Proposed UK tobacco ban
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Not that I know of.
But many places like Seattle and San Fran are tightening down on the open air drug use in their cities. A few years ago they decriminalized user amounts of ALL drugs. They offered areas to shoot up drugs, and had needle exchanges. Due to massive amounts of crime, overdoses, and citizen demand, many of these policies are being amended or removed.
If you wanna see the disgusting state of our country, look on youtube for videos of Kennsington Philadelphia PA. They call it Zombieland. Hundreds of junkies doubled over in horrific states of drug intoxication.
That ONE neighborhood in Philadelphia has a dozen OD deaths a month, and violent crime is up 700% from 10 years ago.
Portugal was the first country to try decriminalizing user amounts of hard drugs. After a few years of tourism declining, they toned it down. They made "open air" drug use illegal again. So at least the tourists dont see it.
The problem is, the "war on drugs" was a miserable failure. Drug use has grown year after year sinse the 1980s. Overdoses have exploded, and the tax payers have paid hundreds of billions of dollars on incarceration, drug rehab, and societal destruction. Not to mention the damage to families and children.
So, neither way works, at all.
The only other option maybe the Philippines way.
A complete and extremely strict take on drug possession. Over there they have executed over 8,000 drug dealers in the last few years. Some say as many as 30,000 have been killed. Even having a tiny amount of any drug can get you decades in prison. Citizens and police are beating and even killing drug dealers in the street.
If caught selling ANY amount of drugs is either life in prison, or death by firing squad. And Philippine prisons aren't any fun. Its supposed to be over, but is still happening on a lesser scale. Read at your own risk.
Over 7,000 people killed in six months in Philippines 'war on drugs'
President Duterte ordered police and citizens to kill anyone they believe to be connected to the drugs trade. Thousands have died since he gave these orders.
I think the point is that sugar costs US, the taxpayers far more money than cocaine. Almost every single health issue is either caused, or exasperated by refined sugar.
Did you know that if your BMI (body mass index) is over 40, you automatically qualify for full SSI/ disability?
And 100% of these people did this to themselves. This isnt from injury, or hereditary disease, or other natural ailment. Its 100% because they have no self control. And unlike drugs, there is no free rehab or forced incarceration. Its completely legal, and encouraged by thousands of food manufacturers.
The average person on disability gets between $970 and $1350 cash a month. On top of that they get full medical, and several federal and state programs like SNAP and HEAP.
Depending on the age and health conditions, one person disabled because of obesity can cost over $2.5 million dollars over a lifetime.
The average working person spends nowhere near that much. Just saying.
I should add, that 2.5 million is just for basic care......housing, medical, heat, water, and spending cash. The average working person can spend more due to buying stuff....cars, vacations, homes......but they spend nowhere near as much as disabled people CAN recieve on just basic living.
In 2020 I spent 3 months in the hospital, had more than a dozen surgeries, and after care....it cost over $700,000 as far as I know, maybe more.
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That just isn't true.
As far as how much sugar use cost the American taxpayer... I'd just have to say, that's an argument for people other than me.
and that argument is a trap, and a dirty trick, put on by the tyranny. It's nobody's business, unless you're a communist or an authoritarian.
What you want to say is that you shouldn't have to pay for fat people to eat Fudge Rounds (I share that sentiment)... but what you've conceded is that you have to buy their food, so you should decide what they eat.
Don't wrestle the pig... the pig is already dirty.
Do like my great grandfather did. Move the hell out! Thank you grandpa! 
Its absolutely true. Let's just say I have a very close friend who is a disability attorney. She has been through this hundreds of times.
She has has several clients who have a few tolerable ailments....diabetes, HBP....
But, because they have trouble getting dressed and bathing. And they cannot comfortably sit or stand for periods of time, they get approved for SSI.
