The War On Tobacco

[C.S.Strowbridge]

That's funny, it seems that people in this thread are confusing Aspartame with sacarine.

Which is the one that's mostly sand?

[Slartibartfast]

Please provide some EVIDENCE that anti-smoking campaigns are wasteful.

They waste tax dollars for the unproductive purpose of trying to get people to quit a private habit. Furthermore, as a product of rebellion, they probably cause more and more children to want to start smoking - In a free, democratic society with American-style individualism, scare tactics often have the opposite result.

That argument has been repeated over and over, in this thread. He has heard it, and so have I. That's why he's asking for EVIDENCE, as in not just saying "You spend dollars in something that is probably wasteful, because maybe teenagers will smoke just to spite the government, and I kinda think that it doesn't reduce the amount of smokers at all, 'cause that's sorta the way it works in individualist America unlike all other fascist countries where laws actually do stuff."

And the government has a duty to EDUCATE people about the DANGERS of such stupidity.

No, it doesn't. The government's duties are outlined in the Constitution, and that isn't one of them.

The government's duty is to govern, and a big part of governing is educating. It doesn't have to be in some stupid constitution.

Of course we can all have our little anarchy, where the government not only doesn't have ANY laws at all, but doesn't even EDUCATE on the stuff that it doesn't want to make laws about.

Heck, it wouldn't even cost us anything in healthcare - well, for the government - if we cut out all the socialist care programs like we should. And, like I said, removing the government anti-smoking campaigns will probably reduce the number of teenaged addictions.

That's funny in a cartoon kind of way (saying not to do something will automatically make you want to do it no matter what) but it has little bearing on real life.

Hm, while we're at it, why don't make laws or campaigns saying that people must inject themselves with heroine? That'll drop the drug addiction rates by quite a bit.

[C.S.Strowbridge]

Please provide some EVIDENCE that anti-smoking campaigns are wasteful.

They waste tax dollars for the unproductive purpose of trying to get people to quit a private habit. Furthermore, as a product of rebellion, they probably cause more and more children to want to start smoking - In a free, democratic society with American-style individualism, scare tactics often have the opposite result.

That argument has been repeated over and over, in this thread. He has heard it, and so have I. That's why he's asking for EVIDENCE, as in not just saying "You spend dollars in something that is probably wasteful, because maybe teenagers will smoke just to spite the government, and I kinda think that it doesn't reduce the amount of smokers at all, 'cause that's sorta the way it works in individualist America unlike all other fascist countries where laws actually do stuff."

I know some of the anti-smoking ads done by the tobacco companies are having the oposite effect. But I think that's planned.

'Smoking is bad, if you're not an adult.'

Gee, I wonder if that will encourage kids to smoke?

[Durandal]

Huh, looks like those ridiculous "truth" commercials actually are effective.

http://www.applesforhealth.com/HealthyF ... smtc4.html

I stand corrected, unless someone can come up with contrary evidence.

[Darth Servo]

Huh, looks like those ridiculous "truth" commercials actually are effective.

http://www.applesforhealth.com/HealthyF ... smtc4.html

I stand corrected, unless someone can come up with contrary evidence.

Nice article. I guess we shouldn't be surprised that it was the Phillip Morris "anti-tobacco" adds that were the problem.