Time to tax the fat!

Post by **R.Flagg** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 12:22 pm

Or leave my smokes alone!

Put a $2 state and/or fed tax on your nasty hamburgers, then waddle over here and maybe we can talk.

Heart disease is the #1 killer in this country you hypocrites.

Comments?

On the funny side of this, I told a non-smoking friend, that if they keep pissing off all the smokers, we eventually will rise up and fight back. A war for the freedom to smoke. Much like the freedoms this country was supposedly built on.

Anyway, he said all the non-smokers would have to do is run away for about a city block or so, and we smokers would all be bent over and hacking back there in middle of the street, and they'd just walk on back and knock us over.

[obviously a post for the Americans in the crowd]

FurrySound · Post by **FurrySound** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 1:42 pm

I have the right and freedom to breath clean air.

FurrySound{Moo}

Post by **R.Flagg** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 1:51 pm

Sure, great. Happy for you.

What's that got to do with the air in MY home?

Because that's what we're talking about here.

DJPaul · Post by **DJPaul** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 1:56 pm

R.Flagg {MoO} wrote:Sure, great. Happy for you.

What's that got to do with the air in MY home?

Because that's what we're talking about here.

Perhaps, since FurrySound has the right to breath "clean air", you therefore need to keep all windows and doors shut? o_0

FurrySound · Post by **FurrySound** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 1:57 pm

Hmm... drug use in the home... that's still illegal.

FurrySound{Moo}

Post by **R.Flagg** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:09 pm

Not in my America.

Cigs are quite legal, and are even heavily protected and subsidized(sp?) by the government. Despite all the lawsuits which are 100% illogical in the face of that. But this side of story is not popular with the obese TV news watching audience. And ratings drive the dissemination of news in this country. Doesn't matter how important it is, what matters is will it sell soap or cars.

Cigs are in fact one of the main driving forces in our economy. And the taxes from them might be helping to support your family. (in one indirect way or another)

Now what?

Hmm... drug use in the home... that's still illegal.

* You know, we could even debate whether or not the founding fathers intended for our contemporary government to intrude in the personal lives of our citizens in this manner anyway.

My bet is that they did not. This was not the intended use of their powers. Whatever I smoke or eat or rub into my belly behind the doors of my home is none of their business, and it never was.

As a matter of fact, it's this type of overreaching, oppresive government that they feared. It's one of the many reasons I have the right to arm myself.

You cannot legislate morality.

FurrySound · Post by **FurrySound** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:46 pm

I don't agree with the whole cig industry/government thing. We should just go with a flat tax rate across the board, skipping this whole income tax, someitems taxed/some not, etc... Particular products shouldn't have 'control' of the economy or government as they do now, and this includes the Oil industry, etc..

You can arm yourself with a gun, but you can't go building a chemical weapon in your basement. There has to be a point after which the government does step in.

FurrySound{Moo}

Post by **R.Flagg** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:17 pm

I knew I liked you Furry.

And I agree completely.

Nowhere else I'd rather be, of course. This is my home. But I'm tired of getting stiffed on taxes because so many choose to turn a blind eye, since it doesn't "hurt" them.

It aint right, and no logical eye looking at it would say so. It's pure robbery, plain and simple. Lies and abuse.

"lifetime politicians" should become an outdated term. That is a big part of the problem. It's all about retaining power, and gaining wealth.

Gasman · Post by **Gasman** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:29 pm

My $60000.00 worth on this subject. I used to smoke up to 2 packs a day. I quit smoking cigs around 1995 and started smoking cigars. Swisher Sweets of course. After awhile I quit smoking cigars and started chewing on them. I figured all the hype about 2nd hand smoke might be true so I quit smoking for my kids health. Of course I got diabetes in 1994 and thought nothing of that either. I chewed and swallowed that cigar juice from 95 to 2000. In Oct 2000, I started feeling bad and went to the doc..5 days later I was laying on an operating table getting a triple bypass done on my heart. The docs say it was because of the combination of diabetes and tobacco that caused it. I still have tremendous cravings for cigars to this day. So, I can see Mark's side of the story about smoking and things, but if I would have known it was going to come down to all the pain and suffering I went thru, I would have not even started. This is in no way to disrespect your opinions Mark, I just want to make sure people get a good checkup at least once a year.

Post by **R.Flagg** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:37 pm

Can't argue with that Gas. And I'm damn glad you're here to tell me about it.

But the cash issue is cash. I have kids also, and it's harder for me to take care of them when the politicians are robbing me.

It's easy for folks to sit back and say "just quit". But that is hardly an answer to what the govt is doing.

And it's completely off-topic. However, for those who wish to take that route, which is most, I have the McFatty response.

I'm a vegetarian, and I don't eat them nasty burgers. Heart disease from Burger King and McDonalds addicts kills more/costs more than we smokers. Yet they sit on both those plastics seats at once and deride me and my hacking brothers.

FurrySound · Post by **FurrySound** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:43 pm

Correct me if I am wrong, but you don't smoke around your daughter do you?

If you answer yes... you are taking away her right to breath cleaner air, and live a healthier life. Unless you don't believe all the 'hype' about cancer, no, its not just a Zodiac sign.

If you answer no... you are saying people have a right to breath cleaner air for their health. In this case your daughter. Which brings us to you 'doing what you want' inside your house again.

FurrySound{Moo}

Post by **R.Flagg** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:58 pm

In the same house, but not in same room.

I also have purchased two HEPA air filters. One in room I smoke in, the other one is for the room they are in.

When I am at home with her, like now, she has half the house available to her. Some rooms are kept shut for her safety. When I want to smoke, I just make sure she is occupied in one room, and I head to another.

She's but a toddler still, so many times she's napping, or coloring on the floor, or whatever. It's not so hard to sneak a few minutes away. And when Her Highness won't allow that, we go outside.

I also do not smoke in the car. Or in restaurants. Or in the theater.

But in my house, or outside in my yard, many times in my garage, (it's cold outside!) or outside where I work, or whatever.

But no, not around my kids. My non-smoking wife would not allow that, even if I was ignorant enough to do it. Though that is how I was raised. My father smoked everywhere. All the time. That was just 'dad'. It was normal. And so did everybody else's dads. Or so it seemed.

Times change.

MadFragger · Post by **MadFragger** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 11:34 pm

have you ever tried to quit smoking? and no, im not getting on your case about it..just wondering. some people have bad nightmares and stuff from the patch. my dad used to smoke alot and he probably smoked for a good 15-20 years. then he tried the patch for 3 days and he hated it so he quit cold turkey and has been smoke free for the past like 4 years.so, have you tried quitting? what was your expereince like? I myself do not smoke..when i was like 12 my grandfather died of lung cancer and it was hard on the whole family(watching him in the hospital for weeks) and my uncle made me promise him i would never smoke..and i kept that promise.

Post by **R.Flagg** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 1:55 pm

Sure I have. Longest period was for about a year. Then I had some beers, (which is rare for me) and a smokin' I went. Really, really enjoyed it too. Such sweet satisfaction.

And I of course do not wish to make light of folks who have had health problems, or lost loved ones, due to smoking. But there is no shortage of that. I have my own examples from my family as well. And sadly, there is certainly more to come. This is a fact of life.

But again, it is way off topic from what I'm ranting about. Smoking is unhealthy, this we all know.

But they need to Stop Robbing me, hiding behind the guns of the police, and the votes of the ignorant and greedy, to 'make it legal'.

MadFragger · Post by **MadFragger** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 9:24 pm

surely you can still afford these uber-priced(sarcasm) cigarettes

and if you love them so much price shouldnt get you down