I don't believe in smoking but......

[Pam]

cbelt3 wrote:
[quote=Pam]
It's extremely wrong. People voluntarily ignore diet and exercise warnings resulting in diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc yet they'll single out smoking? Look at the obesity rate. But that's ok. Pop some pills, don't change your habits. There are far more people in that category than in the smoking category.

Pam..

And yet... you have people like me. I'm not 'obese'. (OK, I'm not svelte either, but I'm in decent shape, walk a couple miles a day, etc..)

I have three chronic conditions. All through genetic heritage.
Asthma
Diabetes
Hypertension

Not everybody with Diabetes is a doughnut sucking Wal-Mart electric cart driving lazy pig. Not everybody with cholesterol is a bacon sucking beer swilling redneck.

BUT... Everybody who smokes made a specific decision to smoke. There's no 'genetic heritage' that gives you smoking-related health issues.

And THAT is why smoking is something that can be reasonably targeted. It's already being targeted.

Now.. I'll point out another factor.

Smokers are ALREADY taxed significantly. And the taxes are supposedly going to the cost of healthcare for smoking.

So we're double dipping these folks. NOT fair !

(Disclaimer: Mrs. cbelt3 smokes. Pack a day. I've tried and tried to help her quit. Nothing works..)
Did I not say lack of diet and exercise? You were not in the group I was referring to. Can you ever get your head out of your butt long enough to realize it's not about you?

You obviously and others obviously do not understand the nicotine addiction process or the difficulty in quitting long term. How empathetic of you. Not a soul chooses to get addicted.