Smoking Rate in Wisconsin Down

Ummm…

The number of Wisconsin adults who smoke has hit an all-time low.

The smoking rate is 19.6 percent, which is down from 24 percent in 2000.

The new figures come from a 2007 telephone survey of adults 18 and older. 

To continue to decrease the smoking rate, Gov. Jim Doyle plans to raise cigarette taxes by $1 and dedicate new funds to programs that help people quit.

Didn’t we already jack up cigarette taxes?  Is Doyle proposing additional taxes, or is the reporter thinking of the previous tax hike and is all screwed up?

1. If he’s planning another tax hike, that would make sense (not that I agree with it). 

   If the number of smokers are dropping, that means the tax revenue is also dropping, even with the recent hike.  So, he has to make up for lost revenue by jacking up the price again. 

   In the end, Wisconsin will have only one smoker left - but he or she will need to pony up about $10 million each time they want a pack of smokes.

   Posted by on June 28, 2008 at 1333 hrs




2. When people quit smoking, or better yet, decide not to start, society is the big winner.

   Less costs to society as a whole. And doyle ends up with clean hands, not bloody. What’s the problem?

   Now, if Doyle and the legislature could do something about drunk driving without the Tavern League doing all that hand-holding in the Capitol.

   I saw a funny bumper sticker in town: “If drunk driving is illegal, why do taverns have parking lots?”

   Why does the Tavern league and its bullies dictate public policy?

   MONEY. Politicians are for sale, and it doesn’t matter to them if they have blood on their hands as a result.

   Posted by on June 28, 2008 at 1709 hrs




3. Come on Adam, don’t be so naive.  Politicians want people to smoke.  Theat’s where they get their money to fund their little perks and programs.  Do you honestly believe the politicians want to find new ways to fund health care?  They, and especially democrats want people to smoke more so they can fund health care, child health care and other pet projects.

   Posted by on June 29, 2008 at 0210 hrs




4. Here’s the difference: smoking to excess and getting behind the wheel of a car is not illegal. 

   So why do Doyle and the smoking nazis dictate public policy? MONEY.  Smokers are easy targets and all over Wisconsin’s health care problems are blamed on them. 

   So watch out fat people - you’re next; even though eating to excess is also not illegal.

   Posted by on June 29, 2008 at 1108 hrs




5. Didn’t we already jack up cigarette taxes?

   Exactly what went through my mind - this is insane! There is simply no end to the greed here.

   So watch out fat people - you’re next; even though eating to excess is also not illegal.

   Another thought that went through my mind; well said PelicanPants! 

   And talk about taxation without representation!  (oh wait, that’s right, the big-money lobbyists fancy themselves as “representation”, don’t they). 

   Non-smokers who shrug their shoulders thinking “Tough, this doesn’t affect me” may want to re-think their stand and help fight this.  It’s becoming more a war on high taxation.  They may find themselves hit by the next high-tax rip off and then “who they gonna call”???

   Posted by Jeni on June 29, 2008 at 1113 hrs





6. What’s even funnier about Adam saying that smokers cost society more is that it’s false.

   Smokers, on average, over their entire lives cost the health care system LESS, because they die younger, and of diseases that kill them faster.

   This is about tax revenue, plan and simple.

   Posted by on June 30, 2008 at 0857 hrs




7. Argh, someone didn’t close a quote.  Let’s see if this helps.

   Posted by on June 30, 2008 at 0859 hrs




8. one more time.

   Posted by on June 30, 2008 at 0859 hrs




9. is one still open?  Let’s find out.

   Posted by on June 30, 2008 at 0900 hrs




10. Gman,

    You are so right and I am so stupid.

    What about those who decide not to BEGIN smoking as a result of the extra cost of a pack of cigarettes?

    As for those who die younger as a result of smoking, all I can say is, with that attitude, I assume you’re a member of the local Optimist Club.

    So are you claiming that society benefits when cigarette smokers die younger, making their healthcare costs lower overall?

    Then why don’t you go on a crusade to convince people to smoke ? Apparently your taxes/health insurance rates would be lower.

    Why do insurance companies charge smokers more for health insurance? Are these business stupid as well?

    And it must be really nice being in league with the Tavern League.

    like I said, you are soooooooooo Smart!

    Posted by on June 30, 2008 at 1822 hrs




11. Adam,

    Yep, I’m a member of the local optimists club.  Actually, I’d like to call it the “local accurate information club”.

    By “society benefitting”, you’ll have to define benefitting.  Financially, the health-care system is less strained when people die younger, yes.  But there are other benefits to people living longer (experience and wisdom being some of those).

    Insurance companies charge smokers more, because if said smoker dies, it’s going to be earlier, and that smoker is going to USE those benefits sooner.  Meaning, that to recoup the money that the INSURANCE company is going to pay out they have to collect more in a shorter period of time.

    Of course, I’m talking to myself in an old topic, but your intelligence and thought processes are lacking.

    There have been a few studies done on this...look them up.

    Posted by on July 02, 2008 at 0725 hrs




12. Let me quote my friend, Danny Devito:

    “Well, Lahdee freekin’ Da.”

    Seriously, smoking is a bad habit, to say the very least, according to an outfit called the American Cancer Society.

    You have more than intelligence and thought processes lacking, but this site is monitored by a minister friend of mine.

    Posted by on July 02, 2008 at 0820 hrs




13. Adam,

    When did I say that smoking was a good thing?  I agree that smoking is a bad habit, but you’re moving the goalposts here.
    I merely pointed out that “smoking is more expensive to the healthcare system” is false, and shouldn’t be used as an argument to raise taxes (by the way, I don’t smoke...so if you were going to try to pull that theory out of your ass, like you have with the rest of them, you can save yourself the effort).

    And you’re making an ass of yourself with all your assumptions.  I’m sure your “minister friend”, if he actually exists, doesn’t care what some anonymous person on the internet says.  If he does, then perhaps he, too, should get a life.

    Have a nice day.

    Sincerely,
    Someone A Lot More Intelligent Than You (for real).

    Posted by on July 02, 2008 at 1706 hrs




14. Oh, and I notice you have a UW-Alumni address.  That’s cute...did you major in education?  I have a friend who majored in education at Madison, and he argues almost the exact same way you do.

    Posted by on July 02, 2008 at 1721 hrs