Reply #4: Had the 50 cent tax been applied when it was proposed. . . [View All]

[Journeyman]

would it have had the effect of keeping prices lower today due to decreased consumption over the past years?

One of the intents of the tax was to discourage usage, yet no one seems to be factoring that in to today's emotional reaction to its supposed "impact."

I've seen plenty of arguments detailing how 50 cents on top of the current $2.00-plus price would be devastating, but nothing on the impact decreased demand over the past few years might have had.