Comments on: Stogie News: SCHIP Cigar Tax Increase to be Unveiled Today

By: Stogie Commentary: Obama’s Tobacco Tax Job Killer

Stogie Commentary: Obama’s Tobacco Tax Job Killer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:43:58 +0000

[...] Obama said in his speech that he would visit Tampa, Florida to have a townhall on the issue today. I can think of no better place for such an event. Tampa, after all, has been ground zero for the devastation caused by the SCHIP tobacco tax increase. [...]

By: Stogie Commentary: More Industry Consolidation Coming?

Stogie Commentary: More Industry Consolidation Coming? — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:56:49 +0000

[...] are also plenty of reasons for such consolidation. Larger companies can better adjust to the new tax and regulatory burdens that cigars now face and combining sales forces and distribution channels [...]

By: coolerking

coolerking — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:22:28 +0000

This is a regressive tax on lower incomes. 40 cents on a $2 cigar is a 20% tax. 40 cents on a $10 cigar is only a 4% tax. So the rich feel nothing while the middle class feels the bite. Thanks a lot Democrats! The working class needs to figure out these people are not your friends.

By: DJ Maduro

DJ Maduro — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:16:42 +0000

Have any of the “so-called” cigar smokers above who insist they are ambivalent to paying a little more to “help the children” seen what has happened to the cigarette industry in the past 20 years? The boobs in Washington and most state houses will come back to the well time and time again because it is people like those above who lack the intellect and backbone to recognize that one of their true pleasures in life represents a revenue stream ripe for the sucking. Smoke ‘em while you got ‘em, boys!

By: SCHIP Cigar Tax Increase Unveiled @ Cigar Inspector

SCHIP Cigar Tax Increase Unveiled @ Cigar Inspector — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:23:14 +0000

[...] more information please visit The Stogie Guys who are (as always) first to reveal legislation-related cigar news. If you enjoyed this article, [...]

By: Syrinxx’s Cigar Shack » Rocky Patel event at the local shop

Syrinxx’s Cigar Shack » Rocky Patel event at the local shop — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:27:51 +0000

[...] stuff like an HDTV and a nice RP humidor. Until today I’d completely forgotten about the SCHIP tax increase poised to hit in just a few days. I’m really not opposed to some taxes, but taxing [...]

By: Dorris S. Stone

Dorris S. Stone — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:54:29 +0000

TO:
comment number 68 by: Stogie Commentary: Saving a Few Bucks
March 9th, 2009 at 12:24 am

