Comments on: Smokers May Pay For Kids' Health Insurance

U.S. Tobacco Taxes Viewed As A Likely Source Of Children's Health Funding

[michellem99-2009]

My room mate he does the shots, prick his fingers. He says they hurt. Does inhalers, on meds, Had 4 heart attacks , must use a cpack machine when he sleeps. He is 55. The bloody cigerettes. legal to smoke them. No sane person would knowingly put them things that are in cigs in the body. I read it,it made me sick. I am down on booze as well.
My Dad he is 72. He use to visit us when we live in the town and state he is in. He could hardly clime the steps,we thot he fall to floor. He would fight for air.It was heart breaking.
My room mate of 24 yrs never smoked in the apt. Out doors. he quit 12 Sep 00 when he had his first heart attack and VAMC Dr told him to quit or he would not treat him. You better believe he quit right then cold turkey.He don't drink.

[grammawhamma]

troutfisher4...I bet you are involved in some activity that affects us all financially. Did you have any children that needed an education? Do you drive a gas guzzler? Were you ever involved in a car accident that raised my auto insurance rates? Need I go on??

[grammawhamma]

Yes troutfisher4...I admit that I regret having ever started smoking but I am addicted and don't have the will power to quit at this time. As a hospice nurse I have seen many people die from lung cancer, it's not a nice death...but then not many deaths are. My husband died of lung cancer. I know "all" about it. But I want you and everyone to know that the constant badgering and belittling and insults smokers get for a legal activity is not helping us addicts to quit.

[grammawhamma]

troutfisher4...actually I am also a tax payer. I not only pay income tax and real estate tax but I also pay the high taxes on cigarettes by my choice until "I" decide I want to quit smoking. I also willingly pay higher premiums on health insurance and life insurance as a smoker. My taxes (and yours) also go to fund social security, medicare and medicaide...why are you not b.itching that health freaks are living too long? That is also sucking up "your money". And BTW as a trout fisher I bet you drive a gas guzzler 4WD to get to those hot fishing spots. Like I said before smoking is still legal...as is driving that 4WD!!

[grammawhamma]

jimfinster....regarding your post to me. GrammaWhamma "Keep smoking and you will not need to worry about the nursing home. And those "rights" won't do you much good when you are DEAD." Exactly....you "finially" got my point! Don't worry about me if I'm not worried about me. Don't tell me how to live "my" life since it isn't really affecting "you" at all. I don't want to live forever...if you want to live forever...sorry, got bad news for you...it's not going to happen. You health freaks kind of remind me of misers...saving every penny and living in poverty all your life just so you can die rich but never enjoyed life.
As for your 7:43 post: There are many people that have died of lung cancer that have never smoked or been exposed to 2nd hand smoke. Did you know that the US government recognizes many types of cancer (lung cancer included) and also diabetes as a war related death for those vietnam vets that were exposed to large ammounts of agent orange?
I am not saying that smoking is good...I know it kills in the long run usually...but it is still legal.

[actornaught]

Don't worry, troutfisher4, sooner or later they ALL quit.

With some luck, smoking will only happen at secluded offshore retreats. Then they can play lawn darts, give each other tattoos, lick frozen flagpoles, have russian roulette tournaments and whatever else turns them on.

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by troutfisher4 at 09:29 PM : Jul 07, 2007

Based on the totality of your comments, you appear to be a troll. Or, you could be a juvenile who is visiting with the adults.

But, in any case, I reject your challenge due to the fact it is irrelevant to the topic at hand.

And, I've used up my troll baiting quota for the month on another board, which precludes further responses to you, your unsupported opinions, or your "challenges."

Have a nice evening.

[tuckerndfw]

tuckerndfw:

Wrong as usual.

They are required to itemize each year. It was over $20,000,000 in 2006. Go look it up.


Posted by troutfisher4 at 09:25 PM : Jul 07, 2007

In other words, the headline story in incorrect, but you are correct?

And, you cannot provide a link to the source you claim supports your assertion?

Okay, whatever you say.

This seems to support the headline story:

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=A02


They seem a bit more credible than your unsupported opinion.

[tuckerndfw]

Man, you really are dumb. Ever heard of the TOBACCO LOBBY??

Posted by troutfisher4 at 09:18 PM : Jul 07, 2007

That may be true, but I have enough intelligence to read the story:

"The Center for Responsive Politics reports that total campaign contributions from the tobacco industry fell from $9.2 million in the 2002 election cycle to $3.5 million in last year's cycle. The center also ranks industries when it comes to campaign contributions; since 1996, tobacco has fallen from 26th in the center's rankings to 62nd."


Which is more than can be said of you.

[tuckerndfw]

What is America using the tax on alcohol for? Far more people drink alcohol (beer and liquor) than smoke.

Posted by uceslady at 08:44 PM : Jul 07, 2007

Smokers do not have a multi-billion dollar lobby to bribe lawmakers like the liquor, insurance, automobile, oil and medical industries.

When it comes to levying taxes, the only thing that matters is who has the most money to bribe lawmakers. In this case, smokers are "s.o.l.", as they say, since smokers have become the "witches" of this 21st century "witch hunt."

It is amazing how people who claim to love freedom are so willing to give it up, so long as it is someone else's freedom they are giving away.

Automobiles (and related activities) cause far more destruction than anything else, and if we were going to tax based on destructive value, cars would be taxed at $100,000 each.