Are the Government and their advisers completely INSANE??? Isn't it scary that people like this actually have the Government's ear? Read on and prepare to be amazed...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=IC4EDAEH2SHINQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2007/10/23/nsmoking123.xml
Smokers should be forced to apply for an annual £200 licence in order to purchase cigarettes, a Government advisor has suggested.
The scheme would ensure smokers had to make a conscious decision to continue the habit and require people to become "registered addicts".
Prof le Grand, who lecturers in social policy at the London School of Economics and advises ministers through his chairmanship of Health England, said the idea was to make healthy choices the norm and force those who object to make a conscious effort to opt out.
Once the scheme was up and running, it could be extended so smokers had to get a doctor's signature that their health was not at "massive risk"...
2007-10-23 05:19:16 · 18 answers · asked by slıɐuǝoʇ 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
It would not surprise me in the least.
I was once branded as insane by one person on this site for saying that the persecution of smokers would not end with the ban but would continue along lines similar to this one.
This persecution has, without doubt, the full backing of this Government who allow it to happen in the health service and employment sector without raising any objections.
I am simply waiting for the day when the first British smoker applies for political asylum in a foreign country and it is granted.
2007-10-23 09:47:22 · answer #1 · answered by one shot 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not in the least bit amazed, this government is Insane and the sooner the b******ds were routed the better. Nanny state, yes indeed, and people like this should be shot, or sent to the furthest reaches of the planet out of the way of ordinary law abiding decent folk, and by the way i am a non smoker.
2007-10-23 12:26:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In theory it sounds like a good idea but it is just another way for the government to get money and it would drive smokers underground and an even bigger black market would open up for those smokers who don't have a licence. It will end up back firing and criminalising those who just want a ***
2007-10-23 12:25:24 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The government are great at introducing schemes like this after they have raked in billions from smoking when it was at it's peak. I don't smoke, but feel sorry for those who are now being ostracised and punished for a dangerous habit that has bought so much revenue into the country.
2007-10-23 12:29:32 · answer #4 · answered by Spiny Norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I am sure most impartial people will have guessed by now that any tax is a good tax in Brown's view.The idea will probably be extended to include our visits to the bathroom for yet another tax!. People should wake up to the fact that the idiots are now running the asylum.
2007-10-23 20:57:38 · answer #5 · answered by Rob Roy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't panic! It's a suggestion by some policy wonk, there's no chance it will be adopted. If the government wanted to seriously discourage people from smoking they'd simply whack the tax on tobacco up to punitive levels.
2007-10-23 17:39:29 · answer #6 · answered by Huh? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nonsense like this is "Labour"'s only alternative to pretend they care about people, since actually fighting for socialism is off their agenda.
You can go jobless because they helped their friends in The City destroy your trade union - that's all right. But you better not console yourself with a drink or a smoke - because THAT'S bad!
2007-10-23 12:31:20 · answer #7 · answered by Dont Call Me Dude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gordon Brown is a new prime minister and needs to get new laws implemented to grab people who have left because of Tony Blair.
2007-10-23 15:27:31 · answer #8 · answered by LD 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whats next one wonders! It is has been made clear that fearful and far-reaching changes are being introduced which will totally dictate how we must conduct our lives. Gordon Brown and his anti-British gang will continue to introduce Stalin-like proposals. This is monstrous.And yet our self-serving government, encouraged by seeing public timidity, have the cheek to tell us we live in a democracy...
2007-10-23 14:22:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It well never happen, has bugger all to do with Government policy as I can see. A clever story from the Barclay brothers, could it be they don't like the labour government. I wonder.....
2007-10-23 13:19:37 · answer #10 · answered by number one fighting chicken 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