Obama's Socialism taking effect, Redistrabution of the wealth

[August]

Originally Posted by Max2147

Obama understands cigarette taxes from the consumer's point of view. He was a smoker until recently.

I see it as a win-win. If the increased price gets people to stop smoking, then we reduce a huge drain on our economy. If the tax has no effect on people's habits (more likely), then a badly-needed service will be funded. I don't see why children ought to pay for their parents' inability to pay for basic services.

Except if the tax does have it's (supposedly) intended effect and actually gets people to stop smoking then how will your new service get funded?

Also, at what point does increased taxes create a tobacco black market run by gangsters? Isn't this social engineering just creating the next Al Capone? Of course if (when) that happens we'll need to increase funding to law enforcement to fight (but never actually win) against this new scourge and who is going to pay for that?