A Better Pipe Smoking Community

I'll agree with the opening question in the article, yes I think California is a 'Nutjob State'. I don't see this abuse on smokers slowing any time soon. I'm really getting tired of people trying to save me from myself because they know what' good for me. I can't believe how New Yorkers get raped with their taxes.
By the way, is there a state/place wth worse taxes on tobacco? I think New Yorkers pay almost four bucks on every ten.
I'm going to need a raise
Light'em if you got'em...

Our taxes in NYS are crazy. The tobacco tax that is added on after the fact makes it impossible for me to buy any tobacco within the state lines. If I go to my B&M, my only saving grace is that I am very good friends with the owner and he takes pretty good care of me. However; it is still cheaper for me to order online and avoid the state taxes.

How do we effectively voice our position on these moronic proposals - proposals which always seem to gain traction merely because they involve some further restriction on tobacco?
I am done with signing up on manufacturers' petitions. And I see my lone email/fax attempts are only viewed as novelties barely worthy an auto-response from my representatives. And when I get a "live" dialog going, I'm sure any points I score are not enough to affect any further intrusions.
How do we tax-paying CONSUMERS speak with impact?

Follow the money--gov't wants it, insurance industry wants to cut costs of service.... You can't swim against that tide, so do as they do and stock up _now_, you'll be real glad you did in a few years. Consider it an investment, like contributing to your 401k; if you end up quitting down the road, you'll be able to sell your cellar for a tidy profit and if you don't quit you'll save a ton of money.

Elected officals used to actually pay attention to those that they represented. For the majority of them, not so much anymore. Someone once said that "the only reason anyone wants to be the President, is so they can be the ex-President". The rest of our elected officals caught on and we were off to the races. Get what you can, while you can and make sure your nest is well feathered before you leave. Tobacco is the whipping boy these days and if you want to survive and last another term you had best get on board.

Yes, it is a rant.
Yes, it is political.
No, I am not sorry for having said it.

But it would be considered political (correct), and off color (also correct) so I'll just sit here quietly and bite my tongue (or maybe I can get an unaged VA to do it for me)

...it may be futile to email the Reps. However, it can't hurt and it makes me feel better. So, I will keep doing it. Yes, I am buying up tobacco all over the place from B&M's, etailers, C&D, and really getting a jump on the increases headed our way. Believe me, it ain't gonna be pretty. Buy now! Hopefully by Spring I will have fifty pounds in storage. That is my goal. It will probably take $3000 to get there, but I will be making an investment at a better price than by waiting any longer. It's a shame that Wisconsin has gone crazy (71% Excise tax) so I am concentrating on orders from marscigars. com and C&D. I have been notified that my most recent load has been shipped Saturday from marscigars.

is that politics and tobacco are in an incestuous relationship with each other and aren't about to quit. That being said, I will pull my punches.

Tobacco is the only thing the government (political parties aside) has ever successfully demonized in my lifetime. Years ago it was booze which was a miserable failure. Not too long ago it was communists, and now the government is full of them. They're trying and trying with religion. The results are yet to be seen.

It will be an interesting ride. I started getting suspicious of this stuff in high school, 15 years before I put a match to my first bowl of tobacco.

As Mouse so eloquently stated - follow the money.

...Follow the MONEY! I agree, we need to address the Tobacco Issue in our forum as it does directly relate to Politics. It can be done without fighting. Besides, I can't imagine any of us pipe smokers' saying "hip-hip-hooray" for the Family Tobacco Control Act (as passed). It is prohibition. Already prohibitively expensive and getting worse with the States getting a jump on the Feds! B&M's are limiting stock. E-tailers are discontinuing brands. Credit companies are pulling away from the engagement and dumping tobacco sales so as not to get caught in the various State tax changes. Importers are already limiting exports and will certainly discontinue rather than comply. The fact is, the Law requires non-domestics to comply same as domestics. They won't. I assure you! Keep in mind this is a process that is estimated to take four years to be in "full-swing". You have time to buy tobacco and save yourself some money. Everyone needs to understand two things, here:

1.) The Law is on the books and will be implemented concerning loose tobacco.
2.) Life will get tougher for tobacco purchases BEFORE it gets really tough!

Thanks again for the warnings, but I think I am mad at you again, because this costs me a hundred bucks everytime you post because I get all nervous, then spend a bunch of money buying tobacoo (this time a pound of Penzance, and a pound of Frog Morton)

But thank you for the updates. While my wallet and wife my be upset at the moment, a few years from now we will be singing your praise

... I'm just doing my part to end the recession and give the economy a jump start!

It is what it is. I'm ordering another Lb, this week. As it stands right now, it will be a Lb. a week for as long as work keeps steady.

Does this include PVC, Copper and Galvanized pipe???

If so, I sure do pity the builders and plumbers down in FL.

:P

I panic all the time too, I bet I spent $1000.00 in the last two months stocking up. Hiding it from my wife is the fun part. She just does not understand.

But, you will be so much easier to live with if you have your tobacco stash! She will eventually get it.

She just says quit...yeah like that will happen.

... The old man said: "My wife told me that if I don't stop smoking the pipe, she will leave me."
I said: "Really?"
He responded: "Yep! And, I'm gonna really miss that woman!"

[so... put that in your smipe and poke it]

Well, married to her for 32 years, she works and I am not and on disability. Besides she is a doll, she lost both of her parents to cancer so I kind of understand. She tolerates me and my pipes.

We are both Blessed to have a woman that puts up with us. My wife (a lifetime non-smoker) had a lung removed in 2005 due to cancer. She is a survivor of four years! She is very supportive of my hobby. What an Angel she is! I generally smoke in the Den where I have a Dynamic air cleaner that really works well. Otherwise, I smoke in the kitchen with the vent fan on over the stove. I, too, am a very lucky man, indeed!

Lung cancer and never smoked, that stinks. Good for her fighting it.

I have a closed in back porch that faces the lake we live on. I keep to that area and don't smoke in the house. In the winter I use the garage where I am usually restoring old pipes at my bench. I understand a non smoker and respect their rights. I just want the same respect back. All my family are anti smokers except one sister, so it gets fun sometimes.

I have a similar situation. All the family (except my wife) are Anti's except one of three daughters smokes cigs. It does get interesting at times!