NYS tolls and fees going DOWN?

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Originally Posted by KC2UGV

The cost of you smoking tobacco is born largely by non-smokers. How about we eliminate all taxes on tobacco, but also outlaw insurance policies covering tobacco related health issues, and forgo all tobacco subsidies.

Also, allow smokers to be sued due to injuries sustained by second-hand smoke.

You'll discover quickly the full costs of tobacco usage.

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This tax has nothing to do with preventing second hand smoke. They already have laws limiting secondhand smoke. NYC in particular has the most anti-smoking gestapo laws that I know of.

The thing is, I have no problem with any of that. If the nanny state wants to prevent people from smoking in bars, restaurants, public places thats fine. If they want to believe that well, that's fine with me. Just so long as they don't tell me I can't smoke in my own home or on my own property. Allowing smokers to be sued over secondhand smoke ? Let them prove that any single persons cigarette, cigar, pipe, or marijuana cigarette received their "injury" from second hand smoke. That's a load of bull but, in todays anti-smoker climate, who knows ? Somebody may try it.
I also have no problem with the idea of paying a tax. But a 75% tax (the highest tobacco tax in the nation) is pure simple unadulterated highway robbery.

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Originally Posted by W7XF

Cigarette Taxes by State

Looks like NYC residents would do well by taking the train into the first stop with a convenient to the station/bus stop store in NJ.

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I might just do that. The 75% tax applies to ALL OF NY state, not just NYC. I think NYC has some additional taxes on top of that. Many smokers in NY already either cross into Jersey or Connecticut. Or buy from dealers online that don;t charge the tax. It's like every other criminal act that government commits. People will find ways around it. And some people will exploit it to make money. If I can find a finer tobacconist out of state I might just travel out of state for tobacco. Only thing is I only smoke on rare occasions so a tin lasts me a very long time. Paying the tax is not too much of a burden for me. But I pity those who smoke more frequently and need to buy often.

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Originally Posted by n2ize

This tax has nothing to do with preventing second hand smoke. They already have laws limiting secondhand smoke. NYC in particular has the most anti-smoking gestapo laws that I know of.

The thing is, I have no problem with any of that. If the nanny state wants to prevent people from smoking in bars, restaurants, public places thats fine. If they want to believe that well, that's fine with me. Just so long as they don't tell me I can't smoke in my own home or on my own property. Allowing smokers to be sued over secondhand smoke ? Let them prove that any single persons cigarette, cigar, pipe, or marijuana cigarette received their "injury" from second hand smoke. That's a load of bull but, in todays anti-smoker climate, who knows ? Somebody may try it.
I also have no problem with the idea of paying a tax. But a 75% tax (the highest tobacco tax in the nation) is pure simple unadulterated highway robbery.

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The taxes cover the inevitable health care costs related to smoking.

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Originally Posted by n2ize

This tax has nothing to do with preventing second hand smoke. They already have laws limiting secondhand smoke. NYC in particular has the most anti-smoking gestapo laws that I know of.

The thing is, I have no problem with any of that. If the nanny state wants to prevent people from smoking in bars, restaurants, public places thats fine. If they want to believe that well, that's fine with me. Just so long as they don't tell me I can't smoke in my own home or on my own property. Allowing smokers to be sued over secondhand smoke ? Let them prove that any single persons cigarette, cigar, pipe, or marijuana cigarette received their "injury" from second hand smoke. That's a load of bull but, in todays anti-smoker climate, who knows ? Somebody may try it.
I also have no problem with the idea of paying a tax. But a 75% tax (the highest tobacco tax in the nation) is pure simple unadulterated highway robbery.

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It's been known for a long, long time (I learned it in college economics in '68 -- when it was alread a "known" phenomenon) that tobacco taxes are very, very efficient taxes. The story goes that Britain thought it was going to do smokers a "favor" by encouraging people not to smoke with a very hefty tax on tabacco. Did people quit? Nope. The government got lots of $$$$$$ from the taxes.

