Denmark, 30% Increase in Tobacco Prices

[chopper]

Is that how you guys pay for college and Medicare for all?

No. The pollies throw the tax dollars into their slush fund .... er 'consolidated revenue' I think it's called.

We pay a Medicare tax of 1.45% and ones employer pays another 1.45%.

There's much to be admired about the U.S. Their health system is not part of that.
I've never begrudged paying the Medicare charge. In a civilised country one takes care of the young, the elderly and the sick.

Over 20 years ago I spent 6 months in hospital and had two operations. If I lived in the U.S. I would have been thrown onto the streets once my money ran out and would have died a painful death.

Only recently an American was saying how fortunate he felt to be only paying $750 a month in health insurance.
To those of us with universal health care we think that's outrageous.

Unfortunately migrants from loser countries abuse our system. They go to the doctors for the most petty reasons because it's FREE [Why I think that there should be a minimum charge - I'd be happy to pay $10 to see my G.P.]
The NHS in Britain is close to breaking point thanks to mainly immigrants abusing the system.

 

[olkofri]

Most of the chop-chop is grown in the Middle-East. There's many Middle Eastern 'refugees' who've made themselves very rich from the trade.

There's an awful lot of insects from overseas that could have a devastating effect on our agriculture.
Black market tobacco has no quality control [it's rubbish tobacco] and passes through our borders with no quarantine inspection. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

Not that our authorities could give a rats arse. They're addicted to the tax $$$.

Apart from smuggled Asian brands that can be bought in Chinatown, the only thing that I've heard coming from China, is counterfeit cartons of cigarettes; Benson & Hedges for e.g..
The packaging looks authentic but instead of using actual tobacco in the cigarettes, they're filled with all sorts of garbage like sawdust and cork. Stupid bastards. As soon as one lights one up it's obvious that it's not tobacco.

Analyses done on contraband cigarettes from India have yielded human feces as one of their 'ingredients'.

 

[chopper]

Is that how you guys pay for college and Medicare for all?

Apologies for going off topic again but something just dawned on me [too late to edit my above post]
What I really don't understand is why so many Americans are against universal health care.

Take the guy who said he was getting a great deal on health insurance for example;
He's paying 25% of his income on health insurance.
We pay 1.45% of our pay for better coverage.

The facts speak for themselves.

 

[olkofri]

Apologies for going off topic again but something just dawned on me [too late to edit my above post]
What I really don't understand is why so many Americans are against universal health care.

Take the guy who said he was getting a great deal on health insurance for example;
He's paying 25% of his income on health insurance.
We pay 1.45% of our pay for better coverage.

The facts speak for themselves.

Don't even get me started on that, mate.

But since you're asking for it, I am Canadian and have not just seen but suffered the ravages of state-run healthcare. IT FREAKING SUX!! Can I say that louder?

How can anyone support a socialist scheme that treats patients like shit, makes them wait months to see an specialist or even get an imaging study done, let alone surgery? A system that refuses patients the right to have private care if they so wish and have the means to pay for it?

I could go on and on: I'll just say this: I've been sick since December (ill even before that) and the System just keeps bullshitting me around, offering no real solutions nor treatment. But hell, it's 'free', right?

 

[olkofri]

And, since we're in the middle of an epidemy, let me point out another item regarding the phantastic free care: the extremely long wating times in EMERGENCY rooms. During the previous China-made viral epidemy, SARS, an infected patient in Toronto was kept waiting 16 hours in an emergency room, which allowed him to infect other patients, who in turn infected others. Many died.

Team Trump entirely right on drastic action to keep coronavirus out of US

Chinese government officials and the World Health Organization are bad-mouthing the Trump administration for trying to stop the coronavirus from invading the United States. Team Trump is barring fo…

nypost.com

Poor Hospital Practices Blamed for 2003 SARS Epidemic in Toronto (Published 2007)

A report said the province’s labor department should play a more prominent role in protecting workers from disease outbreaks.

www.nytimes.com

 

[BROBS]

Don't even get me started on that, mate.

But since you're asking for it, I am Canadian and have not just seen but suffered the ravages of state-run healthcare. IT FREAKING SUX!! Can I say that louder?

How can anyone support a socialist scheme that treats patients like shit, makes them wait months to see an specialist or even get an imaging study done, let alone surgery? A system that refuses patients the right to have private care if they so wish and have the means to pay for it?

I could go on and on: I'll just say this: I've been sick since December (ill even before that) and the System just keeps bullshitting me around, offering no real solutions nor treatment. But hell, it's 'free', right?

