Do people think health care taxes on cigarettes is a bad idea? As a smoker who pays extremely high taxes on cigarettes here in the UK I have no problem with them.

The problem with taxes on cigarettes (as I see it) is that most of the time it's not proportional to one's income. A tax that is not progressive is inherently unfair IMHO, as it places a heavier burden on the less fortunate. EDIT: Someone mentioned that cigarettes are a life choice but I personally believe that to be more of a nice theory than a fact. In reality smoking is huge among people with lower income, due to lack of education about the risks, cultural factors, advertising, etc. (see http://www.gallup.com/poll/105550/among-americans-smoking-de...). As a result, a higher burden is put on people who tend to smoke more on average, which are apparently the very same people who don't have too much money to begin with. Still their mistake to be spending the little money they have on a drug, but it's one of those "easier said than done" things in my opinion.

Smoking is a choice that makes someone more likely to have health problems later. Under nationalized health care, taxing cigarettes is just aligning incentives.

You don't have to buy cigarettes though. They are a life choice.

It makes total sense to tax the hell out of it, because it causes a very real health care burden. Doesn't change the dark humor of it though :)