July 21, 2007
Taxes up in smoke
This was orignially report in the Boston Globe, February 28, 2000
Seeking to avoid costly in-state cigarettes, Massachusetts residents are starting to migrate to discount cigarette stores on the Internet.. . . California and Iowa are among several states that have ordered online tobacco sellers to name their customers. And with lists in hand, they're contacting residents and telling them to pay up.
Many states are now chasing after smokers who purchase cigarettes on the Internet demanding they pay up. As the states have raised their taxes on cigarettes many people have looked elsewhere to purchase their smokes. Whether it's a neighboring state with lower taxes or one of the online tobacco sources that do not charge you taxes. As a result, the states have experienced a decrease in revenue - or at least less revenue than they think they deserve, and have turned to tracking down smokers who purchase on the Internet.
Big business interests, political opportunists, paranoiacs, and well-organized and financed zealots have applied pressure to credit card companies and banks and even to delivery companies to put serious obstacles in the way of consumers who simply want to exercise their right to make legal purchases in the manner they please and to get good cigarettes savings. These pressures have also enabled state tax authorities to violate smokers' privacy and get purchaser lists from US-based online vendors and to send out huge surprise tax bills to unwary smokers whose online purchases were reported. This violation of smokers' privacy has destroyed online cigarettes companies, sown fear and worry in smokers, and has certainly already cost smokers many tens of millions of dollars in higher costs and tax surprises.
This whole ugly situation boils down, once again, to the same old struggle over money - to transferring the maximum amount of money from the small guys to the big guys. Once you understand who the big players are and what sums are at issue, it's easy to understand all the hoopla is really just smoke and mirrors, hot air, junk science, media hype, hysteria, and good old fashioned greed.
So this is where Sovran Solutions Online steps onto the stage to address the privacy issue which is at the heart of much of the problem. SSO was conceived and built from the ground-up for privacy and durability and to provide the largest possible savings to smokers - all with TOTAL PRIVACY.
Cigarette Taxes, Invasion of Privacy
22 Comments on Taxes up in smoke »
August 26, 2011
Cartier love online store @ 8:10 am:
Thank you.
August 30, 2011
Ash women sneakers @ 5:51 am:
It is by no means a myth that one has when it comes to the capacity of downloads that they can do from the isohunt file sharing network. No matter how new you are, you still can effortlessly download all the simple to the complex files that are present on this network. The simplicity of the files can't be defined in a right way. For instance the code within the file may be complex but not downloading the file from the isohunt. In a clear sense if you are downloading the files that are related to an application the downloading would be simple and will complete soon but it may take some time for you to understand the code that is written in these application files. Thus the complexity of the files might be really not related to how you download the files from isohunt.
August 31, 2011
MBT Scarpe @ 6:59 am:
The Turkish government's six-day campaign that has killed up to 100 Kurdish rebels in Iraq suggests emphasis on military might over diplomacy in dealing with the guerrillas.
September 7, 2011
ray ban @ 8:25 am:
All these sunglasses acknowledge anti-fogging attributes to be assertive that you choose and ride is sometimes as attainable that they can.'
September 14, 2011
native shoes @ 10:22 am:
Unfortunately I have a guilt complex. You know the type — shifty eyes, tugging at ears, chin and britches, and demanding a bathroom break every thirty seconds. I'm not good at lying, though God knows I've tried, as I blush electric pink and nod my head "yes" when the answer is "no." If they asked me to be in a criminal line-up, I'd jump out and say, "It was me" just to shorten the ordeal.
October 22, 2011
mulberry bags @ 4:07 am:
We are an online dealer of Mulberry Bags, aiming at delivering the best combination of quality, customer experience and peer prestige.
October 30, 2011
ugg boots australia @ 4:03 am:
Important UGG Sunburst Tall to abrasion will feel light, no faculty of weight classic short. Absolutely warm. http://www.uggclassicbootsofficial.org/
November 3, 2011
ugg boots australia @ 1:57 pm:
i will come usually.http://www.uggclassicbootsofficial.org/
November 4, 2011
Lacoste Shoes Sale @ 7:28 am:
I think the post is good for us.so cool with it
http://www.superdryuk.co.uk/ superdry uk
November 7, 2011
ugg boots sale @ 6:38 am:
so cool with it. http://www.uggclassicbootsofficial.org/
November 9, 2011
ugg boots nederland @ 8:12 am:
good blog.
Domain registration @ 9:45 am:
Domain registration is one of the leading companies to register a domain name . we are offer cheapest domain registration services in India visit our website http://www.register-web-domain.in
November 15, 2011
Moncler bags @ 3:14 am:
Just found your blog! I appreciate your words man. Moncler women bags design with severe standard,the handsome design is more attractive.You will be warm with it this winter. Hurry up to get Women moncler in our Moncler bags store. moncler bags sale with cheap price and high quality. Trust me,it is worth to buy. Welcome to our Moncler outlet store to buy it.
November 22, 2011
skin tag @ 8:09 am:
I'm impressed. You're truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. I'm saving this for future use.
November 23, 2011
Christian Louboutin UK @ 8:37 am:
Looking For Christianchristian louboutin boots sale Louboutin Ankle Boots Sale Boots, Christian Louboutin shoes
December 20, 2011
ugg boots sale cheap @ 8:39 am:
get the best price Ugg Classic Short from here, discount always available and free fast delivery guaranty. Go directly to the ugg classic short sale UK store for the genuine orders.
December 23, 2011
love hurts quotes @ 10:30 am:
Smoking is the amount common office of contraction tobacco, and tobacco is the crowd common meaning smoked. The agricultural ability is often mixed with additives.
December 28, 2011
quality custom essay services @ 6:51 pm:
Cool server, a lot of useful, in short - a sea of ??information. It would be nice to be able to download the description in the archives, because of the low speed
January 9, 2012
Same Day Loans @ 11:55 am:
People interests in such discount cigrattes on internet means that people are able to find the alternatives to get the cigrattes. I think a restriction should be put on ourselves to avoid such smoking habit otherwise no law can do anything.
January 11, 2012
link building services @ 5:05 pm:
aiming at delivering the best combination of quality, customer experience and peer prestige.
February 2, 2012
Mail Forwarding @ 8:34 am:
It is by no means a myth that one has when it comes to the capacity of downloads that they can do from the isohunt file sharing network.
February 3, 2012
personals dating singles @ 2:28 pm:
Iraq suggests emphasis on military might over diplomacy in dealing with the guerrillas.