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raindancer
Capt. Sparrow's Pirate Wench
PeaNut 217,886
August 2005
Posts: 15,450
Layouts: 44
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then why did we spend $173,218,926 more in subsidies than we took in tax revenue in 2010?
I'm just delving into this as a research topic and my cursory google search already has me irritated.
I really hate lobbies and special interests.  |
~Heidi~
"You can make excuses or you can make progress but you can't make both."
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*melrose*
PeaFixture
PeaNut 263,952
June 2006
Posts: 3,475
Layouts: 60
Loc: in the land of fruit, nuts, flakes & quakes!
 | Posted: 2/14/2013 5:26:40 PM
I believe it's the same reason the Gov't bailed out the automobile industry...tobacco employs people.
While I don't agree with either...it does employ people; many beyond the farm gate. |
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raindancer
Capt. Sparrow's Pirate Wench
PeaNut 217,886
August 2005
Posts: 15,450
Layouts: 44
| Posted: 2/14/2013 5:32:18 PM
Oh I know it all comes back to hypocritical reasons. I just find it annoying. I didn't even look into how much it spends on anti-tobacco campaigns and public service announcements.
It just is annoying to me that this stuff goes on right under out noses. So blatant. I feel like I'm pretty politically aware, but almost daily I get smacked upside the head by stuff like this, and I find it maddening.
I suspect a lot of people have no idea. |
~Heidi~
"You can make excuses or you can make progress but you can't make both."
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*melrose*
PeaFixture
PeaNut 263,952
June 2006
Posts: 3,475
Layouts: 60
Loc: in the land of fruit, nuts, flakes & quakes!
| Posted: 2/15/2013 2:18:30 PM
I suspect a lot of people have no idea.
Agreed. Nor any interest.... |
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Annabella
Leads a Charmed Life
PeaNut 43,843
July 2002
Posts: 42,244
Layouts: 46
Loc: East Coast
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 2:19:51 PM
I'm not familiar with these subsidies you're speaking of? What about the high taxes on cigarettes at the store? |
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sharonmnc
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 39,386
May 2002
Posts: 6,845
Layouts: 28
Loc: Charlotte, NC
| Posted: 2/15/2013 2:26:11 PM
I lived in a tobacco producing state and I heard the argument that tobacco produces jobs, but here's a thought. How about paying the farmers to grow something that doesn't kill people?  |
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WannaPea
No Peas for you ! Come back one year!
PeaNut 151,172
June 2004
Posts: 26,828
Layouts: 175
Loc: In my PJ's
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 2:50:20 PM
How about paying the farmers to grow something that doesn't kill people?
Bear in mind that we still continue to pay farmers NOT to grow certain food crops. 
This country is all sorts of crazy. |
Cop's wife - Mom to one
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." ~ Delos B. McKown
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swim mom
BucketHead
PeaNut 226,253
October 2005
Posts: 945
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/15/2013 3:19:45 PM
On a similar note, government wants minors not to smoke. Lots of money is spent on no smoking messages aimed at minors. Minors are forbidden by law to buy tobacco products ans adults are forbidden to purchase tobacco for minors. Yet minors are allowed to use tobacco freely. No laws against it. There are only laws about obtaining tobacco, but no laws about possession of or using tobacco by minors. How contradictory and absurd is that? At least alcohol laws are consistent regarding minors. But not tobacco laws. | |
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Compwalla
Pastafarian Pea
PeaNut 11,942
March 2001
Posts: 19,828
Layouts: 39
Loc: Vacaville, CA
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 3:22:41 PM
Big tobacco gives a lot of money in political contributions. As does the agro-business industry. That's why we see tax breaks and farm subsidies on commodities that are not good for the health of Americans. The industries we should be discouraging have purchased enough political influence to prevent any real policy change from happening. And this goes for both sides of the aisle. No one's hands are clean; they all take this dirty money whenever they can get it. |
Virginia
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. --Susan B. Anthony
Blog link - Dryer Lint
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~Lindy~
Catty smart aleck
PeaNut 89,450
June 2003
Posts: 17,469
Layouts: 40
Loc: Gone to Chemo with BethAnne.
