Smoking

Please be prewarned, this -will- offend some people. My thoughts on this subject are very strong, and even though I do not say these things to my family members and friends, this is how I feel. I would never think of saying this to someone directly, and if asked about it I will politely say I do not want to talk about it. But this is my blog, and I can say how I feel here.

From Ninemsn today:

Graphic new health warnings on cigarette packets will be larger than the existing ones, removing any vestiges of glamour associated with tobacco, Health Minister Nicola Roxon says.

The federal government on Saturday released new health warnings for tobacco products that are planned to complement the impact of the drab olive-brown background it has proposed to cover cigarette packs from next July.
Under world-first plain packaging laws, the government wants to ban tobacco industry logos, brand imagery, colours and promotional text from packaging.
The legislation is scheduled to go before the Senate next week.
The latest warnings and graphics will cover 75 per cent of the front of the cigarette pack instead of the current 30 per cent.
I do not understand why people smoke. I have heard all of the excuses, I do not believe a single one of them. I think it is a disgusting habit. It DOES kill you, and can harm the people around you. It eats away at not only your body, but your bank account. And does not one good thing for you.

I would never tell someone that they 'cannot smoke', because what you put into your body is your own business. But to smoke? Really?

I can understand the old folks that smoke, when my grandfather started smoking they did not know how bad it could affect you. But with all the information about smoking and how bad for your health it is today, why do people still take it up?

I fully support anything the government does to stop people from taking up smoking. I do not know if I would support a ban on smoking, as I said, it is your body and do whatever with it you want. But I would love to see the day that tabacoo companies are reduced to only one or two major ones because they have no business to keep them afloat.

I would suggest to any kid (teenager/early 20's) that wanted to take up smoking should go to a home/hospice/hospital, and see the damage it does to yourself and your family. My grandfather died of cancer, bone cancer and secondary lung cancer. They found it too late to do anything about it. He was a near pack a day smoker. He had a horrible last couple of months. How about the kids that take up smoking now going to his bed, changing his sheets and adult diaper themselves. Sitting there listening to him barely breathing, and taking only small sips of water. That is what it does to you.

If you do take up smoking, or continue to smoke, I hope that you also save money for your health care later in life. Because even though I would not 'ban' smoking, I would like to see no government funding go to the care of someone who has inflicted pain onto themselves. Why should I have to pay for your mistakes as a person? If you want to smoke, take out private health insurance to cover yourself, free up the beds for people who's illnesses are not self inflicted.