Reply #133: I agree with you, but [View All]

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I do have some reservations about simply raising taxes on cigarrettes. I worry that such taxes would unintentionally wind up being regressive taxes that would negatively impact the poor. I've read statistics showing that lower-income people are more likely to smoke than those considered middle or upper class. I'm guessing level of education might play a role, as well. I don't know how to get around that, though.

I like your idea of putting some real dollars towards smoking awareness to counter the marketing campaigns of tobacco companies. Perhaps tobacco companies should be required to provide free smoking cessation education and products to those wishing to quit. Of course, they would probably pass the cost on to smokers, which would amount to the same thing as a tax.

Hell, maybe insurers, including Medicaid, should be required to provide full coverage for smoking cessation products. I don't know the answer, but I think we agree that something needs to be done to counter the weight of big tobacco in the marketplace.