Reader comments
Cigarette tax debate framed by moral issue

uncannygunman | 8:25 a.m. Feb. 8, 2009

Don't forget the moral principle of autonomy. There's more than one moral angle to this debate.

Typical Utah behavior | 1:56 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

Mention just a word or two about possible "lost revenue" or "losing business dollars" and they'll sell their own mothers downstream to prevent the ultimate sin of losing a fast buck.

Retch.

James | 2:13 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

So how about the moral right to knowingly choose my own actions without the government making me pay exorbitant and unfair taxes? How about the morality of the government targeting a specific, unpopular segment of the population because they enjoy a LEGAL product?

For those who don't think that revenue will decrease as smokers buy their smokes in other states, EVERY SINGLE PERSON I know who smokes has said that if this bill passes, they will buy cigarettes by the case in another state. I don't blame them. I probably would as well, if not for the financial reasons, for the moral ones.

Comments continue below

somib | 2:41 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

If these tobacco representatives gave a truthful reason for working for the Merchants of Death, they would probably state the Nuremberg Defense:I vas only paying ze mortgage. Nick Naylor gives this rationalization in "Thank You For Smoking" by Christopher Buckley.

We pay for smokers | 2:51 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

To James and others who think smoking is simply a right, they also forget that government will pick up the burden of paying for medical costs of smokers. Unless James doesn't plan on using medicare and plans to fully fund his own treatment for lung cancer and heart disease, he and other smokers should buck up the money that they disproportionately use to pay for medical expenses.

James | 3:04 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

To "We pay for smokers":

This is actually the idea that I have promulgated my entire adult life: No one should have to pay for someone else. Get rid of medicare, medicaid, social security, the whole lot. I don't feel like I should have to pay for your health care. I don't feel like you should have to pay for mine, either. Drop social programs for everyone equally, and then people won't feel so bad when smokers have to cough up their own money to pay for their mistakes (pun intended).

Incidentally, besides the occasional cigar, I don't smoke. However, as long as I'm not paying for someone else's bad decisions I don't care if someone else does smoke. If I *am* paying for their health care, I feel that this is a problem with how our government wrongly distributes wealth, not with how people choose to live their lives.

RE we pay for smokers | 3:21 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

Guess what buddy I smoke and use my bike for transportation. I'd be willing to bet that despite smoking I have less blocking my arteries then you and that I have more lung power. I don't cause half the health risks smoking that you do by driving your car. I have great health insurance through my work and a nice nest egg to retire on and take care of myself with. You pollute a lot more air and therefore a lot more people with your cars emissions. Stop trying to blame anyone that smokes because guess what, in some cases you're a lot worse then them.

Anonymous | 6:23 p.m. Feb. 8, 2009

You think because you bike you probably have better lungs despite smoking!?! You're not smoking tobacco, dude, you are smoking the funny grass. By the way the concern is not necessarily what is clogging your arteries, but what is clogging your airwars. Your lungs are toast not just cause of the tobacky, but also because you are biking out in those inversions. You should have your lungs checked.

re anon @6:23 | 12:02 a.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I only smoke my cigs sorry. As for the inversion... Gar I hate it. I ride trax when it rolls into town. I do have more lung power then most people and hold more air then most (I swim laps. I can go one lap under water the whole way. Most people including nonsmokers cant. Try it some time). I have been checked though by my doctor. Thx for your concern :)

Conservative? | 11:28 a.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I thought Conservatives were against higher taxes and government intrusion. That's what I used to think, until I learned that today Conservative means less taxes and government intrusion for THEM, their Businesses and their Churches, but more and higher of the same for others, particularly those they don't like or who don't share their same views.

Tax abomination | 3:22 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I'm a lifelong Mormon. I have never smoked, never will. No one in my family smokes. So this law won't personally affect me -- except it makes me feel dirty all over!

This tax is an abomination! Have we lost our minds? To steal from these poor addicted saps, then wrap ourselves in some righteous, feelgood delusion is worse than immoral. It's downright evil!

If we were using proceeds from this hoax to treat smoking's victims or to assist quitters, there might be the slightest glimmer of redeeming value. But to steal from these poor victims just to enrich the treasury -- it's worse than wrong.

It's an abomination!

Lewis E. Galway | 5:32 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

Big tobacco, lied, "nicotine is not addictive," to our congress. They have killed and maimed many of our beloved citizens. Anything that sets them back, even makes a dent, I applaud. This is truly a "war on terror," the most addictive drug there is. I have taught smoking cessation to folks that have stopped heroin and/or cocaine addiction, and they acknowledge that nicotine/smoking (rapid inhalant delivery system), is the most addictive. It is time the American public stood up and said, "no more." But big tobacco has a lot of money, and campaign contributions can sway our reps vote on the hill. It should simply come under the Food and DRUG Administration's jurisdiction, being the very powerful and addictive DRUG that it is. Personally, as an ex-smoker, who barely managed to quit, I hope that others can find the courage, strength and faith, to break free from this horrid addiction, that saps lives, money, and plain outright kills folks via emphesema, cancer, and death. There are courses at the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society, as well at the quit (smoking) helpline, and even Nicotine Anonymous meetings available, to help anyone who wants to.

Can't wait to hear your response | 6:10 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

Yay, I like how the article shows concern from the tobacco companies to "keep" their smokers. I have warm fuzzy's all over that our legislators are getting their "bonuses" and money can buy moral ground to vote out all tobacco laws. Sweet move.

This isn't an abomination, it's a policy. Being Mormon or not makes no sense to this. Stop bringing that into the discussion. And this policy will affect you, and your future generations. The research is there, check it out: Smoking is the NUMBER ONE preventable disease. It's not that we don't want to pay for other's health care, but why should the state pay $618mill for expensive treatment when it can be prevented. Also note that smoking rates go down with tax increase, AND youth initiation goes down. What's not to love. So I feel pretty dang good that fewer youth start smoking.
Driving out of states for cigs? Incredible, isn't that why they are sold at convenience stores, because it's a convenient place to purchase them? Idaho isn't that convenient. Just saying.

Kim | 8:03 a.m. Feb. 11, 2009

The tax is not "stealing from "those poor addicted saps" the tax should go to helping them quit and pay for the over 300 million Utah tax payers shell out in medical costs attributed to smoking-related illnesses. And this doesn't even include lost productivity and the like...

You must learn the facts - i found a good site with information on this. Visit www.stopthechop.com.

Anonymous | 8:26 a.m. Feb. 11, 2009

The power of nicotine addiction speaks for itself. Wake up people everyone pays for smoking! Whether you are exposed to deadly secondhand smoke, or pay for smokers' medical care costs. No one escapes the affects of smoking in some way or another. Increase the tobacco tax...it will encourage smokers to quit and discourage people from taking up the habit!

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