Hard to Fathom

A study conducted by the non-profit research group RTI on behalf of the NY state’s health department found that poor smokers in New York State spend about a quarter of their entire income on cigarettes.  Wow.  Since these people are making less than $30 K there it seems to me that $7500 is a whole bunch of money.  You would think that would motivate them to quit?   I guess not.  Now think about how medical costs will be incurred by that $7500 habit over a lifetime?  From COPD to cancer, these people will eventually burden society (because they have Medicaid) much more than anyone will every know.  How about we set aside the tax that triples the cost of each pack and use it to pay for these peoples’ health costs instead of giving it to the state who basically does what they want with the money?