|
|
|
|
Share/Bookmark this Topic:
|
| Message |
Author |
by JohnC
on Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:31 am |
|
|
|
JohnC
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Dec 23, 2004
Posts: 334
|
| |
Back to top |
|
|
| |
|
by Slearwig
on Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:44 am |
|
Quote: Cigarette sales at Indian smoke shops are a big business.
Well, not any more.... Geronimo!
Seriously, are they that stupid or are they really State Bureaucrats who are only posing as a separate sovereign People in order to confuse the locals? If I visit Canada or Mexico and buy cigs, do I have to pay Uncle Sam too? |
|
|
Slearwig
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Mar 28, 2009
Posts: 213
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by libertarian99
on Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:51 pm |
|
| Something tells me a few individual palms were greased in order to get cooperation from the Indians, who stand to lose a small fortune if their cigarette sales go elsewhere. The tendency of individuals to act in their own best interest should never be underestimated, especially in these uncertain economic times. If you could have personal financial security for life, would you turn that down to protect someone else's smoke shop? |
|
|
libertarian99
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: May 01, 2009
Posts: 453
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Pete Gatti
on Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:27 pm |
|
Slearwig wrote: Quote: Cigarette sales at Indian smoke shops are a big business.
Well, not any more.... Geronimo!
I use to live in Coconut Creek a few years ago. Before I started RMO 10 years ago, I bought from the Seminole Indians. Didn't matter what time of day, there was always a line of cars stretching down the block waiting to buy cigs. They were making so much money they opened up a gambling casino right across the street.
Well they just gave away their edge. And if their cig shack was any kind of a draw, they'll lose casino action as well. Nothing about this makes sense. |
|
|
Pete Gatti
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Mar 26, 2009
Posts: 222
Location: Dade City, Florida
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Slearwig
on Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:20 am |
|
libertarian99 wrote: Something tells me a few individual palms were greased in order to get cooperation from the Indians, who stand to lose a small fortune if their cigarette sales go elsewhere. The tendency of individuals to act in their own best interest should never be underestimated, especially in these uncertain economic times. If you could have personal financial security for life, would you turn that down to protect someone else's smoke shop?
Yeah, well whoever it is with the greasy palms obviously doesn't have a piece of the smoke shops, and that fact has got to be a conflict within the tribe and the people running the stores.
I want to make clear that I'm not calling the people stupid. It's because I care and this development pains me. I wouldn't let this crap happen. |
|
|
Slearwig
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Mar 28, 2009
Posts: 213
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by libertarian99
on Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:47 pm |
|
This paragaph from the article might explain why the Indian reservations would go along with it.
"He said the tribe is hoping to establish an agreement on how to divvy up cigarette tax revenues with the state, a similar concept to the gambling compact now being negotiated with Gov. Charlie Crist. "While that process is coming together, I think the tribe just in good faith has moved ahead to charge the tax," he said."
This paragraph isn't totally clear, but it could mean that the reservations will get to keep a portion of the state tax they collect.
Are federal taxes charged on these cigarettes? In other words, if the state tax is charged, will it still be cheaper to buy on the reservation due to the absence of federal tax?
I don't know about the Indian reservations in Florida, but my niece is married to a Navajo Indian and they lived on a reservation in Arizona for a number of years. The people there are poverty-stricken and alcoholism is rampant. A little bribery would go a long way in this environment.
It all sucks because the government is bound and determined to rob us, and apparently they have all day to conjure up new and better ways to do so.
For example, here's a link to an interesting story that happened in Indiana:
http://www.news-tribune.net/statenews/local_story_196122840.html
What do you suppose will happen to those 11 million cigarettes? Someone is probably getting a free lifetime supply. And what about the 5.5 million cigs going to Kentucky? What's the point of that? Are they for family members somewhere in Kentucky who would like a lifetime supply also? |
|
|
libertarian99
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: May 01, 2009
Posts: 453
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Slearwig
on Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:52 am |
|
| Whoah, doesn't the reservation already receive revenue from the shops and casino? |
|
|
Slearwig
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Mar 28, 2009
Posts: 213
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by runamok
on Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:33 am |
|
libertarian99 wrote: Are federal taxes charged on these cigarettes?
Yes they are and that's true throughout the U.S.
The only price advantage the Native's have (or had) are state excise taxes. Some states have unsuccessfully tried to convince the Natives to charge the tax but they wouldn't have to turn the revenue over to the state. They could just keep it for themselves. The Natives have always rejected this because they know they lose their competitive advantage and sales volume would plummet.
This Florida situation is interesting. I don't think we're getting the whole story. |
|
|
runamok
Smoking Lobby Sponsor
Joined: Dec 20, 2004
Posts: 1288
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by libertarian99
on Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:04 pm |
|
Slearwig wrote: Whoah, doesn't the reservation already receive revenue from the shops and casino? |
|
|
libertarian99
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: May 01, 2009
Posts: 453
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
|
