Smokers Need Not Apply

In a growing trend, More employers are testing potential hires to see if they smoke. One such company, Homac Co. the maker of electrical connectors, "has been testing prospective employees for nicotine, just as it does for drugs and alcohol."

What....? First of all drugs are ILLEGAL so you can maybe understand the need for testing. Smoking on the other hand is perfectly LEGAL. How can the two even compare?

Secondly, alcohol can impair your senses and your ability to work (the same goes for drugs) so you can probably understand the need for testing. Cigarettes on the other hand DOES NO SUCH THING! Since when did you see someone stumbling down the street because they smoked a cigarette?

Putting nicotine in the same sentence as drugs and alcohol is an insult to my intelligence.

In the same news story it states "the company has been weeding out smokers and promoting a wellness program for other workers to control double-digit increases in health-care costs."

Well, what about fat people? Can it not be argued that people who are overweight are a burden to the healthcare system? Are you going to test their cholesterol levels and deny them a job if they don't meet your criteria? And who will set that criteria?

Sorry mam, but your too fat. Now you go on home and eat your twinkies cause your not working for me....

Are you going to give people a test to see if they ate ice cream and potato chips? Can I sue the ice cream and potato chip companies because their products have denied me a job? Can I sue Big Tobacco because they "hooked" me on their product which has denied me a job. Better yet, can I sue the prospective employer instead?

What a can of worms this can open in a lawsuit happy country such as ours.

Where does it all end?

The same news story states: "We got a lot of people telling us it was not fair. But is it fair to cut benefits for everyone because of a personal choice? And smoking is a personal choice."

Well being gay is a personal choice too. You can choose not be gay if you want. Can I deny someone employment because they are gay?

Being anti-war is a personal choice. Can I deny employment because I don't agree with their anti-war stance or because of their political affiliations?

Conversely, if I am an employer, can i hire smokers only and deny non-smokers employment? Hey, what's good for the goose is good for the gander... right?

Where does it all end?

Fat people, gay people, whatever people can sue for discrimination for being denied employment. Any discrimination lawsuit smokers may bring will most likely be laughed out of court. It's just the way our society is right now.

The masses have been dumbed down and brainwashed by politicians, special interest groups and the media into accepting the treatment of a class of people (smokers) as inferior and have in effect relegated us to leper status.

We have trouble getting jobs, or places to live because of smoking. We can't smoke in social settings outside of our home. We are kicked out to the street in rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures just to have a smoke. We are scammed out of our hard earned money (cigarette taxes) to pay for the services of the majority...

I don't know, how discriminatory can you get?

Where does it all end?

Concentration Camps...?

errrrr.... excuse my political incorrectness. I meant to say...

Health Camps?

Federal Cigarette Tax To Pay Healthcare of Illegal Immigrants

As you may know already, Congress is considering a bill to raise the Federal tax on cigarettes (as if smokers don't pay enough in state taxes) to fund the healthcare of uninsured children. Gee, cigarette taxes pay for everything else like closing the deficit in state budget deficits, roads, bridges, etc. so we might as well pay for uninsured children too right?

Now, forget for a moment that it is outrageuous to single out a minority group to pay for the healthcare of someone else. There is an even more pressing and outrageous issue that should be noted.

What the Federal cigarette tax really does is fund the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Persons applying for SCHIP service do NOT have to show proof of citizenship or nationality. SCHIP will expand the healthcare coverage for poor children that could open up the coverage to illegal immigrants.

Yes you read that right.... ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! In other words, the Federal tax on cigarettes, in effect, will force smokers to pay for the healthcare of illegal immigrants! Well don't that take the cake!

Hey, I guess Congress is thinking.... "normal" Americans would never stand for such a thing. So let's get dem smelly smokers to pay for dem illegals, they pay for everything else right?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has come out opposing a federal plan to raise tobacco taxes..." saying: "To prejudice a narrow sector of the U.S. economy with the aim of funding a broad-based entitlement program is grossly unfair and burdensome to American businesses and consumers,"

I don't know about you but I would rather quit smoking than to pay to for the healthcare of illegals. Or better yet...

I'd rather buy my cigarettes online from safe sources. :)

Update: Bush vetos SCHIP bill and the Democrats fail to overturn Bush veto of SCHIP bill.

Sovran Solutions Online Tobacco Buyers Club

As you know it's very important to arm yourself with some knowledge, before you attempt to save on your cigarettes and tobacco purchases online. It can wipe out the savings you thought you had and worse.

Buying cigarettes online is risky business. You may get a tax bill from your state. It is a gamble, a crap shoot. Maybe you will get caught. Maybe you won't. It depends on how agressive your state is.