A 5'1" woman who is 43 years old, has a 40 BMI, and a completely sedentary lifestyle, is nearly useless. Even without diagnosed illness, just the fact she can't dress, bathe, sit or move without strain, gets her approved.
And you will not find another human being who is less communist, or authoritarian than me.
You are correct though, I dont want to pay for it, that's it...period.
According to the US Army, I am 100% disabled. But im still working every day. If I showed pictures here of what my body looks like after an incident in Afghanistan, I would be immediately banned. I deal with it every day. I've known people for over a decade and they have no idea I have catastrophic damage to my "unseen" body parts.
My stomach you filthy bastards!!
Get your minds out of the gutter!!
And yes, we absolutely should have say in what people on SNAP eat.
Many of them are spending many times more than us on groceries.
Seeing mothers with 2 kids with 2 overloaded carts of soda, potato chips, candy, sugar cereal, snack cakes, pudding cups, ice cream and ribeye steaks is disturbing.
Meanwhile, the mother has diabetes, HBP, and obesity. The kids are obese, have pre diabetes, and asthma. Just those 3 can cost many thousands of dollars a year in taxpayer medical care.
If food stamps were like they used to be, maybe this wouldn't be a thing.
Remember, not to long ago the government DID dictate what food stamp recipients ate. And kids were healthier. I had several friends on food stamps in the 80s.
Recipients got a booklet with a certain amount "stamps" for dairy, bread, meat, vegetables and fruit, and snacks. Once you were out of stamps for a category, that's it for the month.
Telling someone they can only spend $100 of their $500 SNAP benefit on soda, candy, and ice cream isnt exactly authoritarian.
This of course comes with a caveat, as do most things.
There is a difference between seriously disabled people, people on hard times, and the lazy people.
SNAP should be separated from SSI/disability in my opinion. Many people on SSI/disability have no choice. They should not be penalized for something they cannot control. But the millions who collect SNAP while being 100% able to work, should be closely monitored with how they spend money.
If you missed the thousands of people saying they would just steal food if they didnt get their SNAP this month, you missed some fun.
There are videos of 20 year old, healthy people stealing people's grocery carts in the parking lot for gods sake!
If you can wrestle a 400 pound shopping cart out of someone's hands, then run through a parking lot...you sure as hell can be a cashier at Walmart.
Everyone buys subsidized food.
Milk would cost 25 bucks a gallon if the price wasn't fixed.
Gas, milk, corn, beef, the list of prices the federal government has set goes on.
But somebody has convinced you to be mad at a mother with a cart of groceries.
I hate government interference to the point that sidewalks piss me off... but it's certainly not a simple problem.
I am happy my kids won't smoke as cigarettes have been an addiction for me which thankfully I have kicked and even though I agree with in theory with the 'personal choice' argument I feel that my generation and those older than me were 'persuaded' to smoke due to peer pressure, advertising, having heroes that smoked, parents smoking as we were growing up. It could be argued that I didn't make a personal choice, just repeating learned behaviour. NOT saying I'm in favour of the ban but just reflecting on the realities of it from my POV.
However, I am sad that the gentle and thoughtful pleasures of an occasional pipe will be consigned to the British history books in a generation. (Sherlock Holmes is spinning in his fictional grave) The irony is that we are getting closer to legalising (or at least decriminalising) marijuana, so have governments actually learned anything from banning substances?
I suspect that the best option is the one we have now, with high taxation and education - is likely the best way to go. The NHS shouldn't be overly burdened by people who make poor health choices without some degree of payment, and tax (I would like it ring-fenced for health) on harmful products is a (albeit imperfect) solution. For me banning outright is a step too far and only encourages criminal activity in the import and sale of banned substances (within reason- I'm not for legalisation of hard drugs like heroin and cocaine etc. )
However, I am sad that the gentle and thoughtful pleasures of an occasional pipe will be consigned to the British history books in a generation. (Sherlock Holmes is spinning in his fictional grave) The irony is that we are getting closer to legalising (or at least decriminalising) marijuana, so have governments actually learned anything from banning substances?
