Taxes, Taxes, Budget in 2010 and Smoking

The poor smoke AND drink, the rich drink. The newest, shiniest, soon to be released budget is toting all sorts of healthcare funding, some community groups are saying raise the taxes on tobacco products by 25%, that will help fund the health component of this budget.

Now let’s be fair, if you are going to raise the cost of tobacco related products by 25%, then let’s raise the cost of alcohol related products by 25% also. All’s fair in love and war.

Remember both 'bad' habits are legal, smoking is taxed already beyond what would be considered normal, and the only reason the government gets away with it, is the addictive nature of the product.

Why doesn't the government sponsor people to undergo 'treatment' to assist them in stopping, smoking and drinking? The reason why they don't, it would defeat the purpose of putting the taxes up.

They want the profits, they want you to smoke and drink, and they would be the first to complain when the margins dropped when people DID STOP drinking and smoking.

And that is all I’m going to say on this matter today!