[willowpar]

Smokers are one of the few groups the politically correct crowd deems fair game for demonization, ostensibly because their increased health care costs are passed on to the rest of us. This fallacious argument was blown out of the water a few years ago when a study (publicized on 60 Minutes) examining the situation concluded in fact that the taxes paid by smokers more than covers the increased health care costs associated with smoking. And this study was done years ago when the taxes on cigarettes were much lower. But since everybody hates smokers, NYS figures it can get away trying to balance their bloated budget on their backs without many people complaining.

[lonestar]

Smokers are one of the few groups the politically correct crowd deems fair game for demonization, ostensibly because their increased health care costs are passed on to the rest of us.

Another study showed elderly smokers cost the government less than non-smokers because they die younger.

I think booze causes other people more damage than smokers cause non smokers. Driving drunks kill other people.