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 3:26:10 PM
Yet minors are allowed to use tobacco freely. No laws against it. There are only laws about obtaining tobacco, but no laws about possession of or using tobacco by minors.
Texas has laws on the books for minors in possession of tobacco. The punishment ranges from fines, community service, tobacco education classes and losing your drivers' license. More here: LINK |
-Lindy
"It's not how you look but how you see." | |
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Blue_Violet
PeaNut
PeaNut 543,767
February 2012
Posts: 141
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 4:00:29 PM
Yet minors are allowed to use tobacco freely. No laws against it. There are only laws about obtaining tobacco, but no laws about possession of or using tobacco by minors.
This is not true in my state either. | |
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leftturnonly
Will trade mosquitoes for cookies.
PeaNut 416,788
March 2009
Posts: 19,560
Layouts: 0
Loc: Living in Kim's Perfect World, again.
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 5:11:42 PM
Taxes collected on tobacco - in California - are used for: tobacco-related health education programs and disease research, medical & hospital care & treatment of patients who can't afford those services and for whom payment will not be made by any private coverage or federal program, programs for fire prevention, environmental convservation, protection, restoration, enhancement & maintenance of fish, waterfowl & wildlife habitat areas, & enhancement of state and local parks and recreation.
In Oregon, these taxes fund: police & fire services, schools, roads, parks & other public services, The Oregon Health Plan, senior citizens transportation services, & tobacco use reduction.
US Federal Cigarette Tax funds the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)
In other words, there are quite a few programs that depend on the revenue from people purchasing tobacco products.
Crazy, no?
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If PC is the way to get to Heaven, I'm going straight to Hell.
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
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Kymberlee
PeaAddict
PeaNut 32,544
March 2002
Posts: 1,776
Layouts: 1
Loc: where ever Uncle Sam sends us!
 | Posted: 2/15/2013 5:32:48 PM
I have asked myself this question before. It is the same way with corn subsidies. Has anyone ever seen the Penn and Teller bit about the way the gov't subsidizes the corn industry. It just makes me crazy! Wannapea is right; our country is all kinds of crazy. We give money to people to grow stuff that is bad for us and turn around and spend more money to pay for public service announcements telling us that the stuff we are paying to grow is bad for us. Makes no sense.
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Fraidyscrapper
Serious Interlocutor
PeaNut 38,100
May 2002
Posts: 12,477
Layouts: 0
Loc: Jersey Strong
| Posted: 2/15/2013 5:44:52 PM
How about we all butt out (pun intended) and let people eat/smoke/chew/grow/produce/buy/sell what they want to and what the market demands. The government has zero business picking who should win and who should lose. Zero.
That would be more palatable to me if this industry in particular didn't have a history of baldly lying about the health impacts of their product, if they didn't have a history of manipulating the narcotic/addicting elements in their product. We also know that few adults make the free choice to use the product, given the history of how this industry has chosen to grow their markets. In addition, we do all bear the medical costs that result from the use of this product, which I think gives us all some skin in the game. |
| "The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country." - Robert F. Kennedy | |
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mapchic
Top Tier Pea
PeaNut 31,157
February 2002
Posts: 12,166
Layouts: 55
Loc: Chicagoland
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Nantini
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 274,935
August 2006
Posts: 5,099
Layouts: 8
| Posted: 2/15/2013 6:42:15 PM
I heard yesterday we are starting to export more tobacco to China. 
Finally we have something going the other way. 
