Dear Editor:
After reading the Oct. 11 article about all the different proposals for raising tobacco taxes I feel I must insert a couple of "politically incorrect" thoughts.
I saw the chart with all of the states and their tobacco taxes listed with the obvious implication that Missouri must raise their tobacco tax. We can't allow ourselves to be lower than every other state. It's unseemly. That's when I heard the voice of my dear, departed mother saying, "If your friend jumped off the cliff would you do it too?"
I also noticed that the entire article was just about the different ways to get those darned tobacco users to cough up more cash. I don't suppose anyone considered that the vast majority of tobacco users are the poor did they? I can almost hear the outcry that this tax will cause some of those rascals to give up tobacco but I'm guessing that won't be the case. I suspect you'll see them give up that lottery ticket (also purchased mostly by the poor), first.
Let's say I'm wrong on that and thousands of folks gave up tobacco because of the tax. Doesn't that mess up the revenue numbers for those who are so excited to collect that money? Do you suppose the wonderful programs that benefit from this tax will tolerate a cut because the tax made a ton of people quit?
Just my untaxed 2 cents.
Movie title
Grade: grade here
Cast: cast here
Director: director here
Rating: rating here
Running time: minutes
Showtimes and Ticket Info