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> if you accept that health benefits can outweigh personal freedom, where do you draw the line? I don't see cigarettes as a personal freedom issue. As long as
by curun1r 11y ago
> if you accept that health benefits can outweigh personal freedom, where do you draw the line?
I don't see cigarettes as a personal freedom issue. As long as you find people insensitive enough to smoke in public areas and force those of us that don't smoke to breathe their toxic air, cigarettes should be taxed just like other pollutants are. Taxes are one of the few ways that capitalism has of dealing with externalities.
- ArkyBeagle 11y agoHasn't "... in public areas" been settled for a couple of decades now?
- bobwaycott 11y agoEh, not everywhere. For example, in much of the Southeast US, it's still perfectly legal to smoke in certain places. There are increasing restrictions and legislative tweaks, of course. But it's still acceptable to smoke indoors in establishments that decide to only accept patrons > 21 years old, for instance.
- ArkyBeagle 11y agoI mean "settled", not "universal". That sounds like equilibrium to me.
- bobwaycott 11y agoAh, gotcha. My mistake for misunderstanding.
- curun1r 11y agoJust because the issue is settled legally doesn't change the fact that non-smokers are impacted by smokers. That's why I called smokers insensitive rather than lawbreakers. As an American, there are many things that we're legally allowed to do that I'd still say makes the person doing them an insensitive asshole. The law isn't the only tool we have to control unwanted behavior...social mores can actually be one of the best tools we have since they're less rigid and can change over time.
- bobwaycott 11y ago> As long as you find people insensitive enough to smoke in public areas and force those of us that don't smoke to breathe their toxic air, cigarettes should be taxed just like other pollutants are. I feel the same way about cars. Your statement fits perfectly: As long as you find people insensitive enough to drive/idle in public areas and force those of us that don't to breathe their toxic air, cars should be taxed just like other pollutants are.