Geez, we all have bad habits that contribute to various health issues, but I haven't had to pay a fee just because I eat Frosted Flakes in the morning instead of granola. I'm not a smoker, but these anti-smoking nazis have gone too far. It is easy to demonize smoking because it is a VISIBLE habit. The more private habits of individuals are less visible and make a harder target. These other private habits contribute as much or more to health issues as smoking, but they are ignored. It would be interesting to trace the money trail for these anti-smoking campaigns and see where they actually originate. Which groups are behind these laws? Who stands to gain? And it isn't the employers. Some would probably say "big Pharm" is the big winner.
Some would probably say "big Pharm" is the big winner The war on the smokers is all about Big Bucks. The Tobacco Settlement is being paid 100% by the smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes. Not the government and not Big Tobacco. The smokers pay this.
The Tobacco Settlement being paid into the states was supposed to pay for any sick uninsured smoker (welfare) should there be any, and for education about smoking. However, as I am sure you have heard, the money is so huge, that the state governments jumped on it to “balance the budgets!” The weight of the state is being carried on the backs of 1 out of 4 people who choose to smoke a legal commodity.
Then, you have the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, working with the American Medical Association. They have a HUGE war on smokers. Currently, 44 states are in the pocket of the RWJ Foundation. The higher the taxes, the more control, bans and restrictions put upon the smoker, the bigger the grant money the state will receive.
Here is a few cartoons that explain it perfectly:
Some would probably say "big Pharm" is the big winner. Oh yes! Big Pharm WANTS to be the big winner! They WANT people to quit smoking so they can sell them their high priced "quit smoking aides."
(The reason the Government is working to get us all to quit smoking, is so Big Pharm can get our money for quit smoking aides!)
