DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Florida Councilman Wants To Ban Smokers From City Jobs

**Antelpebabe** · 02-07-2006, 03:00 PM

I don't know if it works this way in the USA, but smokers here in New Zealand pay a tax on their cigarettes - it increases fairly often, and it's something like 8 or 9 $NZ (6 or 7 $US maybe) per packet of 20. Of course we also have a reasonable public health system funded, in part, by that tax, making the situation even less comparable... but lack of relevance has never shut me up before, I ain't starting now!

My point is that I will die earlier, on average, because I smoke. As a result of this (and of my family history of heart disease), I almost certainly won't live long enough to need a hip replacement operation, unlike many non-smokers, (and especially the joggers). So in some ways I am paying more for, and getting less from, the health system.

Yes I'll get treatment for whatever smoking related illness kills me, but everyone dies, and almost everyone gets treated for what kills them.

So in the interests of equality, where's the tax on fatty fast food like McD's?

02-07-2006, 03:00 PM	#12
Antelpebabe Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 468 Senior Member	I don't know if it works this way in the USA, but smokers here in New Zealand pay a tax on their cigarettes - it increases fairly often, and it's something like 8 or 9 $NZ (6 or 7 $US maybe) per packet of 20. Of course we also have a reasonable public health system funded, in part, by that tax, making the situation even less comparable... but lack of relevance has never shut me up before, I ain't starting now! My point is that I will die earlier, on average, because I smoke. As a result of this (and of my family history of heart disease), I almost certainly won't live long enough to need a hip replacement operation, unlike many non-smokers, (and especially the joggers). So in some ways I am paying more for, and getting less from, the health system. Yes I'll get treatment for whatever smoking related illness kills me, but everyone dies, and almost everyone gets treated for what kills them. So in the interests of equality, where's the tax on fatty fast food like McD's?
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