As you may know, credit card companies have stopped processing online cigarette orders in a deal they have made with attorneys general. If you come across an online cigarette retailer who accepts credit cards... RUN!

Any online cigarette retailer who currently accepts credit cards WILL REPORT YOUR PURCHASES! That is why they are allowed to accept credit cards in the first place, because they have a deal that they will give over their customer list. You in turn will get a TAX BILL!

If you don't want a tax bill from your state then DO NOT order from any online cigarette retailer who accepts credit cards.

You can order cigarettes from Indian reservations who won't report purchases as they claim sovereign status. But there is another problem. You have to use electronic payments (Electronic Funds Transfer) to pay for your cigarettes which is not safe either.

Maybe the online cigarette retailer won't report your purchases but your bank just might. Many banks are betraying their customers and reporting their cigarette purchases. Is your bank next?
A solution tho this problem is a compnay aptly named Sovran Solutions Online (SSO). SSO is a MEMBERS ONLY Tobacco Buyers Club and their solution to the problem...?

PRIVATE DEBIT CARDS!

SSO is a members only tobacco. Simply join the SSO buyers club. pay a small $24.95 fee and then you will be issued your very own PRIVATE DEBIT CARD in the mail. Your private debit card will then be used to make your cigarette and tobacco purchases. This ensures complete PRIVACY on the part of the buyer!

The beauty of using a private debit card is that it is outside the banking radar. The state will have no record what-so-ever of what you have purchased. And since SSO will NEVER report your purchases, nobody will ever know what you have purchased.

SSO has gone way out of the way to insure anonymous spending on the debit system. It's all about protecting the identity of the membership. Sovran Solutions Online guarantees all smokers of legal age in the USA a safe, secure & completely private method for purchasing low-cost tax exempt cigarettes & tobacco products online. Without risk of being reported to ANY Government Agency! Without ANY State imposed tobacco taxes! And at theLowest Delivered Price on the Internet!

You can become a member of SSO by visiting the following link:

https://www.sovran-solutions-online.com/?ref=100069

Click "Join Opportunity" at the link above then click "Registration"from the left hand menu.

Sovran Solutions Online

Their is a new online cigarette company called Sovran Solutions Online (SSO). SSO is the Private, Safe & Secure Solution for all smokers in the USA that want to exercise their American right to smoke without the burden of State Government Agencies dipping into their pockets month after month.

Sovran Solutions Online is a 100% Sovran Company; legally established and structured to NOT report sales to any US Government Agency. With this unique infrastructure Sovran Solutions Online can positively guarantee customer privacy, safety and security longinto the future!

SSO absolutely guarantees all Members protection, privacy and security that those other online suppliers can only dream about! I’ll bet that after reviewing SSO you will make Sovran Solutions Online your only online Cigarette supply source.

Now, one thing you have to understand is that this is Buyers Club. You can't place any orders just yet. You have to become a Member first before you can place any orders. This is for your own protection. Once you become a member (and pay a small one-time ee) you will be issued a FREE Private Debit Card. This Debit Card Guarantees Online Payment Privacy and security.

SSO is deeply committed to the protection of Members identity and financial information. As you know in March 2005 all major credit card companies stopped processing cigarette orders. Any online cigarette dealer who currently accepts credit cards has a deal to report your order to your state. This is the only reason why they can process credit card orders. DO NOT BUY from any online cigarette retailer who accepts credit cards! You WILL get a tax bill!

That is why SSO issues you your own personal and private debit card to buy your cigarettes from SSO. Your privacy will be SAFE and your purchases will not bedetected by Big Brother! You will NEVER get a taxbill! Visit this link to become an SSO Member right now: https://www.sovran-solutions-online.com/?ref=100069

How do I join?

At the website, click on Join Opportunity – scroll to the bottom of the left hand option menu and click on Register – fill out the form completely - read & acknowledge the Terms - click Submit – select a membership payment option and you’re a member!

There are 3 lifetime membership options; Buying Member– Referral Member – Fast Start Referral Member. Buying Member is for those wou want to just purchase cigarettes only. Referral Member and Fast StartReferral Member are for those who want to make money referring smokers to SSO. You will find complete details, including information about the One-Time membership fee, in the JoinOpportunity section at the website.

How do I place an order?

If you are a Member of our Buyer’s Club; Go to:https://www.sovran-solutions-online.com/?ref=100069 Then – Login – click on Tobacco Mall – make your selection. If you are not yet a Member you will need to join before making your first purchase. The minimum order amount is 4 cartons or 4 items. You may order as many cartons as you wish; there is no limit.