[...] with rising cigar prices, rising cigar taxes and rising economic anxiety, most of us are looking for ways to save money. With that in mind, here [...]
HERE WHAT???
WANT TO SAVE SOME MONEY, QUIT. I DID AND IMMEDIATELY HAD $20.00 MORE A WEEK. THAT’S $1,040 A YEAR. LIKE GETTING NEARLY $.50 AN HOUR RAISE.
I REALLY GET DOWN ON POLITICIANS AS EVERYBODY CAN SEE. WELL, HERES MORE.
THINK OF THIS: NOT A SINGLE POLITICIAN OR A SINGLE ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, WILL LOSE A JOB, A H0ME, A CAR, A COLLEGE EDUCATION, MEDICAL COVERAGE, INSURANCE, FOOD, HEALTH NEEDS, LIFE ESSENTIALS OR ANYTHING ELSE WHATSOEVER DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS IN AMERICA. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF EVERYTHING THEY NEED OR SIMPLY WANT. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND AS MUCH AS ALWAYS. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TRAVEL AND OR VACATION EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD. (THAT’S VERY OFTEN AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE.) THEY WILL NOT SUFFER ONE BIT, BUT WILL ACTUALLY PROSPER. POLIITICANS ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL PROSPER IN GOOD AND BAD TIMES. THEY ARE INSULATED FROM PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FINANCES BECAUSE THEY ARE POLITICIANS.
CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE THEY ARE OR ARE GETTING READY TO BUY TREMENDOUS CHUNKS OF AMERICA. AT THE RIGHT TIME THEY WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF EXPERIENCED AND PROVEN MULTI MILLIONAIRS AND MULTI BILLIONAIRS AND DO JUST THAT. BUT IT WILL NEVER BE KNOWN FOR IT WILL BE HIDDEN IN OTHERS NAMES OR FAKE NAMES AND STORED IN OFF SHORE ACCOUNTS. “BELIEVE IT OR NOT” THEY ARE NOT FOOLS BUT MOST ARE EXTREMELY GREEDY. THAT’S WHY THEY USE TAXPAYERS MONEY INSTEAD OF THEIR OWN. LOOK AT POLOSI. SHE DEMANDED A 757 TO TAKE HER BACK AND FORTH FROM CA TO DC. COMMERICAL FLIGHTS ARE WHAT SHE AND ALL OTHER POLITICIANS, EXCEPT THE TWO PRESIDENTS, SHOULD BE USING. NOBODY WANTS TO HARM THE OLD LADY SO SHE WOULD BE SAFE ON COMMERICAL, SO WOULD THE OTHERS. (AS MILITARY MEMBERS MUST DO, SHE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO LIVE WHERE SHE WORKS OR WORK WHERE SHE LIVES, ALONG WITH FAMILY, OR LEAVE FAMILY IN CA AND VISIT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, OR WORSE YET ONCE IN 15 MTHS.) SAVE THE COUNTRY SOME MONEY WITH COMMERICAL FLIGHTS. NO, NO, NO, WITH COMMERICAL SHE COULD NOT FLY HER FAMILY AND FREINDS AROUND. AND AFER TAKING OFFICE SHE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO TOUR THE WORLD AND MEET WITH LESS THAN FRIENDLY TO THE U.S. COUNTRIES LEADERS EXPRESSING TO THEM AND AGREEING WITH THEM THAT THE U.S. WAS WRONG ON MANY ITEMS OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUE. I CONSIDER THAT ACT AS ONE OF A TRAITOR.
SAVING MONEY: THAT IS NOT DONE WHEN THE U.S. BUILDS A 50 TO 100 MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL IN IRAQ FJOR VISITING POLITICIANS, U.S. AND OTHERS. AND IT ISN’T SAVING U.S. ANY MONEY WHEN POLITICIANS SPEND BILLIONS A YEAR GALLAVANTING AROND THE GLOBE UNDER THE THINLY VEILED DISGUISE OF “WORK”. GOING TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN TO “VISIT THE TROOPS”. CAN’T STACK THAT BS ANY HIGHER, IT REACHED ITS ZENITH DECADES AGO, JUST AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS INVENTED. WHEN THEY SPEND 8HRS VISITING WITH COACHED REAR ECHELON TROOPS AND FOUR DAYS IN COUNTRY WITH THE GENERALS ITS PRUE AND SIMPLE BS. A VACATION AND THEY CAN BRAG THAT THEY VISITED THE TROOPS. THEY DON’T HAVE A DAY WITHOUT A SHOWER, A SOFT BED OR GREAT FOOD. THOUSANDS OF TROOPS ARE TAKEN FROM NORMAL DUTIES TO PROVIDE GROUND TRANSPORTATION AND SECURITY. TWENTY FOUR SEVEN THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO JETS HIGH AND TWO OR THREE HELICOPTERS LOW IN THE AIR AT ALL TIMES THEY ARE IN COUNTRY. I SUGGEST THIS, WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN COUNTRY GIVE THEM A FULL LOAD OF COMBAT GEAR WITH RIFLE AND KEEP THEM AT A FORWARD OPERATIONS BASE FOR A WEEK AND SEE IF THEY EVER WANT TO DO IT AGAIN OR DO IT THE FIRST TIME. “EITHER THAT OR STAY THE HELL HOME”.
TRY TO KEEP YOUR JOB AND PAYING TAXES. WE HAVE OUR ESTEMEED POLITICIANS TO CARE FOR AND SUPPORT AND ALSO WE HAVE TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT HALF THE WORLD. WE EVEN SEND A LOT OF MONEY EACH YEAR TO RUSSIA AND NORTH KOREA.

By: Dorris S. Stone

Dorris S. Stone — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:51:53 +0000

On a lighter side, respnse to:

comment number 67 by: The Reason We Don’t Get Stoners Write Laws | The Sundries Shack
February 24th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

[...] The day that pot becomes legal in California, it’s going to double in price, at least. POT IS LEGAL IN 2 OR 3 CA CONTIES, OR SO THEY THINK. THEY GROW AND SELL IT OPENLY AS A MEDICAL ITEM. BUT THE FEDS, (DEA, FBI, ATFE), WILL INFORM YOU THAT IT IS A FEDERAL CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO GROW, SELL OR SMOKE POT SO THEY RAID THE “MEDICAL SHOPS” AND THE “LEGAL GROWERS” AND CHARGE THE PEOPLE WITH COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS. GOOD. HOPE THEY JAIL ALL OF THEM. MEXICANS COME TO THOSE COUNTIES JUST TO GROW AND SELL POT. MINOR TRANSPORTATION NEEDED, LARGE BUYER BASE NEARBY, AND NOT ENOUGH FEDS TO WORRY ABOUT MUCH. IF THEY GET CAUGHT, THEY POST BAIL AND GO HOME TO MEXICO. THEIR BROTHER, COUSIN, UNCLE OR FRIEND TAKES OVER. “Mark my words. That what our government recently did to smokers with the S-CHIP legislation. The tax on loose tobacco – the kind that folks who roll their own smokes buy – went from a little over a buck a pound to $24.62 per pound”. WOW, THAT’S INCREDIBLE. WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT WANT TO PUNISH THE POOR MAN’S SMOKES SO UNFAIRLY? MAKES NO SENSE, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO, IT’S A GOVERNMENT ACTION.

