4 ms·

Smoking kills 500,000 people per year in the US - which is only slightly less then COVID at current rates - I don't see anyone rushing to shut that down. Heart

Smoking kills 500,000 people per year in the US - which is only slightly less then COVID at current rates - I don't see anyone rushing to shut that down. Heart disease kills 650,000 per year, but there is still a McDonalds and Taco Bell on every corner.

UncleMeat 5y ago
There are absolutely enormous anti-smoking adversing and education campaigns. Cigarettes are mandated by law to have very specific packaging that loudly lists the risk of death. Large taxes are placed on them. In a great many places you are not allowed to smoke in public. Smokers have higher health insurance premiums and cannot access certain kinds of medical care like various organ transplants. Selling a cigarette to a child is a crime. Exposing children to second hand smoke can be abuse. And yes, there are a large number of people who sue Cigarette manufacturers for their role in the deaths of these people with the attempt of completely destroying the industry.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- lax4ever 5y ago
  The difference being that people's general livelihoods are not being affected by these campaigns and requirements. The choice is still available to people even if there are restrictions on use and distribution. That is not the case with the vaccine.
  - gilbetron 5y ago
    Go smoke where you work (assuming non-remote work!), and see if there are ramifications.
  - UncleMeat 5y ago
    In my state, if I work at a restaurant and I smoke indoors on the job that is against the law. A tremendous number of jobs ban indoor smoking among employees and will absolutely fire you if you don't comply.
    - lax4ever 5y ago
      Those same jobs: A) Typically ban smoking indoors because the state has banned smoking indoors B) Also typically provide areas for smokers outside the building in compliance with local regulations. Are those places generally outside? No. Is the onus of responsibility on the business should an employee smoke inside? No, the employee is the one that would face the consequences, including possible termination and/or criminal charges. A business doesn't have much in the way to worry about. There is no such provision for the vaccine. You either need to get the vaccine to continue working there, get tested every week, or find a different job. This is also without taking into account two things: 1) While the testing is offered according to OSHA, with potential fines up to 14k per instance what are the odds that employers are actually going to offer that to their employees? You actually, as a business, face less fines for leaving a piece of paper in plain sight that has someone's SSN, Name, and Address than you do for not potentially following this regulation. 2) That we are also looking at good odds of the testing option going away. It's not an option for federal employees, I don't think it is unreasonable to assume that it will be going away for those under this mandate in the near future.
- furgooswft13 5y ago
  Who is trying to get people fired from their jobs because they smoke?
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    OSHA limits workplace exposure to some smoking products like CO (which can motivate employer policies on smoking that restrict the behavior); many states have more specific limits on workplace smoking. These reduce the employability of unwilling or unable to restrain their smoking.
  - UncleMeat 5y ago
    If you come to my workplace and smoke indoors and refuse to stop, you'll be fired. At this point, I'd wager that the large majority of jobs in the US ban smoking indoors at the workplace. There are also various state (and perhaps federal?) laws that prevent indoor smoking in a great many locations.
    - furgooswft13 5y ago
      Clearly I was talking about getting fired for smoking in the privacy of your own home/car etc. Restrictions on locations of smoking are not even close to national Jab or Job policy.
      - UncleMeat 5y ago
        Then get weekly tested. That's also allowed. That is a mechanism of ensuring that you are not harming others while allowing you to do whatever the heck you want on your own time.
        furgooswft13 5y ago
        And when that option gets removed in a few months (already being mused by DC talking heads) will you be singing a different tune? I doubt it. You can go straight to hell, I hope my unvaxxed cooties scare the shit out of you and your demented ilk. Funny how only the vaccinated live in fear.
- zxcvbn4038 5y ago
  The could save the lives of 500,000 per year if they just forbid the sale. Why do you suppose the 500,000 that die from smoking and the 500,000 that die from COVID are treated differently?
  - UncleMeat 5y ago
    Honestly? Because the cigarette industry is very large and employs a lot people, particularly lobbyists.
dragonwriter 5y ago
> Smoking kills 500,000 people per year in the US And federal law, state law, and often employer policies restrict exposing other people to your smoking in the workplace
Dma54rhs 5y ago
They should introduce scales in addition to big events, since we know the obese are the main ones that overflow the hospitals. Pandemic over 1.5yrs now.. Plenty of time to do your job and lose weight.
- zxcvbn4038 5y ago
  Haha! That is the perfect and natural conclusion - want to see a movie? Or attend the big game? First we need to check your temperature and weigh you in. The IRS can be in charge of making sure every American purchased at least one ADA approved toothbrush, submit your proof with your tax return. We can give ration books for processed meat products - if you can’t choose wisely then the state will choose for you.

