...But yet I must also pay for those who drink and cause accidents, have strokes, liver disease, heart attacks, AND THE LIST GOES ON.....BUT THAT IS OK....JUST AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SMOKE...I WILL HOLD MY SICK LIST SHEET UP AGAINST ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT, OR DIABETIC, HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ETC....As I average about 2-3 days a year sick!!! PERIOD!!!!And I have not heard anyone figure a way to get off this planet alive yet, except for astronauts, and that is just temporary. HELL, IF THE SMOKERS DIE YOUNG....WE GO OUT QUICKER!!!!It costs you less...I think, according to Reiner's stand, that we should also establish a way to monitor people who are not excercising. Excercising is proven to reduce blood pressure, heart attacks, reduce sugar levels in diabetics, helps asthma suffers, build calcuim levels for those who are suffering from osteophorosis, reduce weight which contributes to injuries and/or joint degeneration, and many more things...
SO, THERE'S MY STAND!!! BTW...I am truly thinking about starting a movement regarding the unfairness of this bill...
Any comments...feel free to post or E-mail me
irvinesully@yahoo.com
But this is not the first time California has done this...About 8 years ago, they passed an emmision law, that vehicles coming into the state, not having a "California Emmision Tag" on their engine would be taxed an extra $300 for licensing, on top of the regular fee. Guess what...It didn't matter that you passed their emmision test with flying colors, maybe even better than some...But as you were not a resident as the time, and the STATE WANTED MORE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE...it was easily passed by those not affected....
Sorry, guys, it is just my opinion...But it sure stirs a whole hell of a lot of emotions in me!!! It is a crock!!! In fact in work, I have said to people we should shart a movement in California regarding this excess tax and take it all the way up to the Supreme Court, as it is definitely taxation without representation and is totally unfair!!!
Take care.. |
