So, who else besides me still puffs the noxious weed with obvious enjoyment?
I read the other day in a news report that the States who all piled into the massive tobacco company stomp on behalf of ill smokers and sued for roughly 1/2 of the worlds gross national product, the moneys supposed to help fight cancer, do cancer research, pay for cancer and smoking related medical bills and such high standards, which garnered public sympathy and won their cases, have, naturally, screwed the public. Less than 30% of these great mega-millions are going into anything dealing with smoking related diseases, bills or research and instead are going into State coffers to pay for school debts, road repairs, budget overruns, raises and so on.
So much for political promises to smokers or ex-smokers.
Yep. I still smoke because I’m hooked and it’s about the last vice I have that I can enjoy. Of course, had the antismoking fervor not ravaged the land, I’d be more than willing to switch to a safer cigarette that was on the developing board, but which has been squashed thanks to no smoking fanatics.
So, I’m spotting a lot of smokers out there and I’m starting to wonder if the $10 jump in carton prices and the $2 jump in pack prices are justified due to lost revenue or just because of the mega-suit settlements that are now providing raises for various State heads.
I haven’t even been insulted in public for smoking in almost 8 months now! Darn! Just when I bought a fresh can of mace too! You know, there are fewer no smoking bars around and not many resteraunts forbid smoking completely on their grounds like some were doing. Several major buildings which forbid smoking inside have now relaxed their policy and provided small smoking areas and ourlocal hospital has a big, comfortable smoking area outside now, complete with tables, chairs and just inside is a snack center.
Can of mace? Damn, friend, that’s kind of extreme. I smoke but I’m not that taken with the addiction. Nor am I so offended by nonsmoking propaganda, as I realize the health risks.
I hope I don’t come across as a butt, but, I don’t think this is an area where getting up in arms is worth the trouble.
Preparing for the avalanche of the non-smoking nazis who claim that walking past a smoker for 0.5 seconds will give their great-grandchildren cancer, I raise my hand to acknowledge myself as a smoker.
If you’re really serious about smoking, if you really want to start- try the patch first, then go to the gum. Lastly, a good quality cigarette and you’re on your way.
Nothing sates my craving for tobacco like a good cigarette, my tobacco cravings are immediately sated for at least an hour. Try it sometime. You’ll see.
Seriously, I’m afraid that tobacco will never go away now, since there’s so much revenue to be made against smokers. Incredible amounts are being drawn to state coffers and trial lawyers alike. Gotta save up for the pending lawsuits against the firearms manufacturers and fatty food purveyors, ya know.
I smoke, but not regularly. I’ll sometimes go weeks without a cigarette, and I’ve never had more than eight cigs in one day.
Still, I enjoy smoking, or I wouldn’t do it. I have to hide my cigs from my parents, because my father is an ex-smoker and would likely hit me if he found out, and then I’d have to move out which is expensive. None of my friends smoke, and one of them is an anti-smoking fanatic. I’m not addicted, or I don’t think I could easily go weeks without smoking. Nope, I just like smoking. I like the taste of the smoke, the feel of the smoke in my lungs, the glow of the fire. Most of all, I like the calm that comes after two or three cigarettes. I have problems with anxiety sometimes, and cigarettes work better than the drugs my doctor gives me. So while I’m not a heavy smoker by any means, I’ll stand and be counted as a smoker here.
