How far we have come in the 21st century in the realm of Western politics. We have a center-right political party making decisions based on "encouraging good habits". Inherently, this is nanny state social policy wrapped in a sandwich of thin-crusted, pseudo-fiscal conservatism.
As a former smoker, I have a certain amount of comradeship with those wheezing bastards. And one thing you can't help but notice, is a relentless campaign of demonising smokers disproportionately in society. Indeed, I would not be surprised to see an advert cursing the evils of smoking, followed a few adverts later glorifying the taste of Steinlager.
Probable hyperbole aside, I have found a lot of shared attributes of the most vocal and ardent non-smokers, for instance, a strong desire to be "healthy", with the over-inflated, media-enforced, alleged serious negative effects of second-hand smoke, and usually possessing an overweight or underweight build, unhealthy drinking habits, or some kind of psychological chip-on-the-shoulder, or a state-sponsored smug sense of moral-superiority, transmitted by socially sponsored anti-smoker sentiment.
Many anti-smokers will decry the costs that smokers inflict on society with their self-inflicted diseases, and that the public shouldn't have to foot the bill. After all, they're smokers.
But what benefit does the government derive from dissuading people from smoking? Obviously less tax revenue from cigarette sales, is an obvious one. One might argue, "But that is dismal compared to the cost smokers cost our health system!" Not so. Another issue few factor in, when balancing the costs and benefits of smoking, is the fact we have an aging population. This aging population, currently sitting at around 78 for men, and 82 for women as seen below, is a massive drain on the economy via pensions, especially consider that women nowadays aren't having enough kids to replace our own population and the coming pensioner-ship Baby Boom exasperating the issue further.
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| Source: Statistics New Zealand: http://www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/health/life-expectancy.html |
The Myth of Life Eternal:
Anti-Smoker's attitude: "People don't even want to smoke, because of seeing all of the terrible things and diseases that happen to smokers. People have become more health conscious and aware of what can harm them, and they want to avoid being old and decrepit."
I'll let Bill Hicks answer that.
Non-smokers die.. Every day. Sleep tight!
You see I know you entertain some type of eternal life fantasy because you choose not to smoke, let me be the first to POP that bubble, and send you hurdling back to reality... You're dead too..."