Well you can’t say that’s true everywhere because plenty of other countries have universal health care and do quite well. I think the problem lies in the system in Canada itself.

@chopper I absolutely agree with you. The state of our country’s health is in rapid decline in part due to lack of access to health care. Amongst other reasons.

 

[americaman]

Well you can’t say that’s true everywhere because plenty of other countries have universal health care and do quite well. I think the problem lies in the system in Canada itself.

When people are in a critical situation they come to the United States, because we have the best doctors. Not that every doctor here is better than every doctor in other countries, but in general we have the best doctors and state-of-the-art facilities. We have the best health care in the world. We may not have state-run healthcare, but we have the best healthcare in the world.

I too have heard of long waits in other countries. My aunt (from Sweden) said that her brother almost died because he had to wait so long to get treatment. Hospitals in the USA cannot turn you down. You may have a big bill if you do not have a full time job (full time job = employer required to provide health insurance plan), but you will be tended to.

Also, to the Danish guy simply accepting the tax increases because it is meant to stop young people from smoking cigarettes: Come on, man. You are just going to let your country raise taxes on you because they claim that they are trying to help people? Look at where that has gotten you.

 

[BROBS]

You may have a big bill if you do not have a full time job (full time job = employer required to provide health insurance plan), but you will be tended to.

This isn’t true. Only certain employers have to offer health insurance.

I have insurance through the health insurance marketplace for free. No difference really from universal health care is it?

 

[americaman]

This isn’t true. Only certain employers have to offer health insurance.

I have insurance through the health insurance marketplace for free. No difference really from universal health care is it?

What do you mean by certain employers? If you have a normal, full-time, non-contract job, your work is required to provide health insurance. Give examples.

I have no idea what the “health insurance marketplace” is. Regardless, nothing is free, someone is paying for it. In this case, I am guessing it is the taxpayers who are paying for your insurance.

 

[olkofri]

Regardless, nothing is free, someone is paying for it. In this case, I am guessing it is the taxpayers who are paying for your insurance.

This is the simplest of facts that most people who are swindled by socialist governments simply refuse to accept. Nothing is ever free. 'Free healthcare' isn't. The gov't has to pay the health practicioners from somewhere. Yeah, taxes would be the first source we think of, but it's hardly the only one if you ask me. What would keep the gov't from making deals with Big Pharma (medicines are not free: patients pay for those, either out of their own pocket or from insurance plans)?

If health care is indeed 'free', why are some murderous, lowlife researchers stating publically that if seniors killed themselves they would save the Country System up to $139 million each year? Or why is the System pressing those deemed 'incurable' to kill themselves with the State's 'help'?

 

[Worknman]

Yes and it's getting worse.
Automatic tax hikes twice a year were set years ago. By the end of the year 50g will be close to $150.
As one could imagine, black market tobacco, known as chop-chop, is doing a roaring trade.

Just out of curiosity does anyone actually pay those kind of prices for a tin?

 

[olkofri]

Just out of curiosity does anyone actually pay those kind of prices for a tin?

Also, just how many B&Ms are left in the cities?

How much are cigars there?

 

[chopper]

Just out of curiosity does anyone actually pay those kind of prices for a tin?

We'll find that out at the end of the year I guess.
Cigarettes are already around $25 for 20.
A tin of Amphora Full Aroma is $118 at my local tobacconist.
People are paying that but are smoking way less.

I've been hearing reports of normal looking people picking up butts and going through ashtrays at pubs.
At my tobacconist I see people counting their coins to see how many single cigarettes they can buy.
People from lower socioeconomic demographic, those with mental illness and those who suffer from depression or anxiety are way more likely to smoke .
A hit of meth/ice is now cheaper than a pack of smokes. It infuriates me.

When I started smoking regularly as a teenager I smoked brands like Rothmans, Peter Stuyvesant and Benson and Hedges for example. Quality tobacco.
Many premium brands are no longer sold here in suburban tobacconists, having been replaced with cheaper brands with lesser quality tobacco.

Thank Thor that I found online tobacconists when I did & stocked up while able.
Now I'm encouraging Aussies to grow their own.
It's what many did during the Depression & the rationing years through the World Wars. Mass civil obedience is the only way to stop the authorities.
The more smokers who grow their own, the less loot for the greedy govt. coffers.

 

[SpookedPiper]

We'll find that out at the end of the year I guess.
Cigarettes are already around $25 for 20.
A tin of Amphora Full Aroma is $118 at my local tobacconist.
People are paying that but are smoking way less.

