A Curious Conundrum
Regulation and Premature Exhilaration
The Nee ...anderthal Man
Probably took a puff or two
From the fire, in the cave
And the Cro-Magnon too
"Smoking takes years off your life and adds dollars to the cost of health care. Yet nonsmokers cost society money, too -- by living longer. The Nee ...anderthal Man
Probably took a puff or two
From the fire, in the cave
And the Cro-Magnon too
House members described huge health care costs associated with smoking as they approved landmark legislation last week giving the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products. No one mentioned the additional costs to society of caring for the nonsmoking population that lives longer.
Smokers die some 10 years earlier than nonsmokers, according the Center for Disease Control, and these deaths provide a savings to Medicare, Social security, private pensions and other programs. Vanderbuilt University economist, Kip Viscusi studied the net costs of smoking related spending and found that for every pack of cigarettes smoked, the country reaps a net cost savings of 32 cents.
A Dutch study published last year said that health care costs for smokers were about $326,000 from age 20 on, compared with about $417,000 for thin healthy people, who, of course, live longer."Erica Werner: The Associated Press
Hmmm ... What to do? let 'em die or tax them and hope you come out even, not including the costs of passing, administering, and enforcing the laws. I could use the $.32.
posted by jm at 4:44 AM
11 Comments:
Just a little note:
Wishing you greatest success!
(just because *wink*)
:)
That is a Conundrum? If we live longer, we can pay taxes longer, and enrich the coffers. $.32 would not take us far, but this has given Congress an excuse. to act like they are doing something.
But, if more people die, that gives them less to hassle with too.
Oh, what to do with the huddled masses?
We have to live longer, to plan for a new type of Government, to cause them more aggravation.
Thank you for the observation, I missed this one.
The wink is received and appreciated!
We're stuck living and it's getting damned expensive. The Pluto in Leo generation with its constant heart disease is really straining the budget with all the bypassing going on.
So the government is trying to come up with any way at all to get our money. Doing something? Taxes, man. Cigarette taxes. They know people are going to keep smoking so they have a full vein to tap.
Smokers would rather enjoy life and die, so why interfere? Pluto (death) in Capricorn (the system) might bring some serious thoughts about dying in our society.
We're sick as can be, getting older and sicker, so health care is a doozy. You're right. We're money machines to them, making the insurance companies rich, but again, Pluto in Cap is about insurance, so we'll see.
Oh, what to do with the huddled masses?
The masses are the same as I now see and they have no clue as to how to run a world. I guess no one does. It runs itself.
The people in my family came to the end and died quickly without fuss and expense. I was left with a great feeling of respect for them. My man in particular never strained the system and he drank and smoked to his heart's content. He met death with courage.
These smoking statistics really fascinate me. The people who figure it out do too!
I cannot imagine being a statistician, too many numbers, too many varibles. Only the people that do them, would be fascinating.
Made me think tho, about all the billions we spend on wars and defense, then, turn around and spend billions more on the care of the Veterans. We are on a hampster wheel, I just realized. The world is just trying to take care of itself and spinning off to
where we do not know yet. Thinking of all the statistics involved with the so called "war on terror". Ah, we are all just numbers, anyway.
My family dies quick too, heart attack, stroke, and they are suddenly gone. It is a reminder to treat them all well, while there is still time. Enjoy, it all, before our statistical "time" runs out.
Read "the confessions of an Obama" supporter", last night in the daily kos! Too, funny, It sounds like me.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/4/8/718055/-Confessions-of-an-Obama-Supporter
Oh well, it is just another "what could have been"? Must be a lot of statistics on that one. We have a lot more changes coming up, and we will just deal with them.
Thank you for all the thoughts.
Yep. Huddled hamsters.
And definitely yearning to breathe free.
The real Conundrum is,
How much longer will we continue to allow them to keep all of us enslaved? Finding new ways to make us work longer, harder, and for less and less.
We are maniplulated into thinking we must compete with each other(human beings) on a global scale.
you are a slave... like everyone else you were born into bondage... born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch...
How much longer?
Do what thou wilt is the whole of the law.
Another conundrum: which came first, the chicken or the Ukrainian egg? :o) Hope you enjoy this latest one from me. I'm quite pleased with it and that's saying something, as I'm my own worst critic.
Let's go!
You can see several views within this link.
Joe
That is fantastic. What a beautiful, gorgeous piece of artwork. You have wonderful talent. Beautiful art makes life worth living.
Joe, I agree with dble aries. Your work is extremely beautiful.
So glad you are pleased with it. You aught to be. You are blessed with great talent.
Thank you, for sharing your 'divine gift' with us.
oooooooh...
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