Would it be worth destroying the tobacco farmers and manufacturers if we could cut back on some forms of cancer?
2006-11-16 11:30:42 · 23 answers · asked by daydoom 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Ban food. Obesity is killing people as fast as tobacco.
2006-11-16 11:37:09 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ban alcohol so that drunk drivers won't mow down people on sidewalks. Oops - the U.S. already tried that and had to give up because the real criminals (mobsters) profited like crazy from illegal alcohol running.
The same thing would happen if tobacco were banned. There would be all sorts of people sneaking around, paying way too much for cigarettes - and there would be plenty of people with carton after carton of smokes to sell under the table.
Besides: we Americans have the liberty to choose what we do to ourselves. We can gorge ourselves on junk food, ignore doctor's advice to get more exercise and drink until we trash our livers if we want. Trying to force us to make good, healthy choices is nothing more than an attempt to take away our freedom to choose what we want to do.
As for destroying the tobacco industry: during Prohibition, many breweries (including Budweiser) switched over to ice cream manufacturing. I'm sure that tobacco farmers and producers would find something else to do...but that doesn't mean that forcing them to do that is right or fair.
2006-11-16 19:49:05 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it should be banned. Tobacco is a great source of tax money, even if you increase the tax on tobacco, people will still buy it. If it is banned, then the government would seek another source of income, who knows what it will be, maybe sales tax or something else.
2006-11-16 19:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by 2feEThigh 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would support such a ban. No Republicans would not support such a ban. Republicans own stock in Tobacco sales. They also make lots of cash from the related Health Care industry.
Republicans have always refused to regulate business. Even if it kills Americans.
2006-11-16 19:43:54 · answer #4 · answered by jl_jack09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The politicians have set it up so tobacco can't be banned without stealing money from health care and education, since most of the cost of a pack of cigarettes is taxes to fund such programs.
You're going to be hard pressed to get people who don't smoke to voluntarily raise their own taxes to cover for the lost revenue. And, the people who do smoke aren't going to vote to ban them, that will just raise the price when they have to switch to the black market to scratch their itch.
2006-11-16 19:39:28 · answer #5 · answered by ML 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The State's would go broke... and it would be like Prohibition... it didn't work. Illegal drugs are still out there... why? Because banning them doesn't work... The State's need the money... Illinois makes 98 cents of each pack of cigarettes and that's just the state excise tax... add in the county and the each city taxes, that's an expensive pack of smokes...
2006-11-16 19:42:02 · answer #6 · answered by Netta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smoking is not really a menace to the society because people had the choice. Banning it would be unconstitutional and against the farmers that are engaged in its industry.
2006-11-16 19:34:33 · answer #7 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While were at it why not ban alcohol? No more drunk drivers or alcoholics. Ban candy and soft drinks, no more obesity or diabetes. The list could go on and on, the government is not a baby sitter. At some point people have to take responsibility for their own actions.
2006-11-16 19:35:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i have the answer,
out law tobbacoo and legalize pot at the same time.
when it was time for a new harvest just plant the new crop. everybody wins.
also with weed legal we could finally use hemp.
think about no more trees having to be chopped down
hemp is also the fastest growing plant in the world.
anything made of wood can be made with hemp plus alot more
we could even fuel cars with it.
plus the good news is it would be very easy to convert saw mills into hemp mills.
if you think hemp is bad then i guess you a hate just about all our founding fathers who used to insist every person grow it.
but if you think thomas jefferson was stupid by all means keep it illegal
2006-11-16 19:39:47 · answer #9 · answered by sapace monkey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES, I have smoked for 45 yrs and tried to quit hundreds of times. I have lasted anywhere from 5 minutes to 6 months. I just put out my latest cigerrete. I think they are killing me. I am a recovered alcoholic, have not had a drink in over 30 yrs.
2006-11-16 19:41:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I not only think we should allow smokers the right to slowly kill themselves but I also think the government is missing out on some incredible tax revenue by not legalizing pot.
80 per cent of California smokes it and the other 20 per cent lies.
2006-11-16 19:40:42 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