Posted on 02/17/2008 3:05:56 PM PST by bigdcaldavis
A ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone who does not pay for a government smoking permit has been proposed by Health England, a ministerial advisory board.
The idea is the brainchild of the board's chairman, Julian Le Grand, who is a professor at the London School of Economics and was Tony Blair's senior health adviser. In a paper being studied by Lord Darzi, the health minister appointed to oversee NHS reform, he says many smokers would be helped to break the habit if they had to make a decision whether to "opt in".
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
The permits to eat food, to breathe air, to have running water, heat, etc. won't be taxes either...
“In a paper being studied by Lord Darzi...
I think he’s taking that ‘Lord” thing just a little too far.
If you drive a car,
I’ll tax the street.
If you drive to city,
I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold,
I’ll tax the heat.
If you take a walk,
I’ll tax your feet.
Taxman!
When I was a kid I read that Huck Finn liked to smoke corn silk. I tried it, and it made me sick. I later learned it only did so because I didn't let it dry sufficiently before i tried it.
I have read that when the Corps of Discovery (Lewis and Clark) ran out of tobacco, they ground walnut bark as a replacement.
These day I don't smoke much, but about the time some clown tried to get me to buy a permit for the "priveledge" I guarantee you I would resurrect my corn silk brand and ground up some walnut bark (which grows all over the US) just so I could smoke for free. I might even experiment with flavoring so I could really enjoy it and avoid any tax whatsoever regarding my "vice."
No one tells other people how to live with greater zeal than a liberal. Lord! I hate liberals!
“Coming Soon to a Country Near You” Ping!
I’m so glad I’m not a smoker. No Gnatzies will EVER take away any of MY rights. Right? *SMIRK*
yet another symptom of creeping totalitarianism.
(and I’m someone who finds smoking utterly repulsive but firmly believe “to each his own”)
The UK also requires a license to own a TV at a whopping £135.50 per year for a color telly.
Alternatively, this gentleman should be required to pay an annual 10,000 pound license to not be punched randomly by people on the street.
It’s perfectly fair, that by paying the money, it shows he doesn’t want to be punched in the face.
I personally prefer a 1000 pound a year fee for Adult Diaper Permits for incontinent whiny socialists.
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