Now lets see how much the government has to pay for antidepression drugs. May cost them (the government) more in $ since they have targeted the people who can least afford the additional tax and may be on public assistance for healthcare.

This Cigarette Tax is extremely unfair to us people who choose to smoke, are extremely addicted to cigarettes. I have been a smoker since I was 12. Our culture back then (60"s&70"s)made smoking very glamous. it was so easy to buy a pack of cigarettes for 50 cents out of the vending machine that was in every gas station during my early teen years. Those of you who have never smoked have no clue about how bad the withdrawels can be. smoking is the least of our health problems in todays age. I think this country needs to have an obesity tax. lets have an 100% tax hike on soda pop, pizza and those wonderful fast food burgers. And what about the air we breath in our bigger cities tax these factories who put pollution in the air. The air we breath outside is much more harmful then the smoke we put in our lungs. Diabetes, heart disease, Asthma from being obese is the #1 killer not cigarette smoke. I had an aunt who never smoked and was not around smoke she has been battling esphacial cancer, also a cousin who never smoke died a couple of years from the same thing. just as many non smokers if not more then smokers have died of some kind of cancer. I say if the goverment is gonna tax us to death on cigarettes, then they need to pay for all the new medication that is out now that is suppose to help us stop. I blame the goverment for getting me hooked in the first place. All of us smokers who really dont have a choice to quite needs to ban together and fight this tax. all of us smokers need to get on tweeter. Maybe then our so-called president will hear our voice.

Any time you select certain people to tax that can not be called anything but unfair. I need to see how I can find out which congressmen I need to vote against in the next election.

I'm wondering what happened to individual rights and freedoms that our founding fathers faught and died for. Taxation without representation, taxation of single out groups, discrimination, aren't these things what america is supposed to be against? If one group of people is going to be singled out and punished with an unfair tax, then maybe we should single out every single group of different people so that each has their own unfair tax burden and no one is left out. For instance, add $1 tax to health club memberships, the sme as the tax on smokers, the health nuts can help pay for the bailouts and the stimulus packages too. While we're at it lets add $1 tax on KY Jelly, so the sex fiends and nymphos aren't left out, and how about $1 tax on cd's and dvd's, oh well how do we Tax those that aren't covered by this list? Tax everything, I guess, then it would equal once again. But wait, if everyone were to pay higher taxes instead of a singled-out group of people, then well we'd be right back into a deeping recession, or would we? Suppose the tax is equal, the debt gets paid quicker, and the economy recovers. But the tax currently isn't equal, it pursicutes a singled out group, much like the tea tax britain imposed on us so long ago. We didn't stand for unfair taxation then, so why are so many self righteous, stuck-up, holier-than-thou, hypocrits out there making the freedom of the people in this country diminish a little more every day? I don't infringe on other peoples freedoms, why do so many in this country, wish to infringe upon my freedom? It is a very extremely unpatriotic action to take, when you take your fellow americans freedom without fairness or reason.

I'm actually quite glad they're making this raise on Cigarettes. Smoking is completely pointless. I live in a home with both of my parents and due to their smoking habits I will eventually have lung cancer, there is no doubt in my mind. Smokers never see the fact that smoking doesn't hurt only them. While I agree the amount of the tax increase it a tad high. I don't disagree with it. Also, for the man who said he would have to decide between food or cigarettes. I'm just disappointed in how ignorant you can be.

The real problem is the health insurance industry. The reason for the tax is supposedly to provide insurance for children? Lets get it over with & get rid if the health insurance scam. We need to nationalize healthcare & send the scammers packing. Hospitals are big business too & greedy doctors are not any better. This big increase will probably help create a blackmarket for tobacco & more crime. Didn't these jerks learn anything from prohibition? Tax marijuna & cocaine. The FEDS can't stop that so they might as well tax it. The idiots can't enforce those laws so who would believe they could enforce illegal tobacco?

I wish I never started smoking. They were selling for 35 cents when I began, now there @ 4.50 a pack. It stinks that nicotine is more addictive than heroin, that's the reason why the goverment can easily grab my money. That will be the reason why I take Johns advise and start growing my own tobacco, that is, until the goverment trys to take my home for it.

I think it is time to grow and process our own tobacco for personal consumption, give away any excess to those who want it, and tell politicians where they can stick their tax increase. Tobacco growing info is readily available on the net and at bookstores.