By: Dorris S. Stone

Dorris S. Stone — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:33:26 +0000

I smoked for more than 40 years. I liked a good cigar. My last normally enjoyed “smokes” were Captain Blacks Little Cherry Cigars. I really, really liked them. But when I had time I would enjoy a mid level priced cigar. Not a premium, but not a rag either. Usual cost of 1 to 2 dollars. Many were foreign made because I liked to experiment. I also bought tons of cigars as presents for smoking buddies and still often buy a premium cigar for someone.
Then or now I would not hesitate to increase my costs of a non-essential such as smoking if it would help children. Smoking is non-essential to life, as is drinking alcohol or doing cocaine, the rich mans drug. I am however very reluctunt to favor programs drafted, rewritten, argued over, finalized, voted on and into law by people sitting in my government’s positions of power. Don’t I trust them, yes, even farther than a tank can be thrown. I don’t know of one I would trust with my life.
I can’t understand why they can’t work at a normal pace, as a normal people do. But not as quickly as a congressional pay raise is passed, when they want to vote themselves one, even during a nationwide freeze on raises, remember? Some received up to 40% raises while my lowly military pay was frozen.
In this case, SCHIP, it has taken 12 or more years to get close to conclusion. If an administration does not want to be associated with passing a unfavorable upon themselves law, it gets shelved for a future adminstartion. That is no way to operate a government. Face the good and bad parts of your job and do something about them. Otherwise you have not completely accomplished your duties, you’ve slacked off. Need I assimilate anything more with politicial job performance?
Why, in the 9 months or so of their annual jobs activities, (I really don’t like to use the word “job” in association with politicians. Have aother word that better describs what they do?), can’t they get more done? A lot of what they do is simple. Do they have to “make a federal CASE” of everything?. If they didn’t have to commisssion several panels, to be headed by relatives, friends and associates, to study for years how to open a childproof bottle, write a book about it, debate it, rewrite, and beat it to death over years and years it could be done in one day. Am I kidding, yes. That’s not politics, that is efficiency, effectiveness and accomplishment in a timely and reasonable manner. They could also show up for work on time. Watch them in action on TV and they are very often waiting for someone to show up and they play the elevator music as if it is placating the audience.
Most politicians were never a real, dedicated, Non-Commisioned Officer in the Army. If they had of been they would be more task accomplishment oriented than job security oriented and “how can I make a buck out of this busy”? I believe most were never ever really in possession of the abilities or knowledge in order to be a productive worker of any sort. They certainly cannot work with the other party very well at all and the Democrats now think they are the only party.
Back to the subject. Instead of SCHIP how about NMMMDJFPIFC? No More MultiMillion Dollar Jobs For
Politicians Insurance For Children. Or, NMETOHPOPRFPWLTBFAFMI? No More Eighty To One Hundred Percent Of Pay Retirements For Politicians With Lifetime Total Benifits For All Family Members Included. They should retire with no better package than the military retirees get. They absoutely, most certainly don’t do anywhere near as much for their country.
How about, ITOLIFTCIP? Increased Tax On Luxury Items For The Childrens Insurance Program. Talk about an outcry. The really influencial rich would be demanding of and threatning their congressmen and women and senators alike in order to get that killed, maybe in the interest of National Security. Why not that, anyting would suffice to make it go away and it would.
How about UATMFTCIA? Use America’s Taxpayers Monies For The Childrens Insurance Act? Better than paying for childrens care in foreign countries.

Dull, bored, emough already? Get the point???

By: Michael J. McFadden

Michael J. McFadden — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:25:51 +0000

Is it true that smokers are the only ones in America who love children? Nonsmokers should be ashamed of themselves for their wanton neglect of our next generation. In the future we will see laws passed requiring any who are not smoking to stand outside in the rain and the cold as punishment for their refusal to care for our young.

Quite aside from all that though, there is the issue of a 2,000% tax increase upon the poorest of the poor, those too destitute to even be able to buy ready-made cigarettes but are forced to roll their own from shreds of loose tobacco and scraps of paper. This group is arguably the single poorest well defined substantial demographic in the entire country and Obama’s SCHIP tax is going to hit them with OVER a 2,000% tax increase. Those who’ve been trying to save money without rolling their own have been smoking “little cigars.” THAT group will get hit with a 2,400% tax increase.

This goes beyond unjust and enters into the realm of criminal.

And, speaking of criminal, The black market after April 1st will be HUGE. We’ve already seen killings in cigarette turf wars and police car chases and those will multiply. Convenience stores will become better robbery targets than banks as a garbage bag of 100 cartons will be worth $7,000 to $10,000. We will **ALL** end up paying for increased security at those stores and for the trials and prisons, and we will **ALL** end up paying when that black market funds the next 9-11.

Michael J. McFadden,
Author of “Dissecting Antismokers’ Brains”