Really... so we have intelligence right now that both are developing UAVs with map information of the US on them? They have violated a cease fire with the US, and accompanying UN resolutions, they agreed too? That they are trying to establish working relationships with terrorist networks to pass off WMDs for use against foreign countries?
If they do, then I completely support going in and dealing with them.
According to the bible it happens at the start.
Without question, on the specific matters outlined in the Bible. Obviously not for things like what car I should buy, or what company I should work for. Because those things are not discussed in the Bible.
That's exactly what happened in New York. The sales of cigarettes declined, while the number of active smokers increased. Now obviously there are always those that obey the laws, and buy high taxed cigarettes.
However, it didn't end there. As is normal for the Mafia, they found another way to subvert the law, and make a killing. By importing cigarettes from Canada, they were able to subvert the taxation, while selling them at retail price. In other words, you might go in to a quick-mart and pick up a pack, unknowingly buying illegally imported tobacco, that was marked the same price as legit cigarettes. Meanwhile, the Mafia collected the part of the price that would be taxes, and pocketed it.
All of this was on, I think 60 minutes, but it was years ago now. Of course the mass media was bemoaning the fact the reduced taxes collected meant they could afford childrens health care. As if taxation hikes reducing taxes collected was a shocking new phenomenon.
Right now, it's small time. The two guys I know doing it, are just college students who travel down to Kentucky to buy tax free cigarettes from the Indian reservation there. If only it wasn't illegal, I considered driving there myself, and loading the massive Buick up with crates of smokes. You can sell a carton of smokes for nearly $20 less than the retail stores, and still make $15 profit per carton. And the taxes are going to increase next month too. Business will be good. I figure about 1000 cartons, is $15K profit, minus fuel and time. However, you have to find buyers. Of course this is highly illegal, but I know people who do this. College campus is a great place to find buyers. Obviously I don't have that connection.
Beyond that, the 60 minutes program back when New York had massive smokes tax, the whole spot revolved around a massive police bust of cigarette shops selling illegally imported smokes from Canada. In one specific shop they raided, nearly half of the entire inventory of smokes, were illegally imported. So it has happened, and I promise it will happen again.
You forgot supply and demand, as well as risk assessment. The supply of Tobacco is much higher than pot given Tobacco isn't banned completely. Further, there is a risk fact that must be incorporated into the price. Obviously the risk of driving to Kentucky to buy smokes from an Indian Reservation, is lower in the lower chance of being caught, and lower in the penalties given when caught. Obviously you haven't seen many Tobacco sniffing dogs lately.
Clearly a joint is going to cost you far more than a cigarette, even without taxes, when you consider the rest of the economic equation.
