Nice waffle. If you hadn't made the claim about smoking, I'd even believe you. As it is, I think you're glossing over the deaths, suicides and ODs caused by drugs. Something I'm willing to accept, but then, I'm consistent and also accepted smoking deaths and cancer. Like drugs, smoking should be restricted to specific areas so as not to directly harm others nor should minors be allowed to partake.
I would agree with you, were it not for the fact that I'm being kept on the hook to pay the bills of those who act irresponsibly. Take that out of the equation, and I'm all in. Needy is one thing. The sloths? Something else entirely... Yup. Just ask Nancy Pelosi. The chickens are comin' home to roost...
Emergency rooms are going to continue to treat emergent conditions, whether the people showing up can afford to pay for their treatment or not. You don't get to make that call. Problem still remains...
Cancer isn't an "emergency condition". Neither is a head cold. Yes, an OD is an emergency condition, but a DNR rule would help alleviate costs. Cremation also alleviates costs.....and, of course, there's always the Soylent Green option.
Do you pay Medicare taxes? Because if you do then you are on the hook for paying the medical bills of those who smoked.
Let'em die. Shoot them full of morphine until the cancer takes them. Minimal cost. Heck, you can save even more money by sending them home with a weekly supply of morphine...or fentanyl-laced heroin. We seem to have a lot of the latter.
Just be contented that the discrimination is finally being directed at those best suited to shrug it off with little effect The social engineers have miscalculated on this one. They think that racially and ideologically targetting us will make us racist and extremist again via reactionary resistant response and legitimize their demonization campaign, setting the stage for the war they need to further their social controls. I believe they're wrong. We can take the hate and keep our objectivity, our tolerance, our liberty. They've chosen the wrong patsy this time. We arent going to give them what they want.
. . . . But you vigorously protest being placed in the role of "my brother's keeper". . . . Parsimony is NOT an acceptable trait for a Christian, and "tough love" is an illogical and unjustifiable oxymoron.
I'd love to turn the webcams on some of these LW antismoking zealots to expose their hypocrisy about "paying for someone else's bad choices." I know -exactly- what would out, and it wouldn't be pretty. Used to smoke, don't, and don't like being close to smoke, but I will NEVER use gov-edu or MSM manipulation of the "easy evil target" (whether it's smokers, or white CIS gender males, or the "corporation" or whatever) to pick low hanging virtue fruit. Doing so is the type of peasant with pitchforks thinking that is responsible for so many atrocities in history, and the tinder that creates bonfires from that thinking is evident in LW posts to this thread and so many others. Off to the gym. Any of our LW anti smoking virtue signalers care to join me? (as if)
s You give the impression that you assume the terms to be synonymous. . . . "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
I never protested, let alone vigorously protested being placed in the role of "my brother's keeper." Nor did I say anything parsimonious. Where are you getting this stuff???
There has been no credible scientific study that has shown any physical harm whatsoever (other than annoyance) from second hand smoke.
No credible scientific study has ever shown direct harm to others, other than annoyance, from second hand smoke.
Complete mythical nonsense. I have smoked for almost sixty years. I have paid doctors and hospitals for medical services; I have paid insurance premiums; my employer has paid insurance premiums; I have paid Medicare tax for almost 50 years; my insurance company(s) has paid doctors and hospitals for my medical treatment. These payments have occurred hundreds of times. In none of those times have I seen you, any neighbor, any anti-smoking zealot -- actually anybody -- pony up any contribution to my health care. On the other hand, as my OP says, I have directly subsidized financial obligations of many people, including those zealots.