Jump to full article: Gaston (NC) Gazette, 2009-11-23
Intro: Some tobacco companies have pulled a fast one on the federal government by re-labeling their products and avoiding a punitive tax placed on roll-your-own tobacco products.
Congress and the Obama administration raised taxes on tobacco products earlier this year . . .
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall once said, "The power to tax involves the power to destroy." It's obvious that Congress and the administration intended to use the roll-your-own tax as a means of destruction. But the legitimate power to tax is to help pay for the functions of government. It shouldn't be used to redistribute income, effect behavior or destroy an industry. . . .
The effects of smoking have taken far too many lives prematurely. Yet many people in our nation, despite knowing the research, the dangers and the statistics, continue to smoke. We wish they'd choose to quit, but that choice should be made based on their own desire and motivation, not based on a tax policy that seeks to make their habit cost-prohibitive.
A free nation should not invoke a punitive tax policy for anything.
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