OT - Attention All Cigar Smokers!!

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

OK, if someone can afford to smoke $80 cigars, they can afford to pay the $40 tax!

You're point being ...........?

[stephen wilson]

My point is, the tax isn't as high as these intentionally inflated prices would seem to indicate. I normally stay out of political discussions, so I guess I'll stick to that policy!
Steve

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

My point is, the tax isn't as high as these intentionally inflated prices would seem to indicate. I normally stay out of political discussions, so I guess I'll stick to that policy!
Steve

Well, I oppose taxes on basic moral principle. To me, I can see the value of the cigar and choose to pay or not pay. On the tax, I have no choice and I can't see any value.

Having said that, I don't smoke!

Still, I don't see any reason to stick it to folks just because they have the dough. Using that logic, anyone with less, can take from anyone who has more.

I think that is called robbery.

[stephen wilson]

I see your point. I do smoke Cigars occasionally. It suppose use taxes would be better if spread across all "non-essential" goods, not just the "bad" ones. Hell, I think a "flat tax" is a good idea, combined with use taxes. What's more fair then a percentage of what you earn? Most of us work hard, but some are compensated much better for it.

[Lil bastard]

The universal inevitabilities are Death and Taxes, no question about that.

But, we're not talking about a New tax here, just a disproportionate Tax Increase.

Seems to me that the 'New Guy's' priorities are a little messed up. Tax increases, Abortion, Stem Cell research, Food Stamp increases, Peace Treaties w/ N. Korea (or otherwise playing right into their hands) IMHO, shouldn't necessarily be #1 on the Runway when the Dow is below 7k and unemployment is the worst since the Great Depression.

But, that's a political discussion and my only purpose was to give some of our guys a heads-up about a significant price increase coming soon so they can maybe save a few bucks.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

I see your point. I do smoke Cigars occasionally. It suppose use taxes would be better if spread across all "non-essential" goods, not just the "bad" ones. Hell, I think a "flat tax" is a good idea, combined with use taxes. What's more fair then a percentage of what you earn? Most of us work hard, but some are compensated much better for it.

Fair has nothing to do with the US Tax system. The folks who take the most from the govt normally pay in little or nothing. So, fariness is in the eye of the beholder.

The great shell game of the govt is to never have anyone question them about what they are up to. If you have a strong stomach, just look at how the feds spending always goes up, irrespective of what else happens in the world.

My basic question is, WHY IS THAT?

Just a thought.

[sd_boxster]

Regardless of your political affiliation, it has to chafe you that a staggering percentage (the number is hotly debated, but it's somewhere between 40 and 50 percent) of "tax units" (single people or married couples) pay no taxes or receive a refund of 100% or more of tax they do pay.

That means that roughly 50% of eligible voters pay no tax, yet get a say in how the income of the other half gets spent.

Rather than just outlawing tobacco, slapping another tax on this non-necessity is another way to get into our wallets.

I own my own business. I pay tax on any money I have left over at the end of the year. I pay tax on the money I pay my employees. I pay "use" tax - every year - on stuff I already own. I pay property tax - every year - for the privilege of living in the home I bought with post-tax dollars. If I buy gas or tobacco, (I do buy the former, I don't the latter, but I digress), I pay a HUGE percentage in taxes. Finally, if I die and leave my money to someone else, it gets taxed yet again.

I am a patriot at heart, and I think the USA is a fantastic place to live. However, hearing that the "rich pay no taxes" makes me want to start swinging a tire iron.

The irony of paying a higher cigar tax is that money will now get burned up twice - once when you fire up your Ashton or Don Carlos, and again when the tax money gets frittered away on some social program you won't qualify for because your income is too high.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

Regardless of your political affiliation, it has to chafe you that a staggering percentage (the number is hotly debated, but it's somewhere between 40 and 50 percent) of "tax units" (single people or married couples) pay no taxes or receive a refund of 100% or more of tax they do pay.

That means that roughly 50% of eligible voters pay no tax, yet get a say in how the income of the other half gets spent.

Rather than just outlawing tobacco, slapping another tax on this non-necessity is another way to get into our wallets.

I own my own business. I pay tax on any money I have left over at the end of the year. I pay tax on the money I pay my employees. I pay "use" tax - every year - on stuff I already own. I pay property tax - every year - for the privilege of living in the home I bought with post-tax dollars. If I buy gas or tobacco, (I do buy the former, I don't the latter, but I digress), I pay a HUGE percentage in taxes. Finally, if I die and leave my money to someone else, it gets taxed yet again.

I am a patriot at heart, and I think the USA is a fantastic place to live. However, hearing that the "rich pay no taxes" makes me want to start swinging a tire iron.

The irony of paying a higher cigar tax is that money will now get burned up twice - once when you fire up your Ashton or Don Carlos, and again when the tax money gets frittered away on some social program you won't qualify for because your income is too high.

I am totally with you. The agony is that even though we pay for most of what is spent on others, we still get pissed on by Obama for not paying our fair share. That is such a joke. You could at least say, "hey lets tell the truth, if these birds don't keep making the jobs and dough, you slackers are done for."

It will never happen btw. It is kind of sad.