|
|
Share/Bookmark this Topic:
|
| Message |
Author |
by Christy M
on Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:10 pm |
|
I think instead of debating, we should be uniting. We smokers pay more taxes than non smokers and yet we have no representation as to how those monies are spent. "Taxation without representation is tyranny." James Otis American Revolutionary Patriot 1776
I think our taxes should go to our veterans. If our government can force restaurant and bar owners to ban smoking from their establishments, they can force hospitals & psychiatrists to give our veterans free care. What good are our "Support our Troops" car magnets if we don't take care of those who have given up so much to take care of us? Why should a person wounded in the war have to go to a government run facility? Why can't their hometowns take care of them where they will be surrounded by family and friends to help them heal? Whether we agree with the war or not, the point is that these men and women went into horror to protect us from it. Our money should go to our fallen Patriots' families.
I've written President George Bush, Vice President Cheney, US Department of Revenue, the Governor of Oregon, all Oregon representatives, and the Oregon Department of Revenue. They're not going to listen to just me. I need your help.
Let's unite and do something good with the money the government takes from us. Please join me in writing your state and federal government. Let's be heard.
Thank you.
Chris |
|
|
Christy M
Newbie
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 3
|
| |
Back to top |
|
|
| |
|
by charlie
on Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:58 pm |
|
Christy M wrote: I think instead of debating, we should be uniting. We smokers pay more taxes than non smokers and yet we have no representation as to how those monies are spent. "Taxation without representation is tyranny." James Otis American Revolutionary Patriot 1776
I just heard a town hall meeting McCain had with Lance Armstrong, are you aware there is very little lung cancer research being done because, it is caused by smoking and smokers do it by choice, therefore no need to fund research? I was stunned...seems to me they'd be funding all types of cancer research since they don't really have a clue yet as to what causes it...and there is also a link between liquor and cancer...I mean the politicians need to get real about this whole topic...if they don't know what causes cancer the least they could do is fund some research on it...
I also heard another guy on Fox, he was expounding on a Smoke Free America...he needs to get real fast...lol |
|
|
charlie
Newbie
Joined: Jun 19, 2008
Posts: 24
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Christy M
on Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:10 pm |
|
Hi Charlie! Thanks for responding so quickly to my post. You've encouraged me!
Yea...smoke free America...what a dream! Wow! Kids can starve and soldiers from Iraq can commit suicide because they couldn't get help in a gov run institution and murders can happen in our streets and folks can abuse their children and other peoples' children, but by golly! No one will be smokin!
My point isn't so much my rights as a smoker. (I quit for 4 years & the smell of cigarettes were kinda stinkie to me. I started smoking again & now I smoke cigars!) My issue is that as a smoker, I pay more taxes than non smokers and I want representation in the government that won't even let me smoke outside in some places! Eeesh! If I want to give myself lung cancer or any other health issue because I smoke, that is my choice. I pay for the smokes and I pay the taxes on them. Do hanggliders, hikers, rock climbers, campers, fat folks at buffet pay more taxes? Nope. So I should have some say in how my taxes are spent! And I want my money to go to the men and women that fight for my freedom to have a say in how my taxes are spent! Do you agree with me?
Thanks again for getting back to me, Charlie! Have a good day!
Chris |
|
|
Christy M
Newbie
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 3
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Christy M
on Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:07 pm |
|
Dear Chris,
It sounds as if many of the people you have contacted are the right people since “public policy matters” are generally the responsibility of our elected officials. I wish you the best in your efforts to let your thoughts be known.
You included a question about the amount of (income) revenue generated by Oregon’s cigarette tax. That information is both forecast and tracked over each 2-year budget cycle. I’ve included that information below. It does change (up or down) from year to year based upon various factors such as the economy, smoking cessation trends, tax rate changes, etc.
Cigarette Tax Revenue from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007 $472.8 million
Tobacco Tax Revenue from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007 62.2 million
TOTAL $535.0 million
This information is tracked by the Office of Economic Analysis during each 2-year budget cycle in their “revenue forecast.” I don’t know if they publish the final results, but I believe they update their forecast of revenues each quarter for the current budget cycle. Their website is:
http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/OEA/
Sincerely,
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: Christy Ray [mailto:phip48@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 1:26 PM
To: JONES Don A
Subject: Re: Question about representation and taxes
I'm sorry I wasn't clear..and thank you for getting back to me so quickly.
I've been emailing everyone...President George Bush, Vice President Cheney, our Governor, all the state representatives, the US Department of Revenue. My main issue is that smokers pay more taxes than non smokers and we have no say in how our money is spent.
I want our money to go to veterans. I don't want to whine about my rights. I want to have a say in how my "extra" taxes are spent. I want veterans to have free health and mental care in their hometowns...surrounded by family and friends as they heal. I want our money to go to the families of our fallen patriots.
Of course, it would be nice to be able to smoke at the airport after passing through security, but honestly, if I can help get our vets taken care of, I'll gladly go without a puff when I change planes!
Again, I'm sorry for not being more clear and sounding like a whiner. Also...thank you so very much for getting back to me so quickly! This "quest" has been somewhat discouraging as no one is responding to my emails (the other emails I sent out were more clearly stated and I even quoted President George Washington and James Otis! Smiling. I think the email I sent you must have been one of the last ones, so I was weary and maybe a little lazy in my writing! Sorry about that!)
What was the total amount of income for the state of Oregon from smoker's taxes?
I hope you and your family are happy and well.
Chris |
|
|
Christy M
Newbie
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 3
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by charlie
on Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:52 pm |
|
Christy M wrote: Do you agree with me?
Chris
I say we give half the salary of each congressperson to the military and then spend the cig taxes on cancer research...they are now blaming cell phones for brain cancer...I'm telling you, if someone doesn't do some serious research on cancer, they'll be blaming everything for causing it...the only way to stop that is with some solid scientific research into cancer! |
|
|
charlie
Newbie
Joined: Jun 19, 2008
Posts: 24
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by runamok
on Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:10 pm |
|
| How 'bout we get rid of the cig taxes altogether and let everyone's taxes pay for cancer research. |
|
|
runamok
Smoking Lobby Sponsor
Joined: Dec 20, 2004
Posts: 1040
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by charlie
on Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:10 pm |
|
runamok wrote: How 'bout we get rid of the cig taxes altogether and let everyone's taxes pay for cancer research.
sounds good to me....:) |
|
|
charlie
Newbie
Joined: Jun 19, 2008
Posts: 24
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Marella
on Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:38 pm |
|
Christy, I agree, if we pay the higher taxes, we should have a right to say where those taxes are used/spent.
I want to make a comment on Charlie's statement as well. UNREAL about the cancer research issue. How can they say that, yet there have been studies and news releases about how the tobacco plant may be a cancer treatment http://www.lockergnome.com/forsythe/2008/07/22/possible-cancer-treatment-involves-tobacco-plant/?
Society so wants someone to blame, and unfortunately they do it without accurate knowledge. |
|
|
Marella
Newbie
Joined: Jul 25, 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Minnesota
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
