This makes me sick...
Right. Apparently my livejournal has become somewhat of a political blog... I'm not sure how I feel about this. But I digress...
How selfish are Oregon voters to not pass "Measure 50" yesterday. "Measure 50" would have raised taxes on tobacco products (about $.85/pack) in order to provide universal health care to children. To me, this is the MOST SELFISH thing I've ever heard of.
Let's do some math, shall we?
I've done some research and found that Oregon does not pay sales tax. And that before the proposed increase the tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes was $1.18/pack. So that equates to:
BEFORE HEALTH CARE TAX
$7/pack
+ 1.18 tax
x 31 days a month
$253.58/month
AFTER HEALTH CARE TAX
$7/pack (most expensive cigarettes ever!)
+ $1.18 original tax
+ $.85 health care tax
x 31 days a month
$279.93/month
That's a difference of $26.35/month. And that is exactly why I think the smokers of Oregon are selfish or at least brainwashed by the big tobacco companies who apparently spent almost $12 million dollars on negative campaign ads. I, as a non-smoker, would be willing to give just under $30 month out of my pack check to be able to provide universal health care to children. And, if you're a smoker spending almost $300/month on a product that is GOING TO KILL YOU, what's an extra $30/month to make sure the children you are giving second-hand smoke, can have their health care provided?
And to be honest, my math is probably way over shooting this. First, most cigarettes are not that expensive. I only use that as an example because most of my friends smoke Dajarum Blacks which are just under $7/pack and I've never seen any more expensive than that. Second, not everyone smokes a pack a day, so that cuts the cost in HALF if a pack will last you two days (which makes the failure to pass this bill even worse since the increase would be less than $15/month for those smokers).
I just think it's a small price to pay to provide health care for children. And not only would this increased revenue have gone to universal health care for children, but also increased education to prevent children/teenagers/young people from smoking to begin with. Which is probably why the tobacco companies fought so hard against it.
I guess this just goes to show you how the American psyche works. Me, me me! Pass up the needs of children, for your own selfish addictions.
I'm done.
How selfish are Oregon voters to not pass "Measure 50" yesterday. "Measure 50" would have raised taxes on tobacco products (about $.85/pack) in order to provide universal health care to children. To me, this is the MOST SELFISH thing I've ever heard of.
Let's do some math, shall we?
I've done some research and found that Oregon does not pay sales tax. And that before the proposed increase the tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes was $1.18/pack. So that equates to:
BEFORE HEALTH CARE TAX
$7/pack
+ 1.18 tax
x 31 days a month
$253.58/month
AFTER HEALTH CARE TAX
$7/pack (most expensive cigarettes ever!)
+ $1.18 original tax
+ $.85 health care tax
x 31 days a month
$279.93/month
That's a difference of $26.35/month. And that is exactly why I think the smokers of Oregon are selfish or at least brainwashed by the big tobacco companies who apparently spent almost $12 million dollars on negative campaign ads. I, as a non-smoker, would be willing to give just under $30 month out of my pack check to be able to provide universal health care to children. And, if you're a smoker spending almost $300/month on a product that is GOING TO KILL YOU, what's an extra $30/month to make sure the children you are giving second-hand smoke, can have their health care provided?
And to be honest, my math is probably way over shooting this. First, most cigarettes are not that expensive. I only use that as an example because most of my friends smoke Dajarum Blacks which are just under $7/pack and I've never seen any more expensive than that. Second, not everyone smokes a pack a day, so that cuts the cost in HALF if a pack will last you two days (which makes the failure to pass this bill even worse since the increase would be less than $15/month for those smokers).
I just think it's a small price to pay to provide health care for children. And not only would this increased revenue have gone to universal health care for children, but also increased education to prevent children/teenagers/young people from smoking to begin with. Which is probably why the tobacco companies fought so hard against it.
I guess this just goes to show you how the American psyche works. Me, me me! Pass up the needs of children, for your own selfish addictions.
I'm done.