cigarettes will make you poor here

[August]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Also in the US (or most other nations for that matter) what gives the government the right to tell people what they can or can not do with/to their bodies

Government mandated health care. The government owns your body now and it won't stop with tobacco either.

Government mandated health care. The government owns your body now and it won't stop with tobacco either.

Even without government mandated healthcare governments gouge people on tobacco price, and if there wasn't any government healthcare private insurance would seriously screw smokers by loading their premiums just like they already do.
It doesn't stop with tobacco anyway it goes across a wide range of goods just like it always has so "government mandated healthcare" is a bit of a kipper.

[Stealhead]

Well at least in the US the entire tobacco thing goes both ways in the states that grow tobacco and produce tobacco products at least at the state level they heavily lobby the government and I am sure that most reps in DC from those states are pro tobacco as well.


And the taxes that many nations/states place on tobacco is bogus in my opinion they do not stop people from buying smokes another interesting fact to consider is that a sizable number of smokers at least in developed countries are the poorer lesser educated class so are they really trying to make you more healthy or are they trying to make you rely more on the government because I am certain that there are many people that need(how many really need is anyone's guess) government aid to feed themselves and their families yet they smoke which means that they are spending the money that they earn(or get from welfare) on the high cost of smoking which means that they will not have that extra money to buy food or other goods on their own so go to daddy government who made the costs of smoking rise.I do not know personally a single person that smokes or used to smoke that was motivated to quit solely due to the cost alone.

[thebeasle]

Originally Posted by August

Government mandated health care. The government owns your body now and it won't stop with tobacco either.

This. Government paying for healthcare will be the justification to ban smoking and all other things. They will also try to force you to eat according to the food pyramid, which is terrible for your health.

[soopaman2]

Originally Posted by thebeasle

This. Government paying for healthcare will be the justification to ban smoking and all other things. They will also try to force you to eat according to the food pyramid, which is terrible for your health.

Ban Alcohol too. More drunks kill people on the road in a week, than secondhand smoke kills outside in 20 years.

I love when people fake cough. I usually blow a nice puff towards them. Especially if I am in one of the few places outdoors I am still allowed to smoke.

Yet a bartender will let me slam down 10 drinks and drive home, every time. (not saying I do. Just saying)

edit: I know this is not the USA, but the government will be even more deficit ridden without the obscene taxes it collects on ciggys. Downside to everything. Just saying all you (other people) lifestyle freaks.

[joea]

Originally Posted by soopaman2

Ban Alcohol too. More drunks kill people on the road in a week, than secondhand smoke kills outside in 20 years.

I love when people fake cough. I usually blow a nice puff towards them. Especially if I am in one of the few places outdoors I am still allowed to smoke.

Yet a bartender will let me slam down 10 drinks and drive home, every time. (not saying I do. Just saying)

edit: I know this is not the USA, but the government will be even more deficit ridden without the obscene taxes it collects on ciggys. Downside to everything. Just saying all you (other people) lifestyle freaks.

I agree with most of what you say and think governemnt regulation is going to far- however I will point out there are people like myself who suffer from seasonal (hayfever related) asthma and I cannot abide cigarette smoke. I prefer to avoid it but as I have friends who smoke it usually is ok as they usually will head out to smoke. In the summer I put up with it as I liek to sit outside too just not in the spring please. How can you tell a fake cough anyway?

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by thebeasle

This. Government paying for healthcare will be the justification to ban smoking and all other things. They will also try to force you to eat according to the food pyramid, which is terrible for your health.

I cant speak for others but I for one will never allow any government tell me how to live on that level.I mean somethings like certain taxes are a bit annoying but they pay for something(supposedly) like police and first responders I suppose if you live in a city you also get to pay for water I do not as I live in unincorporated county zone and I have a well and a septic tank.

Certain laws are also understandable but if the government tries to come and tell me what to eat and how to live then I will declare my intent to disobey if they are smart they will leave me alone if they try to use force to make me obey then they will meet force.

[soopaman2]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Certain laws are also understandable but if the government tries to come and tell me what to eat and how to live then I will declare my intent to disobey if they are smart they will leave me alone if they try to use force to make me obey then they will meet force.

That is the American spirit!

I'll summarize in a way our forefathers did ( and Metallica).

"Don't tread on me."

[August]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

I cant speak for others but I for one will never allow any government tell me how to live on that level.I mean somethings like certain taxes are a bit annoying but they pay for something(supposedly) like police and first responders I suppose if you live in a city you also get to pay for water I do not as I live in unincorporated county zone and I have a well and a septic tank.

Certain laws are also understandable but if the government tries to come and tell me what to eat and how to live then I will declare my intent to disobey if they are smart they will leave me alone if they try to use force to make me obey then they will meet force.

You'll need to grow your own crops and raise your own livestock then because the way they'll regulate your diet is by regulating what you are allowed to buy at the market.

You'll need to grow your own crops and raise your own livestock then because the way they'll regulate your diet is by regulating what you are allowed to buy at the market.

And if you are raising your own livestock you wil be facing lots more regulations as livestock is a big business and needs some serious regulation.

[Jimbuna]

Quit the habit just three years ago after smoking for 30+ so I believe I know how hard it could be for some to beat the addiction.

Raising the tax through the roof will simply allow a black market to flourish and a potential loss of income to the government.

I'm not sure there is an essy answer to this whichever side of the debate you support.

[STEED]

Smoke? Go ahead but if you fall ill and need medical treatment your paying. That could be a case here in the UK as we have the NHS. No idea about the rest of the world, but there is a draw back to the idea. If you take it to this level you want to do DIY and go to the gym find but if you have a accident your paying. Difficult to find the correct balance of keeping both sides happy.