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SillyRabbit
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 104,457
September 2003
Posts: 2,814
Layouts: 12
Loc: Where The Grass Is Blue
| Posted: 2/15/2013 7:18:40 PM
I find that interesting. I live in Ky which was at one time a very big producer of tobacco. It may still be. I know when I was a little girl everybody and their brother raised tobacco around here. It's very hard physical labor because the entire process is manual but there was good money in it and it generally was collected at Christmas time. Now, nobody grows it around here. Seriously, I know dozens who used to grow it and not one of those people still does. I guess only the super large scale farmers are involved with tobacco anymore. And large scale farmers generally have powerful voices in Washington. |
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maddiesmum
PeaNut
PeaNut 574,034
December 2012
Posts: 360
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/15/2013 7:44:10 PM
How about we all butt out (pun intended) and let people eat/smoke/chew/grow/produce/buy/sell what they want to and what the market demands. The government has zero business picking who should win and who should lose. Zero.
Because second-hand smoke kills people. People like my mother who never smoked a day in her life but lived/worked/was in public with smokers. She died a hideous and painful death from lung cancer at age 61.
You don't think much before shooting your stupid mouth off, do you? | |
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
| Posted: 2/15/2013 8:22:15 PM
"That would be more palatable to me if this industry in particular didn't have a history of baldly lying about the health impacts of their product, if they didn't have a history of manipulating the narcotic/addicting elements in their product. We also know that few adults make the free choice to use the product, given the history of how this industry has chosen to grow their markets. In addition, we do all bear the medical costs that result from the use of this product, which I think gives us all some skin in the game."
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I don't disagree with you at all. The tobacco industry has much to be ashamed of. I hope and pray for the day when tobacco is a terrible memory...but I don't want the government to do it. Town by town or state by state, things can change and they have greatly changed in my lifetime. Government can have a hand in changing attitudes, and when approved by voters, enact smoking bans in public places. But using the power of the federal govt and the taxpayers money, to drive entire industries out if business? Hell no.
I am quite bothered by the notion that we all have "skin in the game" because of health care costs. Not saying you are wrong, but that it is wrong that we are in that position at all. My decisions should not have a financial impact on you. That is what is flawed with our healthcare system.
And thank you for a ration discussion, unlike others around here. |
 
"We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts... Self-government means self-reliance." Calvin Coolidge
Lynlam, the second-tier Pea, paid (except it appears she is not) political shill. | |
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
| Posted: 2/15/2013 8:41:38 PM
Huh...I posted two replies using the twopeas app, but they aren't showing up here on the main site. Strange. Well, hopefully they will pop up.
In the meantime, I want to ask fraidyscrapper something...
In regards to your "we all have skin in the game" train of thought...if we all have the right to police what people choose to do based upon what the behavior costs all of us collectively, then it is perfectly reasonable to demand that the government round up all the illegal immigrants and deport them immediately, because We spend $2 billion annually on illegal immigrants emergency health care.
Yet when those of us who are opposed to illegal immigration cite the monetary costs, we are vilified and ridiculed.
So, what is the difference? |
"We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts... Self-government means self-reliance." Calvin Coolidge
Lynlam, the second-tier Pea, paid (except it appears she is not) political shill. | |
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maddiesmum
PeaNut
PeaNut 574,034
December 2012
Posts: 360
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/15/2013 11:29:26 PM
My mother died of alcoholism, so should I demand the government take away others right to drink?
Your mother CHOSE to drink. My mother died from second-hand smoke. Big difference, dumb ass.
I don't want any sympathy from you, either. You're a typical head-up-your-ass tea party moron who only thinks things need to be changed when they affect you. Go to hell. | |
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I-95
It's all just nonsense anyway!
PeaNut 97,456
July 2003
Posts: 19,517
Layouts: 0
Loc: California, NY & Orlando
| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:01:29 AM
In regards to your "we all have skin in the game" train of thought...if we all have the right to police what people choose to do based upon what the behavior costs all of us collectively, then it is perfectly reasonable to demand that the government round up all the illegal immigrants and deport them immediately, because We spend $2 billion annually on illegal immigrants emergency health care.
Yet when those of us who are opposed to illegal immigration cite the monetary costs, we are vilified and ridiculed.
So, what is the difference?
