Hobos Hit Hardest by Tobacco Tax
Rolling your own has lost its charm. The tax on loose rolling tobacco has increased from $1.09 a pound to $24.59, that’s a 2200% increase. Rollies used to be a respectable way to smoke, skirting around the major brands. One would have to work for their grit – developing their own style of rolling and perfecting it with pride, style, class, Humphrey fucking Bogart. But it was also the way of the street person, the bargain shopper and the generally poor to buy that pouch of Bugler for $2.25, it’s all we could afford – now they are asking $5 for Bugler at that 711 down the street. Shame on selling out the hobos and the less fortunate.
And all this to fund the States Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP.) Now, targeting smokers to raise money for the health of the next generation is not what is outrageous here, targeting the poor smokers is. On normal cigarettes, the tax increased from 39 cents to $1.01 per pack, still the largest increase in the history of our native American plant – but people are going to be able to cope with this. In most liquor stores this means paying around an extra dollar to get your smokes. But for those of us who can’t afford a habit like that, now we have to put out over twice of those last few dollars left. We took an honest route – save some money, respect the tobacco, find one’s way with it like a form of art – and now, it’s become another really expensive hobby.
