142 replies to this topic

[Frank Merton]

I don't see anyone here recommending banning cigarettes, so why all the messages (including mine) saying that is a bad solution?

I think to prevent black markets, cigarettes should be available, but tobacco companies should not make money off it -- they are selling a deadly, addictive product.  To stop the new addictions the profit has to be taken out.  I see no way to do that other than for the government to take over this industry.

[Purifier]

ealdwita, on 25 January 2013 - 04:48 PM, said:

The 'Tobacco Control Act' enacted in Bhutan (Eastern Himalayas) in 2010 is the nearest any country has got to banning tobacco so far. It prohibits the cultivation, harvest, manufacture, supply, and distribution of tobacco, as well as the manufacture, supply, distribution, sale, and purchase of tobacco products within Bhutan.

Tobacco can be imported for personal use, but smuggling cigarettes for sale is punishable by a minimum of 3 years imprisonment.

I also suffer from mild COPD, and stopped smoking 4 years ago, but whatever the pros and cons, I personally believe a complete ban to be impractical.

Lol. I'll bet the black market groups (mafia/cartel types) in that area, right now, are saying to themselves: "CHA-CHING!"

[Leah G.]

What happened to freedom? As long as you don't infringe on others, do what you want, it's your life. If you drink too much, stay home or take a cab. If you smoke, do it in private. They outlawed suicide years ago and now they are thinking of making it legal so, it's a circle. I say, if you aren't hurting anyone but yourself, do what you want. We have far to much regulation of personal freedoms at this point. Perhaps the regulations need some regulations....

[CrimsonKing]

Not sure about that frank,if the gov gets ahold of the industry next thing you know they will be telling us all how healthy they are just to keep shoveling money into there slimy pockets

[ealdwita]

How attitudes have changed...........

[Leah G.]

ealdwita link doesn't work here?? But I remember seeing it long ago when I was a wee child.... yes, I had a black and white tv too... ok ok, I'm old...

[CrimsonKing]

Thats funny,when i smoke occasionally while drinking camels are my go to cig hahaha

[Frank Merton]

CrimsonKing, on 25 January 2013 - 05:02 PM, said:

Not sure about that frank,if the gov gets ahold of the industry next thing you know they will be telling us all how healthy they are just to keep shoveling money into there slimy pockets

For awhile something not to far from that was going on in Vietnam, since the state here pockets a real nice tax from the import of foreign cigarettes.

Something happened and now smoking is being actively discouraged in spite of the revenues.

In Vietnam almost all the men use to smoke and only prostitutes among women smoked.  Now about half of men still smoke.  The others were apparently not so strongly addicted that they stopped readily.

The big push now is to stop young people from beginning to smoke.  The addiction is just too powerful for the remaining smokers and raising prices merely makes them poorer.

My view of a country like the US is that the profit motive is what keeps the tobacco companies continuing to addict young people with packaging and magazines and so on, and that the only real solution is to nationalize them.  Now you realize I'm a socialist anyway, so that doesn't sound so fearful to me as it no doubt does to the typical American where socialism is seen as akin to Satanism.

[CrimsonKing]

I own a lot of dvd's of movies from the 30's and 40's cant stand most the trash and remakes they put out today,back then smoking was heavily part of the culture everything from casablanca,public enemy,the hustler all had smoking in them it was normal.Now days its almost illegal to put a cig in movies but everything else is okay and look how our society is turning out.We have hollywood stars glorifying guns in there movies as long as they make a buck,yet standing there demonizing them at public events.This country needs a enema,and a kick in the head.I dont have anything against people in socialist countries just dont like how there goverments can change there lives in the blink of an eye if they so choose to.

[ealdwita]

Leah G., on 25 January 2013 - 05:18 PM, said:

ealdwita link doesn't work here?? But I remember seeing it long ago when I was a wee child.... yes, I had a black and white tv too... ok ok, I'm old...

Programmes were always better on the old steam-operated telly, weren't they?

[pallidin]

Yeah, a tough subject.

Tobacco has zero health benefits, substantial heath risks, yet the Gov in the US makes a fair amount of money from it's sale, both domestic and export.

EDIT: But yeah, I wish it was illegal. I know far too many people who have died or have serious illness as a presumed result of tobacco use.

Just don't take away my beer.....please......

Edited by pallidin, 25 January 2013 - 05:47 PM.

[Frank Merton]

CrimsonKing, on 25 January 2013 - 05:40 PM, said:

I dont have anything against people in socialist countries just dont like how there goverments can change there lives in the blink of an eye if they so choose to.

To get into a discussion of that would be to hijack this thread, so if you want to please start one.  Let me just say that it don't work that way and that effecting change is just as hard here as anywhere.

[Leah G.]

ealdwita, on 25 January 2013 - 05:42 PM, said:

Programmes were always better on the old steam-operated telly, weren't they?

  Oh and the arm's stretched out acting as your own antenna... oh, technology is soooo much better now....

[pallidin]

Leah G., on 25 January 2013 - 06:19 PM, said:

  Oh and the arm's stretched out acting as your own antenna... oh, technology is soooo much better now....

You do realize that the arm/leg stretching to get a better signal back then was a Gov conspiracy to exercise.  

It's how DISCO evolved....

Edited by pallidin, 25 January 2013 - 06:32 PM.

[Michelle]

pallidin, on 25 January 2013 - 05:43 PM, said:

Yeah, a tough subject.

Tobacco has zero health benefits, substantial heath risks, yet the Gov in the US makes a fair amount of money from it's sale, both domestic and export.

EDIT: But yeah, I wish it was illegal. I know far too many people who have died or have serious illness as a presumed result of tobacco use.

Just don't take away my beer.....please......

I'm glad you said presumed. People assume everyone that gets lung cancer got it from smoking or second hand smoke and that is definitely not true.

What do you think they are going to try and outlaw next? Fast food? Alcohol? Soft drinks? Sugary foods?