SSO ships to all 50 States and the price you pay, regardless of where you live, is the same. Your order will be shipped within 2 to 3 days; excluding weekends and holidays. Generally delivery time will be between 2 to 5 business days depending on where you are located.

Note: You must be 21 or older to buy cigarettes from SSO. On the Internet, SSO verifies age of the purchaser under the Electronic Signatures Act pursuant to 28U.S.C. § 1746 which requires that you be 21 Years of Age or more to buy cigarettes or tobacco products online.

How do I check the status of my order?

Go to the SSO website: https://www.sovran-solutions-online.com/?ref=100069 Login – click on the Private Office button – then click on Track Order. Through our exclusive online tracking system, you may check the status of your order 24 hours a day – 7 days a week! SSO provides a Full 60-Day 100% Satisfaction Instant Refund Guarantee on all product purchases!

Benefits & Advantages of the SSO Buyer’s ClubMembership

Multiple Distribution Centers

Unlike all other online cigarette retail outlets; SSO utilizes 3 different warehouse Distribution Centers; which nearly guarantees product availability, faster packaging, handling & shipping for all Member’s orders!

Debit Card Payment

Shortly after joining the SSO Buyer’s Club, you’ll receive your own personal Private Debit Card in the mail; along with complete instructions & other membership information. Use your Private Debit Card at SSO for all of your purchases; plus you may use it at thousands of other stores and websites and at Over900,000 ATM machines worldwide! Safer & more private then any Bank issued debit or credit card; I'm sure you’ll want to carry it wherever you go! And remember,when you become a Member of the SSO Buyer’s Club, you’ll receive your card FREE!

Largest Tobacco Product Line on the Internet

As a Member of the SSO Buyer’s Club, you’ll have access to hundreds of cigarette selections; Premium Brands, Generic Brands, Value Brands & Discount Brands! Plus, a complete line of cigars; roll your own (RYO) tobacco, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco & snuff and several tobacco related accessories. All shipped fresh straight to your door at Low Member’s Only Delivered Pricing!

Personal Privacy

When you join SSO you are asked to provide only aminimal amount of basic information; such as your name, shipping address, birth date, etc. All information you provide to SSO is securely stored in their files outside USA jurisdiction. Your personal privacy is AbsolutelyGuaranteed!

Transaction Privacy

From start to finish, every aspect of your onlinepurchase remains 100% private. Your purchase is not reported to any government agency – Your Purchase & Information about what you purchased is not accessible to any outside entity. When you make any product purchase from SSO, you will never be asked to provide your checking account information or your credit card number! SSO does not need your Social Security Number or your mother’s maidenname either! All you’ll need to purchase products from SSO is your own personal Private Debit Card which SSO provides to you Absolutely Free when you join theBuyer’s Club!

Full 60 Day 100% Satisfaction Double ProtectionGuarantee

You will not find a better guarantee at any cigarettesales website! Although SSO provides complete blanket protection for your entire transaction; the very best part is that if you are not 100% satisfied for anyreason, you will get the full amount that you paid refunded almost instantly!

Go ahead and become an SSO Member right now:https://www.sovran-solutions-online.com/?ref=100069

Click on JOIN OPPORTUNITY at the above link for more information & registration. Do your self a favor and become a member today.

You can also visit my personal website to learn more and at your own leisure:http://www.ineedsmokes.com/

New York Obsessed With Cigarette Tax Money

In New York, Legislators have announced an effort to stop the illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes, a practice they say costs the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually...

Senator Dale Volker states in the new story that "The health and safety of New York's families are threatened by ruthless cigarette smugglers".

Cigarette smugglers??? Oh really...? And whose fault is that?

When you tax a product so high that it becomes unaffordable to many then DUHHHH you create a black market. It's like playing with a skunk and then getting upset when he sprays you. Boo hoo, politicians have no one to blame but themselves for these black markets.

In the same news story, legislation is being proposed to collect taxes from Indian tribes with half going to New York and the other half to the Indain tribes.

Said Senator Jeffrey Klein, "Splitting the tax with Native American tribes will help guarantee that over a million New Yorkers finally receive the health care they deserve..."

WHAT...?

Since when are smokers obligated to pay for the health care of EVERYBODY? Since when do you tax a MINORITY to pay for the services of the MAJORITY?

I'm sorry but Senator Jeffrey Klein is blatantly and openly condoning the discrimination of a minority group. What if it were blacks he were talking about? Or hispanics? Women? Gays and lesbians?

Would people still feel the same about unfairly taxing the minority to pay for the majority? I don't think so. But who cares about dem smelly smokers anyway. Right...?