I've been hearing reports of normal looking people picking up butts and going through ashtrays at pubs.
At my tobacconist I see people counting their coins to see how many single cigarettes they can buy.
People from lower socioeconomic demographic, those with mental illness and those who suffer from depression or anxiety are way more likely to smoke .
A hit of meth/ice is now cheaper than a pack of smokes. It infuriates me.

When I started smoking regularly as a teenager I smoked brands like Rothmans, Peter Stuyvesant and Benson and Hedges for example. Quality tobacco.
Many premium brands are no longer sold here in suburban tobacconists, having been replaced with cheaper brands with lesser quality tobacco.

Thank Thor that I found online tobacconists when I did & stocked up while able.
Now I'm encouraging Aussies to grow their own.
It's what many did during the Depression & the rationing years through the World Wars. Mass civil obedience is the only way to stop the authorities.
The more smokers who grow their own, the less loot for the greedy govt. coffers.

That's just absurd, over 100$ for 1.75 oz of tobacco.!!! I can very much see that growing your own is an option but a challenging one for sure. Best of luck, glad you had the foresight!

 

[chopper]

Also, just how many B&Ms are left in the cities?

How much are cigars there?

The oldest pipe shop in the city closed some time ago. - As the laws got stricter many specialist stores shut.
Tobacco & tobacco products are not allowed to be displayed. That's when many threw in the towel.

When I ditched the cigs for a pipe I also gave up cigars, so I wouldn't know the cost these days.

Recently I just heard that cigars are the only tobacco product that is allowed to be imported without a licence.
I'm sure the fact that many politicians and their wealthy business buddies who enjoy cigars has nothing to do with that. Probably just sheer coincidence.

 

[chopper]

That's just absurd, over 100$ for 1.75 oz of tobacco.!!! I can very much see that growing your own is an option but a challenging one for sure. Best of luck, glad you had the foresight!

Thanks. I need to do an inventory as I'm not entirely sure exactly what I have but it's at least 35lbs.
Although I don't have a huge range I do have plenty of choice.

ATM I'm harvesting and drying this years Burley. It's a bit of a learning curve for sure but it's like anything, it's not hard once you know how [the guys at Fair Trade Tobacco forum are a great help on all aspects of growing, harvesting & preparing home grown]

I've just had a food steamer delivered to turn last years harvest into Black Cavendish. [Tobacco leaf needs to be aged at least a year they tell me] I'm also tempted to try my hand at making some Perique.

Next season I intend to grow Virginia and Orientals.

 

[SpookedPiper]

That's awesome, the hobby groups are very helpful. I hope your perique turns out great and really when it's from your garden it always tastes a little bit better!

 

[seldom]

What do you mean by certain employers? If you have a normal, full-time, non-contract job, your work is required to provide health insurance. Give examples.

On example: any employer with 50 or fewer employees isn't required to provide health insurance. It doesn't matter if those employees are full time or permanent. Google can help provide further examples.

As an American currently living in Germany (I married a German woman) I can say that I find the health care system vastly superior in Germany. It's not even close. If I was hugely wealthy (multimillionaire) I might like the American system better.

(don't even get me started on unrelated topics like mandatory vacation days).

 

[perdurabo]

On example: any employer with 50 or fewer employees isn't required to provide health insurance. It doesn't matter if those employees are full time or permanent. Google can help provide further examples.

As an American currently living in Germany (I married a German woman) I can say that I find the health care system vastly superior in Germany. It's not even close. If I was hugely wealthy (multimillionaire) I might like the American system better.

(don't even get me started on unrelated topics like mandatory vacation days).

Do you like the system, because you don’t see where your money is going, via taxes. Outta sight outta mind? Or do you receive care fast for prevention?

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Don't even get me started on that, mate.

But since you're asking for it, I am Canadian and have not just seen but suffered the ravages of state-run healthcare. IT FREAKING SUX!! Can I say that louder?

How can anyone support a socialist scheme that treats patients like shit, makes them wait months to see an specialist or even get an imaging study done, let alone surgery? A system that refuses patients the right to have private care if they so wish and have the means to pay for it?

I could go on and on: I'll just say this: I've been sick since December (ill even before that) and the System just keeps bullshitting me around, offering no real solutions nor treatment. But hell, it's 'free', right?

Now somehow this just reminds me of the situation we are currently having in Finland, ( Ps, Illegals&refugiees are granted to get the same ' medicare services as local citizens,