They may cost us $2B in health care, but they also contribute to society too. They work jobs for less money than Americans will, or do jobs that Americans won't do. We probably save more than $2B in grocery bills because of all the produce that is picked by illegals. A huge number of illegals pay taxes too, and they spend money in our communities,which allows businesses to stay in business, and creates jobs for Americans.
I'm not saying I think that it's right to have a huge number of undocumented workers here, but to say they don't contribute to the economy is simply untrue. | |
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Gia LuPeaA
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 416,889
March 2009
Posts: 2,594
Layouts: 0
Loc: The right place, at the right time.
| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:38:20 AM
Big difference, dumb ass.
You're a typical head-up-your-ass tea party moron who only thinks things need to be changed when they affect you. Go to hell.
Name calling and ridicule doesn't work as well as reasoned arguments and appeal to logic. |
| Princess of Procrasti Nation. | |
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maddiesmum
PeaNut
PeaNut 574,034
December 2012
Posts: 360
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:53:21 AM
Name calling and ridicule doesn't work as well as reasoned arguments and appeal to logic.
Right. Reasoned arguments and logic mean nothing to Lynlam; she's too dim to understand anything and too close-minded to see anyone else's view. Go and handslap someone else; I couldn't care less what you think.
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Gia LuPeaA
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 416,889
March 2009
Posts: 2,594
Layouts: 0
Loc: The right place, at the right time.
| Posted: 2/16/2013 1:02:16 AM
she's too dim to understand anything
Calling someone dim won't make you any smarter. |
| Princess of Procrasti Nation. | |
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gale w
shiny farmwife
PeaNut 40,275
June 2002
Posts: 21,309
Layouts: 52
Loc: Indiana
| Posted: 2/16/2013 1:13:46 AM
Bear in mind that we still continue to pay farmers NOT to grow certain food crops.
That's not as nice for farmers as it sounds. Lots of expense and work is still involved. |
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maddiesmum
PeaNut
PeaNut 574,034
December 2012
Posts: 360
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 1:24:49 AM
Calling someone dim won't make you any smarter.
And calling someone out for calling someone dim when they don't give a rat's a$$ what you think makes you a dumb $hit who has nothing worthwhile to do in life except handslap other people. Pathetic.
I'm anxiously awaiting your witty response.  | |
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Gia LuPeaA
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 416,889
March 2009
Posts: 2,594
Layouts: 0
Loc: The right place, at the right time.
| Posted: 2/16/2013 1:44:02 AM
don't give a rat's a$$ what you think
I see. |
| Princess of Procrasti Nation. | |
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Nicole in TX
The Peas did what we do and went insane over it
PeaNut 16,696
June 2001
Posts: 18,155
Layouts: 65
Loc: Not so obvious
| Posted: 2/16/2013 5:27:48 AM
This country is all sorts of crazy.
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
| Posted: 2/16/2013 6:48:47 AM
Right. Reasoned arguments and logic mean nothing to Lynlam; she's too dim to understand anything and too close-minded to see anyone else's view. Go and handslap someone else; I couldn't care less what you think.
That's rich, since I have never seen anything even close to resembling a reasoned argument or logic from your filthy mouth.
Now to pivot and talk to a grown up who DOES know how to have a reasonable discussion...
They may cost us $2B in health care, but they also contribute to society too. They work jobs for less money than Americans will, or do jobs that Americans won't do. We probably save more than $2B in grocery bills because of all the produce that is picked by illegals. A huge number of illegals pay taxes too, and they spend money in our communities,which allows businesses to stay in business, and creates jobs for Americans.
I'm not saying I think that it's right to have a huge number of undocumented workers here, but to say they don't contribute to the economy is simply untrue.
Yes, what you say is true to an extent. But I argue that the money "saved" in grocery bills is blood money. These people slave away in the fields, for pittance, no workers comp coverage, no protections, and yes, that saves us money at the end. Is it worth it though? Isn't that condoning a modern form of slavery in a way?