Don't let the lying politicians fool you. Tobacco taxes have nothing whatsoever to do with health. They have everything to do with unfailry taxing a group that has been proclaimed by the government to be scumbags to be oppressed. THEY know they're going to get big bucks. THEY know that because of the tyranny of the majority those usurious tobacco taxes will not have any impact whatsoever at the ballot box. THEY know that the nanny state is something that is easy to foist on us with this BS moralizing on the part of the government.

I've heard that those electronic cigarettes have been banned in some places. Those things emit nothing but harmless steam...there are NO health implicatiions whatsoever to the user or to those around him/her. IMHO, this PROVES the BS "moral judgement" that the government is encouraging to divide and conquer.

And, BTW, the bar/party crowd had been decimated by the no smoking in bars law. The cool people have pretty much stopped going out, only to be replaced by mayor mike wannabes. And those people are soooooooo uninteresting, plain vanilla nothings when you get up close.

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Originally Posted by W1GUH

It's been known for a long, long time (I learned it in college economics in '68 -- when it was alread a "known" phenomenon) that tobacco taxes are very, very efficient taxes. The story goes that Britain thought it was going to do smokers a "favor" by encouraging people not to smoke with a very hefty tax on tabacco. Did people quit? Nope. The government got lots of $$$$$$ from the taxes.

Don't let the lying politicians fool you. Tobacco taxes have nothing whatsoever to do with health. They have everything to do with unfailry taxing a group that has been proclaimed by the government to be scumbags to be oppressed. THEY know they're going to get big bucks. THEY know that because of the tyranny of the majority those usurious tobacco taxes will not have any impact whatsoever at the ballot box. THEY know that the nanny state is something that is easy to foist on us with this BS moralizing on the part of the government.

I've heard that those electronic cigarettes have been banned in some places. Those things emit nothing but harmless steam...there are NO health implicatiions whatsoever to the user or to those around him/her. IMHO, this PROVES the BS "moral judgement" that the government is encouraging to divide and conquer.

And, BTW, the bar/party crowd had been decimated by the no smoking in bars law. The cool people have pretty much stopped going out, only to be replaced by mayor mike wannabes. And those people are soooooooo uninteresting, plain vanilla nothings when you get up close.

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There you go again with the government conspiracy crap.

Sorry, but I have a hard time generating any boo hoo for smokers. It's a filthy, invasive habit that's not only costs the usres but society in general through increased sickness by uninsured smokers.

We've been smoke free in restaurants out here since the 80's. It's great. I don't smell like a pack o' bros after eating anymore since I don't have to put up with the clown next me who has to light up the second he's done eating. You really notice how noxious smoking is when you go to Nevada. The casinos are nothing but gas chambers. No thanks.

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Originally Posted by nx6d

There you go again with the government conspiracy crap.

Sorry, but I have a hard time generating any boo hoo for smokers. It's a filthy, invasive habit that's not only costs the usres but society in general through increased sickness by uninsured smokers.

We've been smoke free in restaurants out here since the 80's. It's great. I don't smell like a pack o' bros after eating anymore since I don't have to put up with the clown next me who has to light up the second he's done eating. You really notice how noxious smoking is when you go to Nevada. The casinos are nothing but gas chambers. No thanks.

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So how's your broken nose and black eyes? Your repaired teeth doing well?

Or are you, too, suffering from the Nicotine Starvation Syndrome?

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Originally Posted by W1GUH

So how's your broken nose and black eyes? Your repaired teeth doing well?

Or are you, too, suffering from the Nicotine Starvation Syndrome?

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What?

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Originally Posted by nx6d

There you go again with the government conspiracy crap.

Sorry, but I have a hard time generating any boo hoo for smokers. It's a filthy, invasive habit that's not only costs the usres but society in general through increased sickness by uninsured smokers.

