Missouri smoking tax, great at first glance
Karina Dewing
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Forum
I am not against the new smoking tax in Missouri, especially considering that, prior to the implementation of the new smoking tax (which will raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes to from 17 cents to 97 cents) and that, at 17 cents, Missouri's smoking tax was the second lowest in the nation. That is, I am not against the tax at first glance.
The cigarette tax benefits the health of our nation twofold - not only may it encourage some people to quit smoking, but the money made from the tax will go to smoking prevention and cessation programs, and 35 percent of the money will pay for health care programs for Missourians who are living under 200 percent of the poverty line.
At first glance, the smoking tax looks great. My issue with the smoking tax the way the money is being used. Smoking is becoming more and more socially unacceptable. With less children and teenagers than ever before picking up the habit, I have to wonder if smoking prevention programs are really necessary.
Smoking seems to be something that is gradually dying out, or at least, it is well on its way to becoming a rarity. I also doubt that smoking prevention programs are very effective. For one, everyone knows about the dangers of smoking now, even without such programs. And I doubt that such programs are very effective anyway. You can lock kids in a room and speak about the dangers of smoking all you want, but I think it will make little to no difference.
The kids who are likely to start smoking are more likely to be rebellious. They'll sit in the back of the room making fun of how lame the class is (and classes like those are indeed always lame and patronizing). The kids who are actually going to pick up smoking probably aren't going to listen or care. They may even be more likely to pick up a pack of cigarettes, because it will seem even more forbidden than before.
My second problem with the new smoking tax is that I think the motives behind it may be questionable. Our health care system needs drastic reform; the meager $351 that will be collected from the smoking tax will barely make a dent in helping low- and middle-income pay for their health care.
The cigarette tax benefits the health of our nation twofold - not only may it encourage some people to quit smoking, but the money made from the tax will go to smoking prevention and cessation programs, and 35 percent of the money will pay for health care programs for Missourians who are living under 200 percent of the poverty line.
At first glance, the smoking tax looks great. My issue with the smoking tax the way the money is being used. Smoking is becoming more and more socially unacceptable. With less children and teenagers than ever before picking up the habit, I have to wonder if smoking prevention programs are really necessary.
Smoking seems to be something that is gradually dying out, or at least, it is well on its way to becoming a rarity. I also doubt that smoking prevention programs are very effective. For one, everyone knows about the dangers of smoking now, even without such programs. And I doubt that such programs are very effective anyway. You can lock kids in a room and speak about the dangers of smoking all you want, but I think it will make little to no difference.
The kids who are likely to start smoking are more likely to be rebellious. They'll sit in the back of the room making fun of how lame the class is (and classes like those are indeed always lame and patronizing). The kids who are actually going to pick up smoking probably aren't going to listen or care. They may even be more likely to pick up a pack of cigarettes, because it will seem even more forbidden than before.
My second problem with the new smoking tax is that I think the motives behind it may be questionable. Our health care system needs drastic reform; the meager $351 that will be collected from the smoking tax will barely make a dent in helping low- and middle-income pay for their health care.
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Randy Stryker
posted 5/09/09 @ 10:32 PM CST
Mrs. Dewing has a point with a few of the problematic details with the way the money is being used. However, I do not agree with her on the point of smoking becoming a rarity. (Continued…)
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