And the original discussion (before foul mouth children rudely interrupted) was about the government/society choosing which industries were "undesireable". These companies - tobacco, fast food, potato chip makers, firearms manufacturers, etc etc - contribute billions upon billions to the economy as well. Your argument that illegals contribute TO society more than they take from it is the exact same thing I was saying about undesireable companies.
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"We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts... Self-government means self-reliance." Calvin Coolidge
Lynlam, the second-tier Pea, paid (except it appears she is not) political shill. | |
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
| Posted: 2/16/2013 6:58:38 AM
My first reply from my iPad has not shown up yet, so I shall resubmit it (and expand upon it). If it pops up twice, forgive me.
Your mother CHOSE to drink. My mother died from second-hand smoke. Big difference, dumb ass.
I don't want any sympathy from you, either. You're a typical head-up-your-ass tea party moron who only thinks things need to be changed when they affect you. Go to hell.
My mother had a DISEASE you MORON. She did not choose it, it was given to her at birth, she fought it, and she lost time after time after time.
So to use YOUR lack of logic - your mother CHOSE to go out into society where people smoked. If she had just stayed home, she'd still be alive today.
But then again, maybe not. People die of lung cancer, even people who have never smoked NOR spent much time around smokers. It happens. Just like people who have always eaten healthy and exercised drop dead of heart attacks in their early 40's. SHIT HAPPENS.
See, we can all make choices that have long term consequences that we can't predict. It's only ignorant asses like yourself who think that the only way to "protect" people is to take away their choices, and destroy the lives of everyone who earns a living from the industry that you abhor.
And with that, Maddiesmum dear. You are going on ignore. I have no stomach for your brand of nasty ignorance. |
"We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts... Self-government means self-reliance." Calvin Coolidge
Lynlam, the second-tier Pea, paid (except it appears she is not) political shill. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
PeaNut 174,150
October 2004
Posts: 12,969
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 7:04:56 AM
My mother had a DISEASE you MORON. She did not choose it, it was given to her at birth, she fought it, and she lost time after time after time.
Sorry but alcoholism does have a choice involved. It is not the same as somebody dying from second hand smoke, not even close. |
 
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lynlam
Don'tcha wish your girlfriend had spurs like mine?
PeaNut 46,248
August 2002
Posts: 6,365
Layouts: 41
Loc: Ohio
| Posted: 2/16/2013 7:19:48 AM
Sorry but alcoholism does have a choice involved. It is not the same as somebody dying from second hand smoke, not even close.
yeah, it is, in the context of this discussion. And I'd like to see you battle a disease like alcoholism. Some people can make the choice to beat it. Some people can't. My mother couldn't. So in order to protect others who might develop this disease they may not be able to control, let's have the government use their power to shut down the entire industry and take away the choice of everyone else in the nation to drink.
But then again, we saw how well that worked once before, right? |
"We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts... Self-government means self-reliance." Calvin Coolidge
Lynlam, the second-tier Pea, paid (except it appears she is not) political shill. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
PeaNut 174,150
October 2004
Posts: 12,969
Layouts: 0
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Mrs_Tyler
Sorting Laundry
PeaNut 197,836
March 2005
Posts: 24,051
Layouts: 246
Loc: Enjoying the humid continental climate zone.
| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:41:26 AM
Scrappower, have you read all the arguments the Temperance movement had for wanting to make alcohol illegal? They had some really truthful arguments about individual health, and overall social morality that made plenty of sense. Similar arguments to the smoking issue and gun control today. There is absolutely fallout that impacts the people close to alcoholics. Alcoholism is seen in hereditary patterns. It can cause major health issues.
I hate smoking. It's discussing and nasty and I am open about being judgmental regarding people who smoke around their young children. It makes me angry. But I know better than to think banning tobacco in the US would ever work. That said, I do think the federal government shouldn't be subsidizing it. | |
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Mrs_Tyler
Sorting Laundry
PeaNut 197,836
March 2005
Posts: 24,051
Layouts: 246
Loc: Enjoying the humid continental climate zone.
| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:45:11 AM
And I'd like to see you battle a disease like alcoholism.