We've been smoke free in restaurants out here since the 80's. It's great. I don't smell like a pack o' bros after eating anymore since I don't have to put up with the clown next me who has to light up the second he's done eating. You really notice how noxious smoking is when you go to Nevada. The casinos are nothing but gas chambers. No thanks.

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It's not "conspiracy crap", its reality. There is an all out war against smokers.

In my case I have no problem with them telling me I can't smoke in restarants, public buildings , private buildings, etc. If that is how they want it in this politically correct world then so be it. I also have no problem with paying a tax.

But it doesn't stop there. The anti-smoking gestapo now wants to ban me from enjoying a smoke outdoors as well. They are pushing for bans on smoking in my car, in public housing and, if they get their way, pretty much anywhere that anyone else might have a any possible chance of noticing my smoke. And the 75% tax is pure theft. I can understand a tax but 75% is criminal and purely discriminatory.

Then there is the pure hatred of smokers that is evolving. They accuse us of being a drain on the economy ? Uh, excuse me... at a hefty 75% tax I don't think so.

And what about respecting a persons right to enjoyment and satisfaction ? Why can't a person have the right to enjoy a smoke without being labelled a drain on society. If we are going to look at things that way then anyone who engages in any activity that imposes risks should be labelled accordingly. Why can't people simply learn to respect one another without trying to screw each one over. None of us are perfect. Some of us smoke, some drink, some swear, some gamble, some use drugs, some are coffee addicts, etc. Why can;t we just accept the fact that as people we do things, sometimes not always the healthiest or best things but, what is perfect in life. Why must everybody feel guilty if their life doesn't fit into some politically correct framework that somebody else created in their own image of what they feel "human perfection" should resemble ?

Even my Mom who hates smoking feels that the 75% tax is criminal and is taking terrible advantage of people.

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Originally Posted by W1GUH

It's been known for a long, long time (I learned it in college economics in '68 -- when it was alread a "known" phenomenon) that tobacco taxes are very, very efficient taxes. The story goes that Britain thought it was going to do smokers a "favor" by encouraging people not to smoke with a very hefty tax on tabacco. Did people quit? Nope. The government got lots of $$$$$$ from the taxes.

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+1000000000000000000 exactly. They know they are going to collect the revenue.

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I've heard that those electronic cigarettes have been banned in some places. Those things emit nothing but harmless steam...there are NO health implicatiions whatsoever to the user or to those around him/her. IMHO, this PROVES the BS "moral judgement" that the government is encouraging to divide and conque

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Very typical of those who want to control others. Even when a safer and far less intrusive alternative comes along the Nanny Nation crowd has to come along and condemn it...for our own good.

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And, BTW, the bar/party crowd had been decimated by the no smoking in bars law. The cool people have pretty much stopped going out, only to be replaced by mayor mike wannabes. And those people are soooooooo uninteresting, plain vanilla nothings when you get up close.

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I was downtown one night not long ago. All the cool people are gone. Now its all the overpriced trendy gimmick crap. Its smoke free but its also free of any of the cool, down to earth people who used to be around. People who were not perfect,people who didn't fit the trendy + politically correct model we see today that has been shoved down our throats but, they were cool and intelligent people to hang with and talk to. far and few between these days.

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Originally Posted by KC2UGV

I don't think you're supporting my portion of the state very much. In fact, you derive most of your cheap electricity from my area.

Maybe it's time we leave NYC roads to NYC to improve? Do you pay for my roads to be maintained here? I don't think so, not on a large scale.

If you don't like the high tolls, then stop using the facilities. Plain and simple. Walk, bike, or mass transit. No tolls paid then.

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Actually, we've been a donor city for decades now. In fact, the State Supreme court even sided with us and has required the state to give back billions of dollars that was sucked out of the city for upstate education - in EVERY county. We've yet to get it and I doubt if we will in my lifetime.

As far as using mass transit, I do. Owning a car is madness in a city like this and I speak from a decade of experience.

Still, I think I pay for those tolls despite that. In fact I'm sure of it.