Big Tobacco to smokers: Bend over

I post regularly on the stop smoking thread about my success and my failures. And I text or talk to AA whenever I need to, since he is really the only local person I have that truly knows me and the struggle I face with this every day.

And I do appreciate the well wishes I've gotten here. I will take whatever support I can get, even if it is from anonymous posters on the internet.

 

What will all the liberal politicians do when people no longer smoke -- and they no longer get their big windfalls in tobacco taxes to fund their newest pork project?

In Obama's America a hammer and sickle will soon replace stars and stripes.....

 

Beautiful. Thanks for stopping by zag.

 

You are welcome -- I just hope some politician has the stones to cut the budget by whatever amount of money in tax revenue is lost once the golden goose of smoking taxes expire......

Oh wait, then they'll just tax booze or something else under the guise of greater good.......

 

Hyperbolic much?

 

I don't know am I? I mean, the guy wants to run the banking, mortgage, auto, health care industries from Washington D.C. and believes that a sin tax is the best way to raise money, even if it destroys an entire industry.......

 

Go back to the Politics board, zag.

Back on topic:

I quit my smokeless tobacco habit 5 weeks ago, and it sure as hell wasn't/isn't easy. Even though it was before the tax hike, money definitely was a factor. With the way things are going in this business, I just couldn't justify spending that money anymore. And having done some form of tobacco since middle school I knew the longer I waited the more some health issue would pop up related to it. My epiphany was when I got a small sore in my mouth that turned out to be just irritation. But it scared the hell out of me, since I'm a worrier by nature anyway.

Liesl, I really hope you have your breakthrough soon. I have read about your efforts over on the other thread and I know you're having a tough time with it. But I have to say that you need to stop telling yourself you can't do it. You really can if you put your mind to it. But it is not easy at all. Get the patch or gum or one of the prescriptions that spnited mentioned. They will help, but you're not going to quit until you make up your mind that you can and will do it. I have tried several times, and it was just too easy to say I could wait a few more weeks. At some point you'll have to decide you're doing it now.

 

Don't tell me where the fuck to go.

This is a political issue, regardless of how much you don't want it to be.

And the way smokers and tobacco in general are treated in this country is a disgrace -- this is still America and still a free country, though the longer this goes, the more expensive it will get......

And in honor of this thread I'm going to light up a big fat cigar and sit on my porch and enjoy it, just for you.

 

intended for nobody in particular: holier than thou assholes have always amused me.

 

When the wife and I were on a cruise for our honeymoon, the shop on board had Marlboros at $91 for five cartons. So that's 50 packs and averages less than $2 a pack. Dirt cheap.

I saw a woman walk out of there with 10 of those suckers. Almost $1000.

 

If she lives in the hood, she could turn them into about $4000

 

Well, you are right about one thing, which I guess is a positive step for you. This is, in part, a political issue. But it is also a health issue and a moral one.

Again, re-read the story. The prices on cigarettes go up, the amount of smoking people do goes down. That's a good thing. Period.

Zag, I'm surprised at you. I would think a man with an ego the size of yours would be troubled by the thought of being used by the tobacco companies. They are the ones taking advantage of smokers, much moreso than the government. I would think you would have the sense to be embarrassed by that. Perhaps I expect too much from you.