That isn't something I'd wish on anyone. 
Alcoholism is a mental health disease. It can be treated, but it is pretty much a lifelong reality. I think Scrappower is wrong to think people can simply choose to get better and not drink. But she is right in that the drinking doesn't directly impact the physical health of anyone else sitting in the same room. | |
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missbitts
Know-It-Most
PeaNut 273,938
August 2006
Posts: 5,210
Layouts: 50
Loc: Hawthouse
| Posted: 2/16/2013 9:55:09 AM
there are no redeeming qualities. The same can't be said about alcohol.
The same can absolutely be said about alcohol. There are no health benefits from drinking that even come close to outweighing the risks. There are some benefits from both alcohol consumption and nicotine uptake, but none that are much better for you than not smoking or drinking to begin with. | |
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Krazyscrapper
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 131,612
February 2004
Posts: 2,059
Layouts: 0
Loc: Sonoma County
| Posted: 2/16/2013 11:12:12 AM
And I'd like to see you battle a disease like alcoholism. Some people can make the choice to beat it. Some people can't. My mother couldn't. So in order to protect others who might develop this disease they may not be able to control, let's have the government use their power to shut down the entire industry and take away the choice of everyone else in the nation to drink.
Actually I have seen the battle with alcoholism. My brother and he lost it. But it was his choice to start drinking and no matter how many times help was offered he didn't take it. All a matter of choice. There are thousands out there who have made the choice to stop drinkng and yes its a daily battle but they are making the choice to fight it everyday.
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maddiesmum
PeaNut
PeaNut 574,034
December 2012
Posts: 360
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 11:23:07 AM
And I'd like to see you battle a disease like alcoholism
And I'd like to see you battle cancer as bravely as my mother did. Her cancer spread to her brain, colon and bones and she never stopped trying to beat it. She was having experimental brain treatments right up until her death. From diagnosis to death she had 13 months.
Don't you ever compare your mother's alcoholism (her choice to start and/or stop drinking) to my mother's cancer. Ever. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
PeaNut 174,150
October 2004
Posts: 12,969
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 11:48:53 AM
The same can absolutely be said about alcohol. There are no health benefits from drinking that even come close to outweighing the risks. There are some benefits from both alcohol consumption and nicotine uptake, but none that are much better for you than not smoking or drinking to begin with.
I again disagree. The biggest difference to me is that one smoking, even lightly affects everyone's health around them, even after they have put it out. If someone drinks responsibly the same cannot be said. You don't have to agree with me, but that is my opinion. |
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maddiesmum
PeaNut
PeaNut 574,034
December 2012
Posts: 360
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 11:50:21 AM
And with that, Maddiesmum dear. You are going on ignore. I have no stomach for your brand of nasty ignorance.
It's like she's looking in a mirror! No one is nastier or more ignorant than you, Lynlam. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
PeaNut 174,150
October 2004
Posts: 12,969
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/16/2013 11:50:43 AM
I think Scrappower is wrong to think people can simply choose to get better and not drink
Really? You don't think anyone with alcoholism can choose to not drink and get better? I have seen it happen with three people in my life. Two on their own, one with AA, all are sober over 10 years now. So yes, it is a choice. An easy one. Of course not, but still a choice. |
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I-95
It's all just nonsense anyway!
PeaNut 97,456
July 2003
Posts: 19,517
Layouts: 0
Loc: California, NY & Orlando
| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:03:57 PM
I think Scrappower is wrong to think people can simply choose to get better and not drink.
I disagree....somewhat. I don't think it's a 'simple' decision by any means, but it is a decision the alcoholic makes,to turn their lives around. My father made that decision, and although he always referred to himself as a recovering (not recovered) alcoholic, he didn't take another drink from the day he made the decision, until the day he died...26 years.
