All of the above cited are just words spewed and thrown out by these A-Holes. They can't provide the truth, it's something they just dream up.
The general public thinks "Oh! If they say so, it must be true." What sheeple we all have become.
More than 1.7 million Americans die of chronic disease every year (~70% of total deaths); of these people 2/3 of these deaths are due to 5 chronic diseases (1)heart disease, (2) cancer, (3) stroke, (4) COPD, and diebetes [1]. Is smoking related to these same chronic diseases? "As many as 30% of all coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths in the United States each year are attributable to cigarette smoking, with the risk being strongly dose-related. Smoking also nearly doubles the risk of ischemic stroke. Smoking acts synergistically with other risk factors, substantially increasing the risk of CHD. Smokers are also at increased risk for peripheral vascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and many other chronic diseases. Cigarette smoking is the single most alterable risk factor contributing to premature morbidity and mortality in the United States, accounting for approximately 430 000 deaths annually.[2]. Chronic disease accounts for more than 75% of the entire costs spent on medicine [1] - the same diseases caused by smoking! Direct medical costs of smoking alone are more than $75 billion, causing an additional $80 billion associated with lost production [1]. $33 billion is spent on heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabete (3/4 caused by smoking) [1].
Japanese population suffers from other diseases (no info provided)
"The improvement in the health situation has already been reflected in a reduction in mortality rates, which has contributed greatly to achieving the highest life expectancy in the world. Until the middle of this century, deaths caused by infectious diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis and gastroenteritis prevailed in Japan. However, since the end of the Second World War, these diseases have rapidly decreased and have been replaced by so-called life-style related diseases such as malignant neoplasms, and heart and cerebrovascular diseases. Cancer has ranked first in the cause of death since 1981. The number of cancer deaths in 2000 was 295 484, and the death rate was 232.80 per 100 000 population. While Japan has been traditionally characterized by a greater tendency for stomach cancer and uterine cancer deaths than deaths from other types of cancer, deaths from these types of cancer have been declining in recent years. They have been replaced by an increasing number of deaths from lung cancer, breast cancer and cancer of the large intestine among other types of cancer, showing a trend towards the "westernization of cancer"." [3]
Increased costs for HC are acceptable if they are from behaviours approved by you
It's not about my approval its about paying for a bad habit - disproprotionately.
The extra taxes and premium costs directly funded by smokers doesn't keep up with actual costs (no actual costs provided)
Do the math smart guy.
Now, when exactly are you going to change your monikor?
After you kiss my ass :-)