If there’s one group more discriminated against than tattooed people, it’s smokers.
Smokers are steadily getting up in arms — once they catch their breath — and speaking out against the new federal cigarette tax hike. The increased tax requires tobacco compaines to pay the U.S. government an additional 61.6 cents for every pack sold, effectively raising the price of a carton by $6.16.
Most of the complaints come, of course, from elderly people who have either beaten the odds of contracting — or continue to smoke in spite of — health problems.
They’re responding in typical old-personly-fashion: by boring young reporters to death …
“Larry Jukes said he remembers when he could buy 10 cigarette packs for $2.50.”
… and through guilt …
“‘I think it’s ridiculous. … They’re picking on smokers,’ [83-year-old Gloria] Egger said at the Denver store, where she bought two cartons Tuesday. ‘I think they’re trying to run the tobacco companies out of business.'”
… and by making vague, impotent threats to “them.”
“‘As old as I am, I’m not going to quit smoking, regardless of what they do,'” Egger said.
What will President Obama, a smoker who signed the tax into law, do?