An alcoholic will always be at risk, and never be free of the disease, but they can stop drinking and lead a healthy life. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
PeaNut 174,150
October 2004
Posts: 12,969
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:06:13 PM
An alcoholic will always be at risk, and never be free of the disease, but they can stop drinking and lead a healthy life.
That is exactly what I meant. |
Blessed Be! | |
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I-95
It's all just nonsense anyway!
PeaNut 97,456
July 2003
Posts: 19,517
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Loc: California, NY & Orlando
| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:16:20 PM
Now to pivot and talk to a grown up who DOES know how to have a reasonable discussion...
Yes, what you say is true to an extent. But I argue that the money "saved" in grocery bills is blood money. These people slave away in the fields, for pittance, no workers comp coverage, no protections, and yes, that saves us money at the end. Is it worth it though? Isn't that condoning a modern form of slavery in a way?
And the original discussion (before foul mouth children rudely interrupted) was about the government/society choosing which industries were "undesireable". These companies - tobacco, fast food, potato chip makers, firearms manufacturers, etc etc - contribute billions upon billions to the economy as well. Your argument that illegals contribute TO society more than they take from it is the exact same thing I was saying about undesireable companies.
Phrased like that, I agree with both statements. I'm not big on the Feds telling us what's good for us, and what's not. Unfortunately, as a population, we sometimes prove we are not capable of making good decisions for ourselves. However, subsidizing the tobacco industry with Federal $, then subsidizing the those who smoke and have no health insurance when they get sick, is distasteful.
And what did you do to piss off Maddiesmom? Jeez, I almost NEVER agree with you on anything, but we manage to disagree without calling each other morons...oh wait, I forgot, I'm a grown up!! | |
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missbitts
Know-It-Most
PeaNut 273,938
August 2006
Posts: 5,210
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Loc: Hawthouse
| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:32:17 PM
Scrappower, I was commenting on your statement that I quoted about the "redeeming qualities" of alcohol, not about whether smoking or drinking hurt anyone outside the smoker or drinker. There are no redeeming qualities of either activity that outweigh the negative health effects.
Not addressing you, but why is anyone "fighting" about which is worse? Neither one is very good for you, why does there have to be a contest?
As to the topic of the thread, I agree with lynlam and I95 about the gov't not dictating or subsidizing what "it" feels is good/bad for us. | |
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scrappower
Allons-y Alonso
PeaNut 174,150
October 2004
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| Posted: 2/16/2013 12:51:44 PM
There are no redeeming qualities of either activity that outweigh the negative health effects.
And I disagree with this comment, that is what I was stating, that is all. I don't agree with your assessment. Alcohol used sparingly can have positive health impacts as well as be used for things such as preserving foods and other things. I don't find the same to be true with tobacco.
While I would love to see tobacco banned, I do know that it will never happen and that is fine. It really isn't something I get worked up over. Meh. |
Blessed Be! | |
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leftturnonly
Will trade mosquitoes for cookies.
PeaNut 416,788
March 2009
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Loc: Living in Kim's Perfect World, again.
| Posted: 2/16/2013 2:26:53 PM
There most certainly are redeeming qualities to alcohol in moderation! (I'm agreeing with Scrappower, fwiw.  )
My grandmother-in-law was given a prescription for cigarettes to help her nerves WAY back in the day. Hard to imagine now, isn't it? Not surprisingly, she died of cancer.
Weird as this is, I know someone who smokes to help her asthma.  I have no idea if she's dead wrong or not, but after smoking for the past 4 decades and being responsible for the care of several very ill family members for many years AND having sustained a terrible spinal injury that has left her permanently disabled herself, who's to say it doesn't help her through each day? She's tried quitting and her asthma got much worse. If it's something that would take time to get through before it got better, it's not realistic in her situation. The government should not have a say in this. I HATE that she smokes, but it's not my call either.
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If PC is the way to get to Heaven, I'm going straight to Hell.
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