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In response to
"Ahhhh I see the new proposed health care bill continues the demonization of smokers..."
by
Stephen
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I've had a question along those lines for a long time.
Posted by
Trish (aka Trisha)
Sep 16 '09, 21:30
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In several states the prisons are funded by tobacco and alcohol taxes. That was all well and good when the laws were made back in the 50s when 70% of people smoked. Now, after countless years of no smoking commercials, laws, and settlements against the tobacco companies, the rate of smoking is below 20%. So the states have to raise taxes either on a product(s) or through state income or property taxes. For several years now we've been hit with story after story about prisons falling down and being under codes and being overcrowded, yet more and more people are being forced or guilted into quitting--am I crazy or is the mojority that unaware of how taxes (especially "sin taxes") work?
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Responses:
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