everybody is rolling your own. averages out to about $1.24 a pack. Most of NY about 9.50 a pack, nyc 12.00. All the ghetto's sell loosey's, even the bums who bum cigarettes offer up 50 cents for a cigarette. The largest % of smoker have incomes around equal to their annual ssI, SS or welfare checks. The fed is getting there own money back. dirty dogs.
Right on the money Texas should have its own passport as well. We should not let people get in TX without a valid Texas visa. Also applies to Mexicans.
Well done, Pocket Change, I can't help but marvel at that list. It actually takes quite a bit of creativity to figure out how to extract as much money out of people as possible without actually raising the income tax (and potentially ending their political careers). Which gets me to my point. It's ludicrous to simply evaluate a state based on the income taxes when you have a laundry list of other incidental taxes (i.e. if you get out of bed and walk out the door, you'll wind up running into those taxes everywhere). So the total tax bite, combined with the escalation in various fees, transit costs, parking costs, etc, which are just part and parcel the same thing are astronomical. But here is the kicker: even AFTER these buffoons have created every tax known to mankind, the State of Illinois is so fucking broke that they owe 771 million in tax refunds to businesses, the VERY SAME businesses they now want to pay a 66% increase in corporate taxes. You would think that, in theory, any state that could spend so much time figuring out HOW to tax everything could actually spend some time figuring out what to do with all those extorted profits. But instead it's become crystal clear that the public sector assholes funnel that money straight into their coffers to pay out six figure guaranteed pensions. Meanwhile, the state universities are owed millions, businesses are owed millions and the state sells off its parking meters, its tollways, etc...STILL NOT ENOUGH TO CLOSE THEIR BUDGET GAP. The moral of the story is that raising taxes, creating new taxes motivates consumers, businesses, etc to either: A) Figure out an alternative. B) Travel across state lines and purchase the items elsewhere C) Purchase it online and avoid those taxes altogether D) Move elsewhere. I suppose the biggest fools of all are the bean counters who run these proposed budget inflows that convince the low IQ politicians that this will somehow help matters. It never does, instead the spending continues unabated and more "creative" taxing methods are proposed and ultimately approved. (btw, that cigarette tax is so absurd its laughable. I can remember when cigarettes were expensive at $2.00 per pack 20 years ago).
Texas should have never joined the union. The federal government has overstepped its authority granted to it by the people by perverting the commerce clause into something it is not. Now Texas is stuck. Maybe the state should have another go at getting free. Time for the new Texas Declaration of Independence: When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another...
And there is talk about raising property taxes again too. Since the income tax went through the prop tax hike will probably fizzle, hopefully.
Sam Houston argued for joining the Union...and AGAINST joining the Confederacy. He got 1 right. Seriously, we'll be just fine. (I did get to meet and chat with Sam Houston's great great great Grandson...nice guy...looks a LOT like Sam!)
You mean Texans or all Americans will be just fine? I don't see the end of the trend yet, the federal government usurps more power and control every year, and continues to increase its percentage of GDP. What happens when government is 100% of GDP? How is that different from someplace like Cuba or North Korea where government is 100% of GDP? Every year our freedoms erode. Who will take a stand against the tyranny of the federal government? It's like the mice asking who will bell the cat. If now now, when? If not us, then who?
On the topic of Cigarette Taxes: 1 Carton of Marlboro's in Chicago: $74 In Myrtle Beach, SC $24. SC tax is 7 cents a pack... No cigarette stamps on packaging One can fly down to Myrtle once a quarter, play 4 rounds of golf... Enjoy some southern hospitality and Calabash Cuisine and return with a suitcase/golf bag stuffed with 12 cartons for their personal consumption... The $600 in cigarette taxes can easily pay for your golf getaway... Smugglers selling 2000 cartons a month have a relatively low risk $1.2M tax free cash biz...
Most of any state's revenue comes from 3 sources... sales, property, and income tax. Some states have no state income tax, but high property taxes. Some states have high taxes in all areas... perhaps best not to live in one of those. (11+% Sales Tax isn't as big a deal as high RE or Income tax... High RE taxes are oppressive. Over 20 years, more than half the value of the property can be taxed away... and if you don't pay, your property can be confiscated... that's all WRONG!) Depending upon one's income situation, would be wise to choose a state where your overall tax situation is more favorable.
The same could be said for all you rednecks that still come to NYC looking for "that Ground Zero Thing" 10 yrs after the "act" with your fractured grasp of the English language and dragging your little overweight heart attacks in the making wearing their little "Jeff Foxworthy Is God t-shirts", walking 5 abreast on the sidewalks staring up at the buildings with mouths agape . I swear you rednecks just embarrass the rest of us white folk. Please put up a wall, but use it to keep y'all in.