Furthermore, trying to collect taxes or to split taxes with the Indians is contrary to a recent NY State Supreme Court ruling that said New York cannot collect taxes from cigarettes sold on Indian reservations in New York. But hey, screw the Supreme Court. Right...?

One more thing, I thought by raising the cigarette taxes on smokers it was supposed to pay for our healthcare costs. Listen, we are done. Our healthcare costs are paid for already. Why not just let us smoke?

Or was it all just PROPAGANDA so the people would accept the huge tax increase on smokers and feel good about it?

Me thinks the latter.

You know, New York claims it loses $700 million a year in unpaid cigarette taxes. What if the majority of smokers quit because of the excessive taxation? Guess what? You would still be losing all that money. And then what?

Frankly, it is flat out lunacy to heavily tax a product so people will quit buying it, but at the same time you rely heavily on that same tax money to fund your state budget. This is FISCAL IRRESPONSIBITY!

It's no different than playing the lotto and expecting to win $10 million so you can use that money (which you don't have) in your state budget. But wait. What happens if you lose and don't win the $10 million? Now what are you going to do? How are you going to plug that $10 million in your state budget?

Now you see why politicians get so freaked out about the cigarette tax money. They are gambling on money they don't have. They expect to make a certain amount of money off smokers but they forgot to take into account the law of cause and effect. For every action their is a reaction.

And so... their policy of excessive taxation subsequently encourages black markets which actually puts LESS money into state coffers! Their fiscal policies are insane and would bankrupt any company!

Ahem. Or any state for that matter too...

Stanton Glantz Profits Off Smokers Misery

C. Arden Pope, an air pollution expert at Brigham Young University speaking of secondhand smoke stated "Most of the time, it's so small we don't even bother trying to measure it," and further stated smoke from other sources, such as wood fires, barbecues and burning leaf litter, waft for waft is as hazardous to health as secondhand smoke.

Well gee, the risk of secondhand smoke is so small you don't even bother to measure it? So why the smoking bans if the risk is so small? Especially outdoors? And what of the other sources of smoke? Especially corporate industry smoke stacks. Why does everything else seemingly get a free pass?

In the same news story Stanton Glantz, a well known anti-smoking activist, stated "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

Oh really? Then why aren't we acting on the myriad of other things that can cause cancer? Why is only smoking picked on? Is it a health issue? Or a politically correct issue?

Let's take Mr. Glantz up on his offer. Remember his words: "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

A study claims Low levels of chlorine in tap water used for bathing can almost double the risk of bladder cancer.... Swimming in public pools can also present a risk because chlorine levels are much higher.

Where is Mr. Glantz now? Why isn't he protecting our health? We MUST BAN CHLORINE IN OUR WATER!!! "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

According to a study by researchers from the University of Southern California Traffic pollution from freeways may stunt development of the lungs in children aged 10 to 18... children living near highways are more likely to develop respiratory problems such as asthma.

Where is Mr. Glantz now? Why isn't he protecting our health? We MUST BAN ALL Vehicles!!! "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

MOBILE phones could turn out to be as damaging to health as cigarettes...

Where is Mr. Glantz now? Why isn't he protecting our health? We MUST BAN ALL MOBILE PHONES!!! "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

Aircraft emissions pollute the air and threaten by 2050 to become one of the largest contributors to global warming... emissions are considerable. On a New York-to-Denver flight, a commercial jet would generate 840 to 1,660 pounds of carbon dioxide per passenger.

Where is Mr. Glantz now? Why isn't he protecting our health? We MUST BAN ALL AIRPLANES!!! "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

Two articles based on a study that was published in a September, 2001 issue of the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology claim that burning incense can expose people to dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals.

Where is Mr. Glantz now? Why isn't he protecting our health? We MUST BAN ALL INCENSE!!! "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

According to a study by a Swiss environmental ratings agency Tyson Foods produces nearly as much greenhouse gas emissions as a major car manufacturer... Producing one kilo of cut veal produces as much greenhouse gas emissions as travelling 220 kilometres (137 miles) by car.

Where is Mr. Glantz now? Why isn't he protecting our health? We MUST BAN TYSON FOODS!!! "If you can't be assured the risk is zero, you should act,"

Unfortunately, Mr. Stanton Glantz does not care about any of these issues.

Why?

Simply put, it does not make him any money. Stanton Glantz recieves insane amounts of grant money for anti-smoking related causes and is able to live the good life because of it. Other more pressing health issues does not concern him in the least because he does not make money off of it.

In a strange way, Mr. Glantz has Big Tobacco to thank for the lifestyle he lives. Without cigarettes, he is nothing, a nobody.

