It Is Time To Stop The Sale Of Tobacco Products
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I read with interest that the FDA will now take responsibility for the regulation of tobacco products. This new legislation is designed to hopefully stem the tide of new tobacco users and control how the tobacco industry operates here in the United States. But we all know that this is going to add more regulations and a new bureaucracy to the Federal Government.
It is time that we should take the bull by the horns and just ban the sale of tobacco products for good. There is overwhelming evidence that tobacco products cause serious health issues that no one can deny. The cost of providing health care to smokers cost all of us in higher medical premiums and also places undue burdens on our health care professionals. All in the name of tobacco and the addictive plant that produces nicotine. So how can we stop the production of more tobacco products?
According to one article it makes the following point about the new legislation:
Since 1998, the industry has spent nearly $308 million in lobbying to block the bill. Cigarette makers have seen sales shrink in the past decade. They have been operating under some advertising restrictions that were part of their 1999 settlement with 46 states, led by Mississippi, which sued the companies for costs from tobacco-related deaths and illnesses.
To continue to sue tobacco companies and make them pay for the cost of treating smokers does not seem to be working. The tobacco companies make billions of dollars on the sale of tobacco that the punishment does not deter them. Increasing the sales tax on tobacco products that the consumer must pay would seem to help to stem the tide of tobacco. But will that be enough to make people stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco products?
I doubt that this is the answer. A total ban on tobacco would be the only way to stop people from killing themselves.
Maybe the tobacco companies should hire a new Marlboro man and have him ride through a cemetery stating ‘this is Marlboro country’.
What do you think?
7 Comments
leftystrat
June 14th, 2009
at 9:51pm
I firmly believe in the right of the individual to do whatever sorts of damage he or she likes, so long as it hurts no one else.
Warnings on cigarette packs tell you it’s deadly, yet the addicts continue to smoke. Nanny State doesn’t work.
I’m really tired of the gov’t `protecting’ me. Let’s all do something smart and insist that the gov’t do LESS, not more.
Ymmv.
James Jelinek
June 16th, 2009
at 12:19pm
It’s definitely up to the individual to put the gun to his/her head.
As harsh as this sounds, it’s a process of natural selection.
Smoke em if you got em!
Kevin Bailey
June 17th, 2009
at 10:57am
I feel that one way we can work on both sides of this issue is to not cover now or ever the medical treatment of tobacco caused illnesses to those people that use tobacco products under government provided programs. If you smoke then hypertension meds and treatment for emphysema, lung cancer etc. should not be covered by medicare, medicaid or any other government funded coverage. This would keep to the “if it doesn’t hurt anybody else they should be able to do it. Under current processes they smoke because it affects their personal health but I pay taxes that help pay for care to their failing health because of the choices in lifestyle they choose. If you can document your discontinued use of tobacco then you can begin to get prorated coverage as long as you do not have a know preexisting condition. Part of documenting your quitting would involve having a medical screen performed on a regular basis.
Deena Malone
June 17th, 2009
at 12:02pm
“There is overwhelming evidence that tobacco products cause serious health issues that no one can deny” - I can deny it. The so-called studies that were done were all done via JUNK Science. The CDC figures came from studying numerous deaths and diseases, and if more people that died or succumed to the disease were smokers, then it was determined to be a “tobacco-related” death or disease. The people were never asked if they worked with napthalene, or asbestos, or carbon tetrachloride, or other known carcinogens. Many “studies” came from Stanton Glantz (an infamous neurotic anti-smoker - who is not a scientist, but a mechanical engineer), or from the funding of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Robert Wood another neurotic anti-smoker) - affiliated with Johnson & Johnson pharma. (any conflict of interest with selling nicotine products?). Also, death certificates are now lising deaths as “related to tobacco use” if the deceased smoked at all - regardless of the cause of the death - my husband was one of these. A friend of mine was accidently poisoned by napthalene fumes and got asmatic bronchitis. The paper work listed her condition from smoking - because she smoked. She had to insist they correct the paperwork. There is big money involved in making people think that tobacco is the big enemy. Wake up people!
AnnoyingGal
August 2nd, 2009
at 2:39pm
Hi.
JimKirk
September 2nd, 2009
at 3:06pm
Prohibition for the loss.
donswife
October 12th, 2009
at 4:02pm
My husband died of lung cancer 2 months ago….but ya know what?? He also worked in the asphalt/construction business since he was 13 yrs. old. There wasn’t ONE doctor at Sloan Kettering who would tell him he was sick from smoking considering his circumstances…no cancer INSIDE his lungs. It was outside of his lungs and inoperable.
Everyone should wake up - I can’t tell you how many people have died from lung cancer and never smoked a day in their life…..in their 20,’s, 30’s, 40’s..Stop with the tobacco crap already. People get sick from many things…alcohol, obesity, sunbathing !!! Let’s deny all their health benefits too if ever needed. Really people - everyone needs to wake up - could be you some day getting denied those benefits !!!!