RW>JFD> know that ONE is ONE too many.  When the tobacco companies
  >JFD> file for bankruptcy. I will celebrate
RW>Then who do you go after? The alcohol producers, after all look at
  >all the people who die because it their product.
That certainly would be another justifiable pursuit. But still not the
same.  Kill yourself if you wish with alcohol, but the only jeopardy to
me is the coincidental danger when you get behind the wheel.  The side
affects that hit your family and loved ones, however are quite dramatic.
Sure, stop alcohol use to.... we'll all be the better for it.
RW>Maybe the meat producers, hasn't eating meat been shown
  >to cause deaths?
Not at all related Rich.  Many benefits can be shown from the
consumption of meat products.  Not to say the least of which is a damn
good source of protein.  Unlike tobacco, taken moderately meat
consumption returns many more benefits than costs.
While certainly valid, that however is not my point.
You can sit next to me and eat pure hog lard all day if you want to and
it will not have one iota of effect on me, but sit beside me and smoke a
cigarette and _I_ have to breath it.  I want to eliminate tobacco
because of what it does to _ME_ when _YOU_ use it.
Use extremism with any substance that doesn't fit that criteria and you
are just blowing smoke (pun intended ).
RW>Oh I know, the producers of one of the best known death
  >machines; the automobile.
Automobiles are directly related to human deaths.  That is a given, but
in all facets of life, we are faced with trade-offs.  We weigh the
benefits against the costs and make an educated decision as to whether
or not to allow something.  In the case of automobiles, it is clear that
society accepts the proposition that the benefits shown from automobiles
outweigh the cost of the related deaths.
Conversely, with cigarette smoke, other than the revenue generated by
the industry (that benefit is arguable when compared to the actual
costs of smoke related health problems), the ONLY benefit derived from
tobacco use is the false enjoyment to its solitary user.  I say, "false
enjoyment" because very quickly after starting smoking, the "high"
derived from a cigarette is merely the return to a somewhat normal
feeling after hungering for the nicotine. In other words, it only makes
you feel as good as you would have otherwise felt if you hadn't started
smoking in the first place... false enjoyment.  Actually, as a smoker,
you will NEVER feel as good as I do.
On the trade off, we get cancer, heart disease, a whole raft of lung
disorders, the very real potential of fire related death and
destruction, not to mention unsightly stains on your person, clothing,
and surroundings.  Don't forget that noxious odor...  try licking a
dirty ashtray and you'll have an idea what a smoker smells like. And
thats just to the _user_. The _same_ costs are assessed against the
non-user who is unwillingly forced to participate.
Sure, you say that if I am unwilling to breath your smoke, all I have to
do is go somewhere else.  Kinda self serving on your part, don't you
think.... you are assuming the right to kill yourself and defile the
atmosphere around you and my only choice is to go elsewhere to avoid
the same results?
If I happen to be shooting at you in a public place and relentlessly
follow you firing away, would your only recourse be to continue
retreating, infinitely?   Hardly.  You'd have to stop and fight
somewhere.  Thats all I'm doing... returning fire.
RW>So we get rid of tobacco, alcohol, meat and cars and
  >we'll live to 200 right?  Oh rats there is that pesky
  >exercise thing but a federal law forcing everyone to
  >exercise would fix that.
RW>Don't you just love having the Government as your
  >nanny?
No, I'd much rather the self serving a$$hole who lights up at the next
table just as my steak is being served would voluntarily quit.  That
isn't likely to happen, he has already proven his intentions so if the
Government is willing to apply some muscle to help ME enrich MY life
and the lives of MY loved ones, I'll take it.  In this case, its
government OF the people and BY the people.... and I'm one of the
people.
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