It's not about health issues, children or any of that. The government has found a somewhat "undesirable" group that it can extort money out of for it's coffers. As another poster stated, smokers are becoming an unpopular lot, due mainly to propoganda.
If they were really concerned about "health cost issues", homosexuality would have been banned or taxed long ago. Women's healthcare costs tend to exceed those of men. Why no extra tax on them? Additionally, I would be interested to see exacly what extra health care costs smokers incur. I've been smoking for 20 years and it never made me sick. I've known 3 people who died of lung cancer in my life and only one was a smoker. I understand there is SOME risk involved but compared to other activities, the risk of sickness or injury is small.
It's just about the money they can get from the "undesirables".
Well, I am sure you heard about the forced smoking ban coming to DC? And guess where the smoking ban will be exempt???? You got it! The Halls of CONGRESS!
So smokers can't be TOO much of a undesirable group. Our own Congressmen smoke and they do not WANT a smoking ban. But yet, they force the ban on the rest of us.
I hate double standards.
::stomps feet and screams as loud as possible::
"It is not the government. It is the UN!!!!"
::who are these funny men in white coats coming towards me?::
/poor attempt at humor