I truly do believe that all smokers want to quit, deep down. That is what I believe, that is my opinion. You can detest my opinion all you want -- feel free!
"I truly do believe that all smokers want to quit, deep down. That is what I believe, that is my opinion. You can detest my opinion all you want -- feel free!"
Your feeling is not detestable in itself, although I think it's incorrect - I believe people when they tell me their opinion. For instance, it would seem ridiculous of me to suggest that although you *say* you believe that all smokers want to quit, I *know* that you really don't.
The detestable part is your desire to enlist the power of government to assist you in asserting your opinion over those who don't share it.
"I think" is fine. "I think the government ought to" is dangerous.
Remember that there are lots of people out there who equally fervently believe that we ought to pay more taxes, give up firearms, cripple our industry to save the planet, pay yet more taxes to support Cuban-style health care, prohibit people from eating foods the study of the week has declared 'bad,' and so forth. Is there something special about you that your opinion deserves the force of Government behind it and theirs doesn't?
If your opinion is rooted in fact and not fantasy, you don't need Government to enforce it for you. Your own advocacy, perhaps combined with others, can persuade people.
Conversely, if you think you need force to win people over, I suspect that your opinion isn't held very strongly. "People agree with me, and I'll club them over the head until they do" isn't very convincing.
Those were you original words.
I truly do believe that all smokers want to quit, deep down. That is what I believe, that is my opinion.
Not the same as your original comment, which was state as fact, not opinion.