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
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