One in Four Smokers Will Get Lung Disease

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[Ditter]

I have no doubt that a doctor of today (not 60 years ago) would have had an entirely different diagnosis of your 2 day old sisters breathing problems and the treatment would not be tobacco smoke. She obviously didn't have much of a problem and it cured its self. She did not have asthma, and the tobacco smoke didn't cure what ever it was.
But you continue telling that yarn because you obviously believe it, I don't.

[Blackirish]

Hell...I don't know what to add.

There is a guy in my office who has COPD. he looks like death warmed over... 45 years... prolly a 5th every nite plus a pack and a half of reds....6 foot..130..hacking all day between cigarretes...the next bad cold could kill him.

Then my Dad...81...pack a day ...a nice stiff vodka every nite...healthy as a horse God Bless him.

I'm 46 and quit cigs last year cuz it was just my time.

I''ll stick with a nice glass of red or two when I get home from a hard day.

[elkfersupper]

How come the pro-smoking people who post the tax charts don't get this. They always say THEY are the ones paying the taxes!!

That's done to show the primary targets, not the secondary ones, like yourself.

[paulat]

That's done to show the primary targets, not the secondary ones, like yourself.

...but...okay...we've absorbed a lot of their tax.

[383rr]

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! Could it be??? Could it be ah say??? An attempted sense of humor?
Damn dude, you're killing me, with your smug, selfrighteous digs!!! GeT DOWN an 'jiggy wid it.

[elkfersupper]

But you continue telling that yarn because you obviously believe it, I don't.

Dr. P---- is still alive and still consulting.

I'll see if I can't get him to sign on and give you the lecture.

[elkfersupper]

...but...okay...we've absorbed a lot of their tax.

Just who is "we"?

[Alter Kaker]

Tobacco is numbered amongst the things that made our forebears suprisingly healthy? Please, that's pure idiocy. They also produced and drank booze, and wrangled large four-footed creatures for work and transportation. Rumor has it, they danced and laughed occasionally also.

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, a white male child born in 1850 had a life expectancy of 38.3 years. Yes... healthy!

[patton]

Given your history, you have an astounding degree of trust in government.

I am still trying to figure that out.

[paulat]

That's done to show the primary targets, not the secondary ones, like yourself.

Sorry to belabor, elk..but here's my question:

Say you make a widget. Do you pass on the cost of the cigarette in that widget price? I can see that with gasoline (to transport the widget)...but I'm not quite getting the cig analogy.

If I choose not to buy caviar...I am not spending my discretionary dollars on caviar...and I am not paying the caviar tax.

If I buy bread...that is more essential...so I AM paying for the gas tax, etc., that is incurred in getting it to me.

Sorry if I am pushing this out...but I do want to understand.

[Ditter]

Let the senile old f*rt be. If he was practicing medicine 60 years ago he has to be 90+. And if tobacco smoke cured asthma there would not be anymore asthma. If that simple solution worked everyone would be pumping smoke into their asthmatic kids rooms. As far as my asthma in concerned, I didn't know what caused it until I moved out of my parents smoke filled house and it went away.

[paulat]

Just who is "we"?

The non-smoker...you said that tax is passed on.

[elkfersupper]

but I do want to understand.

Taxes are a cost of doing business (unfortunately).

Businesses do not pay taxes, they pass them on to their customers to pay.

Labor is also a cost of doing business, that is also passed on.

The cost of labor seeks its own ground. If the labor force is not satisfied with its compensation, it moves on.

People doing the labor factor all the things they want or need into their compensation demands.

If the price of something they want or need goes up, they demand more compensation.

25% of the labor force uses tobacco products.

Taxes on that is figured into their wage demand, and is passed on to the consumer (you).

[paulat]

Taxes on that is figured into their wage demand, and is passed on to the consumer (you).

Thanks! I'll remember that when smokers say they pay all of it.

[elkfersupper]

And if tobacco smoke cured asthma there would not be anymore asthma.

I never said tobacco smoke "cures" asthma.

In my sister's case, it stopped the onset.

As with many things, interrupting the onset mitigates a full-blown problem.

The evidence is anecdotal - less smoking, more childhood asthma.

Draw your own conclusions.

[elkfersupper]

Thanks! I'll remember that when smokers say they pay all of it.

Remember to apply it to the fatties and the people who drive too fast or run with scissors.

[Ditter]

I have drawn my own conclusions, your sister did not have asthma.

[patton]

I have a better idea - let's just tie the tax on a gallon of gas to that on a pack of cigs. The gas pollutes more, creates more health problems, and costs more, in US health care expenses.

So...NY has $5/pack tax on cigs. $5/gal tax, anyone?

[elkfersupper]

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, a white male child born in 1850 had a life expectancy of 38.3 years. Yes... healthy!

38.3 years gloriously free of busybody nanny-staters (and federal income tax).

I would trade for that in a minute.

[NRA2BFree]

My husband and his brother both died from lung cancer. They were both long time heavy smokers.