Hello
Historically, governments lag behind social change so when governments
galvanise into action it is usually with a lot of pressure from the people.
May I be daring enough to say that democratic governments generally only
do what the people want. The gun laws are a good example. there are more
people, it seems, in the USA who want to bear firearms than those who don't.
Ditto with smoking, although deaths from tobacco related disease is making a
greater impact to the individual. I suppose we have to wait until many more
people are shot before we wake up.
Cheers,
Anna
Anna Lee.
Principal, Work Ready
Write to me at [log in to unmask]
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Phone: (02) 9519 7436
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-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Amedure <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, 3 June 1999 12:57
Subject: Re: SMOKING & FITNESS
>I believe if you look at the TAXs that are imposed today you might see a
>different picture: New taxes whent into effect over the past seveal years:
>That said, I do not believe it is the governments responsiblitiy to tax
its
>constituents in the guise of total health: Imposing taxes is another form
of
>control which leads to less autonomy. As far as children smoking at 12 yrs
>old that is a responsibility of the parents and NOT THE GOVNT. If we
>continue to look to the govnt what next!!! a twinky tax: Have a
>good day Joe
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 5:52 PM
>Subject: SMOKING & FITNESS
>
>
>>Just a quick comment on a health issue. Recently I came across these
>>statistics on tobacco:
>>
>>Average Tax per pack of Cigarettes (in US dollars, 1992):
>>
>>Norway $3.93
>>Denmark $3.64
>>Canada $3.25
>>England $3.09
>>Germany $1.95
>>France $1.29
>>Italy $1.12
>>Japan $0.95
>>Greece $0.53
>>USA $0.51
>>
>>Why is it that the USA has such a low tax on cigarettes, when it seems to
>be
>>so outspoken on the serious health risks posed by tobacco? Think of how
>>much money the USA could put to good use if it raised tobacco taxes to the
>>level of its Canadian neighbour alone!
>>
>>It is also of interest to note that the prestigious 1994 New England
>Journal
>>of Medicine found that the American Medical Association "gave
significantly
>>larger average contributions to House members who favored tobacco-export
>>promotions than to those who opposed it" (Sharfstein J et al 'Campaign
>>contributions from the American Medical Political Action Committee to
>Members
>>of Congress' Jan 6, 1994, p32).
>>
>>Then, when US trade representatives fought to have the antismoking health
>>measure sin Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, S Korea and other Far Eastern
>countries,
>>the incidence of teenage smoking increased markedly. For example, when
>Korea
>>was forced to lift restrictions on US made cigarettes, smoking among
>teenage
>>girls tripled ('Philip Morris: Death, Disease and Duplicity' in
>>Multi-National Monitor Dec 1994: 14). I also seem to recall a survey
which
>>showed that the starting age for smokers has now decreased to 12 years.
>>
>>Are there some important facts being hidden from us? Many of us on groups
>>such as this almost take it for granted that smoking is hazardous to one's
>>health and that the problem is on its way out. Maybe we are still being
>too
>>complacent about this.
>>
>>Dr Mel C Siff
>>Denver, USA
>>[log in to unmask]
>
>
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