New Obamacare Premium Hikes for Smokers
- Thread starter flyguy
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
I've been spending more than I'm fully comfortable with on tobacco in anticipation of depraved, Canada/UK style taxes. Over the long term, those taxes will take a bite out of blenders pockets as more people cut back purchases and fewer people take up the hobby. This may not have dramatic impact on the big guys, but could hurt the smaller blenders, in some cases causing them to halt production or sell to a big player.
Sad.
Sad.
What upsets me about this (on the premium and tax side of the issue) [and this is not meant as a political comment, just reality] is the unscientific and purely political measures we use to determine who pays what. For example, look at the chemical intake of the average Westerner in terms of their diet: preservatives, corn derivatives, and any number of artificial ingredients. But the producers of these chemicals contribute big, big money to the campaigns of all of our politicians - we won't be banning wood pulp or HFCS any time soon, nor will we be taxing it or increasing premiums on consumers of these products. But pipe smokers will pay, and be thrust into the same category as other tobacco users (like cigarette smokers).
"And another thing!" Seriously though, the obesity thing is another ultra-grey area. What is "obese"? Sure, we know it when we see it. But how does the state determine this? BMI? BMI is a joke -- completely disregards those who are athletic, weight lifters, etc. It's a very blunt instrument. So will everyone have to report for visual inspection before determining their premium classification?
I live in europe and over here we have all the high taxes on anything "luxury" (i.e., not necessary, VAT) and socialist medicine, it's all a nightmare. Stock up on your pipe tobacco now, American friends, and avoid getting sick at ALL COSTS!
Again, not a political comment but as soon has you hand your health care over to the Gov'mt, they will have the perceived right to regulate your behavior, what you can and can't eat/drink. Eventually it will be what you can and can't do (motorcycle skydive, etc). Nothing new here folks. Its the law. All these issues were brought up before but ignored. We voted them in so we should look in the mirror if we have complaints.
so I looked it up I'm six one and 31 my "target weight" according to the Military is listed as between 140 and 180, in basic I dropped below the minimum, and I'm currently at 205ish that puts me in both high risk categories "fun fun" and at 180 you can count my ribs
I failed every Army weigh in I ever took. They just looked the other way because they all knew I was one of the fittest men(boys) in the entire battalion. If you utterly decimate the PT test, and blow by everyone in the run yet fail the "tape test". You begin to wonder how the Army comes up with such crap. They definately must have left out the cro-magnon consideration in their measurements. My weight and height told them I was fat, so they taped me which said I was fat. You could pinch me anywhere and realise I was merely covered in a thin layer of skin tightly stretched over wild animal.
- Status