How about if the smokers just pay for their own healthcare, RATHER THAN US, and the rest of the money we give to the government pays for all the crap we can't afford now. If you all want socialized healthcare, then someone needs to step the hell up.

Whats the difference between a drunk driver and a blazed driver?
The drunk runs the stop sign, the blazed one waits for it to turn green.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...57C0A9649C8B63

I seriously doubt we blow a ton of our money on "uninsured smokers" Check local state laws, bet your state spend "tobacco tax dollars" on "education"

Remember 76% of all stats are made up on the spot. And what exactly is "lost productivity"???? I see that at work every day and it doesn't require smoking. I can't think of anything more "made up" to prove a point than this:

The agency estimated the nation's medical costs related to smoking at $3.45 per pack, and said job productivity lost because of premature death from smoking amounted to $3.73 per pack, for a total of $7.18.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I'll tax fast food.
all that shit that makes america so special (by special, I mean ignorant fat medical messes)

LOL... Next you'll accuse me of buying a Prius, moving to San Francisco and smelling my own smug farts...

- First off, I do believe in smokers rights. I've never, ever, in my entire life, paid for any type of sexual conduct, But I still believe prostitution should be legal.

And while I may find cigarette smoke to be repulsive now, I believe in personal rights. If you want to smoke in your car, FINE. If you want to smoke outside at a restaurant, FINE. What you do with your body is your choice. Shoot it with heroine, take an ecstasy pill up the butt, snort some horse tranquilizers for all I care.

But that also doesn't mean that smokers should be able to smoke whenever or wherever they like. I was still a smoker when I moved to LA and liked the idea of restricted smoking. It's disgusting going to Vegas for example, where people are smoking where other people are eating. Those were smart rules even when I was a smoker.

But since there are taxes that need to be collected, I see no reason why tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, junk food, etc. aren't as good a place to get the money as anywhere else..

- And I don't just advocate higher taxes on tobacco. I advocate higher taxes on real estate (California prop 13.) - I advocate higher taxes on lots of luxury things.

The only thing I really don't advocate tax hikes on is disproportionate tax increases on the wealthy, small business owner, etc. and estate taxes that are enormous. If someone spent their entire life paying taxes, why should the government get 1/2 their money at time of death? That means their heirs will only get 1/4 of what the family worked for.

Nobody likes taxes and I wish our tax money was better spent.

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"When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary" - Arliss

I think there are other "health and safety" issues that place a greater burden on the healthcare system than smoking, which is already somewhat limited in the US compared to many other countries. Try going to Spain and finding a smoke-free restaurant.

I don't think anyone here is talkin' about socialised medicine. If folks want to smoke, they can pay their own co-pays at the doctor's office.

That's not exactly true either.. Just last night 60 minutes lead off their hour with a whole segment on drunk driving, increased penalties and murder charges.

I think the PR has actually come off smokers in the past few years.. No one really cares anymore.

And I agree, they should tax McDonalds, Burgerking, and all the other crap, transfat heart attack mongers.. Though if they go near In-N-Out with a tax, I'll blow somebody's head off. lol.

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"When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary" - Arliss

Yeah, because our states have cut funding for education bigtime. I went through public schools in one of the communities in the country that spends the most per student, and there were so many budget cuts, I can't even remember them all. Our teachers put ice packs on the thermostats (when gas was 1.00 a gallon) because they could barely afford to heat the buildings above 60º. No printing, no lights on, no field trips, cutting teachers. I shudder to think what it was like in less affluent districts.

Tax flippers (oh wait, they already are. But they all bought Hummers and wrote it off)

Uh another statistical problem. What's the population like in your area? Y'all had what.......1200 kids in high school?

Now that's pretty funny. Assuming it's a joke