http://farm.ewg.org/progdetail.php?fips=00000&progcode=tobacco
Could government cut tobacco use by ending this subsidiy?
I don't think Government should worry about the personal use of Tobacco.
In any case, the Subsidies make it appear as if the tobacco is cheaper than it is, then they get to tax the hell out of it to "Incentivize" people to quit.
The hardcore smokers pay the price - in any case they are a much maligned minority, so people see the government "Sin" tax on Cigarettes as justified.
For your own good etc. etc. Nanny State in action!
Especially with socilaised medecine, where smokers are seen to take more that their "fair" share of scarce medical resources - and therefore should pay up front through higher taxes.
What happenend to
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need?
Although I highly doubt the taxes get directed into a special account more likely they go into a general revenues slush fund that goes to whatever boondoggle the government central planners have in store for us.
In any case Middle of the road leads to socialism!
I can no longer afford huge cigarette taxes on top of all the other government taxes and scams.
So yeah, it's definitely possible for the government to "help" people quit smoking.
Visit An Indian Reserve! $10 for 200 smokes - and they are making a profit on that!
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Redmond, very interesting. It appears the government is involved in many levels of the tobacco industry. They give some sellers different advantages; tax it; subsidize it. Interesting; yet all so very stupid.
very interesting. It appears the government is involved in many levels of the tobacco industry. They give some sellers different advantages; tax it; subsidize it. Interesting; yet all so very stupid.
Government does this all the time - they have one department - agriculture - subsidising tobacco farmers.
Another department - whether at federal, state, or local level taxing the products.
Another department, paying for advertising to tell you why you should not smoke.
Another department, hiring more police to combat the rise in contraband cigarettes driven by the excessive cost created by the massive government taxation.
Once a disparity between cost of production and cost of retail is great enough due to government regulations, taxes and laws is created, you have defacto prohibition.
The fact that Natives can sell 200 cigarettes for $10 and still turn a profit, means that the $88 you are paying for a carton is almost certainly due exclusively to government taxation.
Simply look at Alcohol prohibition in the 20s and 30s, and drug prohibition now.
The cost to grow something such as Marijuana, if it is grown in open air, is incredibly low.
the cost to purchase a gram from a dealer might be between $10 and $20.
You do the math.
You are talking about the incredible, astonishing, mind-boggling mish-mash of programs that cancel out each other's affect. That is probably just about everything. Environmentalists still haven't caught on to municipal garbage collection, sadly