Cigarettes, alcohol and pop are just a few things in our society which are terrible for the people who live in it. Allow me to explain.
Pop is sold just about everywhere. It's a large part of America's growing obesity problem, and it is a widespread cause of diabetes. Actually, in many third world countries a bottle of pop is cheaper than clean water. And what exactly is it anyways? It's concentrated sugar water with flavours and colours added in. Why not just drink water? It's calorie free, caffeine free, and it DOESN'T KILL YOU! In fact, it does quite the opposite.
Alcohol. Why does our government market a central nervous system depressant to it's citizens? They're basically our nation's biggest drug dealer. They supply alcoholics with their liquor like a crack dealer supplies his crackheads with crack. And think about all the people who get alcohol poisoning, who die in car crashes and all those who are currently addicted to it. This is a drug epidemic which our government is the cause of. If you disagree with me, open your eyes, this is a real issue: I don't care if you like getting drunk. And don't think I have an anti-drinking stance because I don't drink. I've been there, and done that nearly every weekend for three years of my life.
Cigarettes are highly addictive, very deadly, and worse yet, they even affect people who don't smoke them through second hand smoke and the damage that they do to the environment. People who are addicted spend ridiculous amounts of money (which they will only make so much of in a lifetime) on supporting their habit. They're literally paying for a slow death at the hands of something that removes one's ability to relax and be comfortable, without having to dose themselves with a drug. Why are most other highly addictive and deadly substances illegal, while cigarettes are available for sale to the general public? This is another case of our government being the nation's biggest drug dealer.
Here's some facts to back up my argument:
Cigarettes are very lethal, half of all smokers are killed by their habit.
Every 6.5 seconds smoking kills someone.
In China alone, 1.2 MILLION people die annually from smoking. That's 2000 a day!
18% of all deaths in America are caused by smoking, more that the next top 5 causes combined.
They are all overpriced, and people spend their hard earned money, which they will only ever have so much of, on these things which cause a slow death. Should it really be the person's choice? Shouldn't the government step in and do something about it? Maybe they're a little to concerned with the money they're making off of being our nation's biggest drug dealer. What do you think?
I really couldn't think of anything good to say on anyone else's blog, so i commented on my own.
ReplyDeleteWow Richard, i never looked at it that way before. I think that is really a problem, people shouldn't be able to buy cigarettes or alcohol legally. They're just like other drugs, and there is a good goddamn reason why those are illegal. Maybe it's because smoking and drinking have been a part of human culture for hundreds, if not thousands of years. I dunno... but i do think it's time to make a change. You should have said something during that debate this morning, even if those politicians don't have any real power; it would have at least got your message out there. Anyhow, I definitely feel like you should pursue this course of having cigarettes, pop and alcohol made illegal: It would be doing those who live in our society a world of good.
Richard...
ReplyDeleteyou make me laugh soooo much!
here are some thougts:
Can addiction be eradicted? are any adictions good for you? Addiction to work? Sex? food? Exercise?
when these substances aren't controlled, they go undergroud...look at drug use. Canyou imagine if we went back to times when people were making their own gin? growing and lacing their own tobacco? Which is better? underground and uncontrolled? or controlled and watched?
I heard of an aboriginal tribe that kept it's 'drug' in a central spot in the village. If you wanted some, you helped yourself--in full view of the rest of your community...
do you think this idea would increase or decrease substance abuse?
just somethings to think about...
If we had a giant pile of pot sitting outside city hall the stoners would have a field day. Think about the weed march, a news camera doesn't stop those people from smoking weed. That solution would not work outside of a small society where everyone knew each other.
ReplyDeleteI think having cigarettes go underground would work wonderfully. How many people wouldn't be smokers just because smokes aren't available at every corner store? and instead of having a group of underage smokers standing outside school puffing away, they'd replace the stoners and go to the valley to pass around a smoke, because the cops would nail their ass if they got caught smoking something illegal. It may not eradicated, but at least it's no longer everywhere.
you are probably right...
ReplyDeleteand don't get me started on how much money the govt makes off this stuff!
i think that this was a very well articulated argument. you bring to light many important issues that are often considered taboo topics. everyone knows that smoking is bad, as is the consumption of alcohol. i like how you chose to throw the money-hungry government's need to continue making money at the expense of its citizens. and i definietly agree with you. :)
ReplyDeleteAgain Shenelle, thanks for the positive feedback! It's much appreciated, and I'm glad that some people share my views. For a while I thought I was alone out here in the progressive change good-for-mankind section.
ReplyDelete