New Tobacco Taxes

Smokers country-wide have been upset and angry with the huge increase in tobacco taxes. Every state is seeing these huge, almost sudden changes that have cigarette, cigar, and all other tobacco related product prices on the rise. This tax increase, according to the NCSL, has "dual interests, raising state revenue and achieving health public policy goals such as discouraging use of tobacco." (From www.ncsl.org/programs/health/Tobacco_Tax_bill09.htm) This does make sense, considering the disturbing amount of deaths caused by cigarette smoke, not just in the USA, but in the entire world. However, raising taxes on anything that's in popular demand is sure to cause quite a stir in the public eye.

I, myself, am a smoker, and due to the fact that I'm one of the countless victims of this understimulated economy, the raised taxes on my cigs are way too high for me! So, I have decided to stop smoking. I would imagine this is exactly what the NCSL was aiming for, and if that truly is the case, then perhaps it is more of a blessing than just another tax increase from our desperate superiors. For those who don't know, the NCSL is the National Conference of State Legislatures. The NCSL does all the needed research necessary to make decisions based on what's good for the greater population of our nation, and for the greater good of our own economy. With that being said, it becomes obvious that people have conflicting opinions on this raised cigarette tax.

Though this new tax has caused the less fortunate and/or less funded to quit smoking, we can't forget that people in our country have the right to make their own decisions as to what they do with their bodies. If a person should chose to smoke, then they will smoke, not only because it can provide some stress relief, satiate a craving, or get them through their break, but also because it is their right as an American citizen to do as they please. Naturally, there are people who claim that the NCSL has proposed this not-so-modest tax increase on tobacco products because they know there are countless people that smoke, and they won't quit, so why not milk them for all they've got? Despite how it might sound, this is a valid opinion.

So, is this tobacco tax increase a blessing or a curse? According to many of the new tax supporters, this tax will help decrease the number of underage smokers, preventing them from affording the packs themselves, and also preventing those irresponsible adults from sneaking a pack for them. This precaution does show results, and the results were immediate. Less children and young adults are smoking because of the price, and because they simply can't get a hold of what we're now calling; "the million dollar pack of cigarettes".

The new tax, especially implemented at this time in our country's history, has had sudden and extreme effects on smokers of all ages. There are some angry people, but these angry people (myself included) will end up adding several extra years to our lifespans by simply denying our cravings, and learning to quit the addiction while the opportunity has presented itself. Underage smoking is on the quick decline, hundreds of people are now getting over their addiction to cigarettes, and we all have more money in our pockets. Even without being able to celebrate with a cigarette, I still firmly believe that this tax increase on tobacco products is far more of a blessing than a curse.