How strange to depend on your enemy to sustain the very lifestyle you live...

MSA Attorney Accused Of Bribing Judges

Unbeknownst to many, not only did the states make a killing a with the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (in which tobacco companies have to fork over $240 BILLION over 25 years to the states) but so did the trial lawyers. Trial lawyers brought home an estimated $92,000 per hour for their services.

And now this, Attorney Paul Minor who represented the State of Mississippi during the landmark 1998 tobacco settlement went on trial Monday, accused of bribing two judges.

Paul Minor who earned $71 million in the settlement with tobacco
companies is accused of using campaign contributions and loans to
influence two former judges' decisions: Circuit Judge John Whitfield
and former Chancery Judge Wes Teel.

Gee, ain't that nice...? Don't you just love corruption?

Still think this is all about smokers health and protecting the
"children"? It seems everybody's ass was getting fat with all the money
in their wallets that they extorted from smokers.

We have corrupt lawyers who buy off judges, states that enter into
illegal collusion with each other, attorney generals who abuse their
power and authority, and the big 4 tobacco companies who sell out
smokers to protect their monopoly. It is no different than a mob
protection racket.

Not to mention the MSA is... illegal and unconstitutional. It is an agreement among the states that, without congressional approval, is specifically prohibited by the Commerce and Compacts Clauses of the Constitution.

"The $240 billion settlement was sold to the American people as compensation for treating smoking-related illnesses, but it's the states that have become addicted to tobacco money, spending it on all kinds of unrelated programs," says Sam Kazman, general counsel for the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Do you really think politicians would use this money for "smoking
related illnesses"...?

Fat chance... (by the way, you people are next)

The states have spent a large portion of MSA funds on projects totally unrelated to youth-smoking prevention and tobacco control such as:

Dump trucks, golf carts and a course irrigation system, and a new
county jail in New York

Broadband-cable networks in Virginia

Psychiatric care for prisoners in New Jersey

Boot camps for juvenile delinquents, alternative schools, and metal
detectors and surveillance cameras for schools in Alabama

Upgrading public television stations with DVD technology in Nevada

Harbor renovation and museum expansion in Alaska

Water and sewer improvements in South Carolina

Pasture and weather monitoring for a thoroughbred association in
Kentucky

College scholarships in Michigan

New schools in Alaska and Ohio

City parks and the purchase of undeveloped land in California

A senior citizen prescription-drug program and property-tax rebates in
Illinois

Medicaid dental services in Maine

Water Resources Trust Fund and flood-control projects in North Dakota

Operating expenses for the Carolina Horse Park, truck-driver training, pine-straw farming research and equipment upgrades at a knitting plant in North Carolina

A People's Trust Fund, which will generate interest income that can be spent at the legislature's discretion, in South Dakota

Help in balancing the budget, which used four years of MSA money, in Tennessee

Rural economic development in Georgia

Offsetting a revenue shortfall in Wisconsin. (Municipal bonds, backed
by future MSA payments, were sold to do so.)

Why should smokers have to pay for all of this crap...? Ever hear of taxation without representation?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought all this money was going to the states because smokers were a "burden to the healthcare system"...? This money was supposed to pay for smokers healthcare costs. What a SCAM!

And so not only do states get MSA money, in which they can do anything they dam well please with it, but then they have the nerve to jack up cigarette taxes and then cite the same "burden to the healthcare system" propaganda to justify raising the taxes. Who are they kidding?

Any other minority group would be screaming discrimination but there is no such thing as discrimination when it comes to smokers. Go figure, in todays politically correct world, where minority groups are afforded politically correct protection, it seems perfectly okay to view a class of people (smokers) as inferior. What hypocrites we are as a society...

As if that's not enough, Senator Edward Kennedy wants to reintroduce legislation that would authorise the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cigarettes and tobacco.

It seems the states and the Feds all say smoking is bad for you but NOBODY WANTS TO BAN IT. IF IT IS SO FREAKING BAD.... THEN BAN IT ALREADY!!!!!

But no, their is way too much money to be made, that's what it really all comes down to. They don't want to shut tobacco companies down, they just want to control it.

Hey anti-tobacco groups... think you will finally get your long awaited goal of a total ban on cigarettes with FDA regulation? HA! The government will screw you just as fast as they screwed the tobacco companies. You are a useful tool for now but you will become expendable.

Mark my words, the future holds one course with FDA regulation, eventually the government will take control over all of the tobacco companies. You will get your cigarettes from the government and the government will then keep all the profits for themselves.

Once a snake, always a snake...