Massachusetts Finds the Real Danger: Elderly Smokers

When cancer doesn't kill smokers, taxes might, at least if the state has its way. A dangerous individual is threatening our collective well-being with second hand smoke, third hand smoke, and—most importantly—tax evasion. Eighty-year-old Fran Dalton is wanted by the law for buying mail-order cigarettes. Her $15 carton of nonfilter Senecas was purchased from the tribe of the same name. The tribe doesn't have to charge taxes—oh, how kindly America repays its natives—but apparently Fran still has to pay them. The state Department of Revenue has asked Ms. Dalton to fork over $90 in taxes on the $15 carton, which seems a little outrageous. Equally outrageous (and amusing) are some of the Globe comments:

Eventually we will realize that old people are really the cause of health care costs. I guess getting old could become a "lifestyle choice."

Children cost the state a fortune maybe we should tax them.

An alternative, if morbid, solution to health care costs:

The early deaths of cigarette smokers save far more than they cost society. Were smoking eradicated today, health care costs would go up, not down.

A comment that gets at the heart of the issue?

The larger issue is the hypocrisy of enforcing the rule against this woman while "somehow" not applying it to others - notably those who've been elected to do just that.

Finally, our favorite,

She should be smoking some grass instead.

Hey, at least that one's tax-free—for now.