Saturday 1 May 2010

UP IN SMOKE

Smoking is a disgusting habit to have, an expensive one to maintain. Here in Australia it is now going to cost those who partake in a ciggie several more dollars per packet. Kevin Rudd says by increasing the cost of cigarettes by $2 per packet, and changing the labelling will help consumers to curb the habit. Crap. We aren't going to smoke the packet only the ciggies inside. Who gives a toss what the outside looks like. As for the cost rising , PallMall 30s went from $10-99 per packet to $15 at Coles supermarket where I live. Isn't that more than the said two dollars or am I not just one of the vermin smokers, but also illiterate as well?

It is being said that these new taxes will help pay for Mr Rudd's proposed health reform.

Not all smoking people are inconsiderate. Not all smell like an ashtray.
This post is not about me but as I am a smoker myself I get pissed off when people bunch all smokers in the same basket. I have rights and I also respect the rights of others around me. You wont find me walking around in the streets puffing away, blowing smoke in others faces. I do not throw my butts on the ground or in waterways. I do not even smoke in my car when my children are in there, not only is it bad for their health to inhale secondary smoke but also illegal here in Queensland. If you are caught driving a car , smoking with children under the age of 16 in with you, you will incur a fine over $230. Many smokers are aware of the dangers of smoking, we aren't all brain dead morons who do not know the risks we take every time we light up.

Images like the one above does nothing to deter people from smoking, we aren't little children. It makes me take pride in the fact my teeth are not in that condition.

While we are at it, why not impose super taxes on alcohol again. Yes smoking creates a lot of health problems but so does alcohol. For those of us who do smoke, these taxes are taking away our basic human rights. Ban cigarettes, ban alcohol, ban V8 motor cars, make it illegal to sunbathe where one may get melanoma...we all know the risks of sunbathing, we still do it yet people are still dying from skin cancers. Geez lets ban sex!! Contracting STI's causes health problems, same thing, we know the risks yet these diseases are still presenting in our educated human society. This all sounds ridiculous because it is!

So Mr Rudd your Labor party policy of upping taxes on smokes will do stuff all to curb the habits of millions. You're just a greedy little bastard, why don't ALL politicians take a pay cut to fund the health reforms, after all it's you guys who give us constant anxieties and stress related illnesses which require medical attention at times, over the policies you put forth on a weekly basis.
And to think I once thought the sun shone out of the Labor Party's ass, with Kevin Rudd and Anna Bligh in the top jobs, who needs enemies.

8 comments:

CherryPie said...

The smoking ban in the UK means that I always end up sitting inside pubs on my own whilst the others go outside...

I think they should have left it up to the publicans themselves to decide whether they were no smoking or not.

jams o donnell said...

I am glad I quit in 2001 after 22 years enslaved to the damn things. I shudder to think how much I spent feeding that habit!

But I don't mean to come over as the evangelical ex smoker. Taxing to the hilt does not deter. I would have paid twice as much to keep smoking 40 a day as I did.

Crushed said...

I smoke twenty a day, sadly.

I think it has to be one of the most pointless addictions there are but it's one I can't kick.

Not sure government policy ever does much more than annoy smokers however.

Anonymous said...

What we don't need is one more tax on anything! My addiction is diet coke. Now here in America they want to tax sodas!!

Glad to see you posting again.
Take care of yourself.
Pam

James Higham said...

Tell us about Bligh.

Anonymous said...

If they were serious about smoking they would ban it outright. Which they wont.

Nunyaa said...

I agree Cherie. Same as those who worked in pubs where smoking was allowed, can imagine the protests if there were smokers only pubs brought in.

I understand your point though Jams, and I agree with you whole heartedly.

Crushed, I do about the same, 20 a day... way too much.

Oh Pam , I can't handle the diet drinks. Been there done that and I go for the fully loaded stuff. Yes it is good to be back and thank you:)

James, Anna Bligh wears a skirt but I am sure she has a set of balls hidden under there. Her smile is as fake as Michael Jackson's hair was.

Yes Mutley you are right. The governments of today like the taxes too much that smoking brings into the coffers.

UBERMOUTH said...

They know they can hold smoker's hostage for they know we can't grow our own. It's a lame excuse to exploit a person's addiction,profitably.*puff*