UncleMeat 5y ago

There are absolutely enormous anti-smoking adversing and education campaigns. Cigarettes are mandated by law to have very specific packaging that loudly lists the risk of death. Large taxes are placed on them. In a great many places you are not allowed to smoke in public. Smokers have higher health insurance premiums and cannot access certain kinds of medical care like various organ transplants. Selling a cigarette to a child is a crime. Exposing children to second hand smoke can be abuse. And yes, there are a large number of people who sue Cigarette manufacturers for their role in the deaths of these people with the attempt of completely destroying the industry.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
lax4ever 5y ago
The difference being that people's general livelihoods are not being affected by these campaigns and requirements. The choice is still available to people even if there are restrictions on use and distribution. That is not the case with the vaccine.
- gilbetron 5y ago
  Go smoke where you work (assuming non-remote work!), and see if there are ramifications.
- UncleMeat 5y ago
  In my state, if I work at a restaurant and I smoke indoors on the job that is against the law. A tremendous number of jobs ban indoor smoking among employees and will absolutely fire you if you don't comply.
  - lax4ever 5y ago
    Those same jobs: A) Typically ban smoking indoors because the state has banned smoking indoors B) Also typically provide areas for smokers outside the building in compliance with local regulations. Are those places generally outside? No. Is the onus of responsibility on the business should an employee smoke inside? No, the employee is the one that would face the consequences, including possible termination and/or criminal charges. A business doesn't have much in the way to worry about. There is no such provision for the vaccine. You either need to get the vaccine to continue working there, get tested every week, or find a different job. This is also without taking into account two things: 1) While the testing is offered according to OSHA, with potential fines up to 14k per instance what are the odds that employers are actually going to offer that to their employees? You actually, as a business, face less fines for leaving a piece of paper in plain sight that has someone's SSN, Name, and Address than you do for not potentially following this regulation. 2) That we are also looking at good odds of the testing option going away. It's not an option for federal employees, I don't think it is unreasonable to assume that it will be going away for those under this mandate in the near future.
furgooswft13 5y ago
Who is trying to get people fired from their jobs because they smoke?
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  OSHA limits workplace exposure to some smoking products like CO (which can motivate employer policies on smoking that restrict the behavior); many states have more specific limits on workplace smoking. These reduce the employability of unwilling or unable to restrain their smoking.
- UncleMeat 5y ago
  If you come to my workplace and smoke indoors and refuse to stop, you'll be fired. At this point, I'd wager that the large majority of jobs in the US ban smoking indoors at the workplace. There are also various state (and perhaps federal?) laws that prevent indoor smoking in a great many locations.
  - furgooswft13 5y ago
    Clearly I was talking about getting fired for smoking in the privacy of your own home/car etc. Restrictions on locations of smoking are not even close to national Jab or Job policy.
    - UncleMeat 5y ago
      Then get weekly tested. That's also allowed. That is a mechanism of ensuring that you are not harming others while allowing you to do whatever the heck you want on your own time.
      - furgooswft13 5y ago
        And when that option gets removed in a few months (already being mused by DC talking heads) will you be singing a different tune? I doubt it. You can go straight to hell, I hope my unvaxxed cooties scare the shit out of you and your demented ilk. Funny how only the vaccinated live in fear.
zxcvbn4038 5y ago
The could save the lives of 500,000 per year if they just forbid the sale. Why do you suppose the 500,000 that die from smoking and the 500,000 that die from COVID are treated differently?
- UncleMeat 5y ago
  Honestly? Because the cigarette industry is very large and employs a lot people, particularly lobbyists.

dragonwriter 5y ago

> Smoking kills 500,000 people per year in the US And federal law, state law, and often employer policies restrict exposing other people to your smoking in the workplace

Dma54rhs 5y ago

They should introduce scales in addition to big events, since we know the obese are the main ones that overflow the hospitals. Pandemic over 1.5yrs now.. Plenty of time to do your job and lose weight.

zxcvbn4038 5y ago
Haha! That is the perfect and natural conclusion - want to see a movie? Or attend the big game? First we need to check your temperature and weigh you in. The IRS can be in charge of making sure every American purchased at least one ADA approved toothbrush, submit your proof with your tax return. We can give ration books for processed meat products - if you can’t choose wisely then the state will choose for you.