[albee]

...and the left-wing "ban everything that might ever cause one miniscule bit of harm to the universe", is the idea of a middle ground betwixt those extremes.

How many lives would be saved if the Government banned sex for homosexuals and intraveneous drug users....or at least put a high enough tax to force them to stop those dangerous activities?

[hunter112]

Albee, I think the government already does ban intravenous drug use, unless you've paid a physician for the prescription. And, we tried banning various forms of sex, that doesn't seem to be workable either, and for that same reason, it makes it difficult to tax. I have no illusions that banning or taxing tobacco will make it disappear, but it will make it incredibly inconvenient.

Growing tobacco is only possible in certain areas, growing beef cattle is more widespread. The nut cases couldn't get rid of cheeseburgers if they wanted to. And for the rest of my natural life, I expect my generation, and my children and grandchildren's generations to not allow them to. That's a good enough reason to take your grandkids to McDonalds as often as possible!