Tobacco is one of the most heavily subsidized products. So on the one hand, the government is telling us how horrible the stuff is, then they turn right around and use tax dollars to help grow it and support its market prices. Even dumber is the way lots of politicians claim to absolutely hate tobacco while absolutely loving tobacco money. The tobacco companies make lots of donations to lots of politicians. And then there s that tax thing.
Tobacco is one of the most taxed products in the history of mankind.
Tobacco tax dollars are used to fund all manner of government programs. Lots of politicians are very vocal tobacco opponents. They also allege to be champions of the middle class and the downtrodden. They vote for higher taxes on cigarettes to help pay for programs to help the middle class. So while they claim to be the protectors of the middle class, the politicians hammer them with cigarette taxes.