Liberals typically take strong stands against the vices that destroys lives and harm families.

lol

I don't know that Republicans defend prostitution. I think they just defend their own when they are caught with prostitutes.

Tobacco does have detrimental effects on those who use it just as alcohol, caffeine, junk food and many other things common in our and other societies. Freedom includes the freedom to do yourself harm as long as that harm does not extend to others. Unfortunately both the left and the right both attack this notion from opposite ends, all the while accusing the other side of limiting our freedoms.

ken the moralist strikes again. You and Jerry Falwell apparently did have something in common.

That's a keeper.

There we go AGAIN, putting the burden on those that can least afford it!!

Steve, the tobacco industry should fail..

Spoken...errr written like a true Nanny Stater. "I don't like what those people are doing, so I'll make them stop."

In the grand scheme of things, there isn't a lot of cigar manufacturing in the United States, but there are a lot of cigar retailers, and this tax is almost certainly going to affect them detrimentally.

Ahhh screw them, they're evil. ken told us so.

Putting a tobacco vendor out of business is like running the massage parlors out of town.

ken the moralist strikes again. You and Jerry Falwell apparently did have something in common.

"Decent" defined as "people who have only the same hobbies, lifestyle, and opinions as Ken", right? Perhaps we should change all restaurants to Taco Bell, outlaw swearing, and only sing classic commercial jingles, as well.

Good catch Alex. However that movie was satire, with ken I don't get the feeling he is just joking around.

Liberals typically take strong stands against the vices that destroys lives and harm families.

Which is why so many liberals have endorsed the War on Drugs. Funny how they bemoan the attacks on our freedoms at the hands of the Chimperor, but seem to ignore similar attacks at the hands of their preferred politicos.

Conservatives on the other hand defend prostitution and tobacco pushers.

I have to admit, this one did register on the irony meter, but then I figured it was just a coincident. Yeah, conservatives defend prostitutes.

There are things mature people make distinctions on. Conservatives should learn that.

Yeah like freedom is only good when you don't practice that freedom. C'mon ken fess up, you are actually Dinesh D'souza trolling through OTB.

Conservatives on the other hand defend prostitution and tobacco pushers.

Your arguments in defense of these enterprises is to equate them with food sellers. Get real. If you don't know the difference between someone selling nourishment and someone selling tobacco addictions or sexual disease then pity you.

There are things mature people make distinctions on. Conservatives should learn that.

He is a walking reminder that despite all of the PR about tolerance and liberty, liberals like him are the biggest control freaks in existence.

If they had the power they would be happy to control the smallest details of your life.

Polish the surface of a liberal like Ken and you find a petty little dictator in waiting.

"Decent" defined as "people who have only the same hobbies, lifestyle, and opinions as Ken", right? Perhaps we should change all restaurants to Taco Bell, outlaw swearing, and only sing classic commercial jingles, as well.

I know of at least three small shops in my area that would close their doors putting about 15 to 30 people out of work and some of the larger stores that have a humidor as part of their operation would consider getting rid of their humidor by the end of the year.

Putting a tobacco vendor out of business is like running the massage parlors out of town. On balance when we force the closure of these businesses we improve the business environment for decent people.

There are several cigar manufacturers that still roll cigars in Florida and these are mostly small family owned operations.

This tax would destroy small businesses.

Thanks for the link.

In the grand scheme of things, there isn't a lot of cigar manufacturing in the United States, but there are a lot of cigar retailers, and this tax is almost certainly going to affect them detrimentally.

Re: American jobs
How much of a cigar industry is there in the US. I don't know much about cigars, so I end up taking the advice of others when I have the occasional cigar. Now that generally means I smoke Cubans. The only American cigar I have ever had was one that was rolled by a friend of my fathers who grew his own. My memory is that the few American brands I have seen are generally on the low end as far as price and so might be hurt less than foreign brands. It doesn't seem to me that this will have much if any effect on American jobs.