I suspect that the best option is the one we have now, with high taxation and education - is likely the best way to go. The NHS shouldn't be overly burdened by people who make poor health choices without some degree of payment, and tax (I would like it ring-fenced for health) on harmful products is a (albeit imperfect) solution. For me banning outright is a step too far and only encourages criminal activity in the import and sale of banned substances (within reason- I'm not for legalisation of hard drugs like heroin and cocaine etc. )
Obviously im not putting my thoughts down properly.
I am not mad at mothers with carts of groceries.
Im mad at 100% capable, but jobless mothers of 3 who literally get $2500 a month for groceries, while hard working mothers of 3 scrimp and save to spend 1/3 that on groceries.
The SNAP mom's spend $400 a month on their hair and nails. Their kids all have the newest Iphones. They live in modern, air conditioned homes with garages provided by the taxpayers.
Last I knew, fraud in JUST the SNAP program costs us 12 BILLION dollars a year. Thats not the total amount for the program, that's just the amount spent of FRAUDULENT claims. And its getting worse. Here is the most recent data from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services website.
If you're not aware of the MILLIONS of 18-35 year old, 100% healthy but unemployed people getting literally THOUSANDS of dollars a month just in SNAP, while driving supped up BMWs and bragging online about their $200 finger nails, you haven't been paying attention.
This takes billions away from the truly needy.
Im done with this thread, it just isnt fun.
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I think a lot of us share Sig's fury with perceptions of undeserving people feeling entitled to take what's not theirs. I don't like it either. But I also think my emotional gut reaction is sometimes not always the best thing to act on. For instance, if one does a little reading about the stunning 12 billion dollars in SNAP fraud that's been prominent in some news outlets lately, it's not the mom in the checkout line that's driving the reported increase in fraud. She's the victim. The fraud increase seems to be largely driven by skimmer activity, whereby legitimate SNAP benefit information is stolen and used by someone else.I am not mad at mothers with carts of groceries.
Im mad at 100% capable, but jobless mothers of 3 who literally get $2500 a month for groceries,...
Last I knew, fraud in JUST the SNAP program costs us 12 BILLION dollars a year. ...
This takes billions away from the truly needy.
I
I believe some fury may warrant redirection in this situation.
According to the USDA, the most recent stats show from Jsn 2023- Sept 2024 skimming accounted for 40 million of the 150 million in SNAP fraud. Skimming is growing, but even if its more than half, that means lazy fraudsters still account for at least 5 Billion dollars a year.I think a lot of us share Sig's fury with perceptions of undeserving people feeling entitled to take what's not theirs. I don't like it either. But I also think my emotional gut reaction is sometimes not always the best thing to act on. For instance, if one does a little reading about the stunning 12 billion dollars in SNAP fraud that's been prominent in some news outlets lately, it's not the mom in the checkout line that's driving the reported increase in fraud. She's the victim. The fraud increase seems to be largely driven by skimmer activity, whereby legitimate SNAP benefit information is stolen and used by someone else.
I believe some fury may warrant redirection in this situation.
The entire system needs work.
The best way is to limit benefit money amount, and limiting the amount of time a healthy, work capable person can recieve benefits.
There are millions of healthy, capable people who have recieved food benefits for decades.
One of the main places I get my information is from a good friend who has worked for social services for years. This is his job.
He says the VAST majority of SNAP recipients flat out refuse to work. They refuse to take the FREE classes our local area provides for job training and financial training. Our local used to have SNAP recipients turn in proof of putting in 3 job applications a month to receive full food benefits....they refused. So that program went away.
They would still get partial benefits, which is still more thsn many working people spend on food. But, they refused to put in the applications, then applied for emergency SNAP 2 weeks into the month. They cannot be refused emergency SNAP. They just work the system.
My friend says that its unusual to find a person using the system correctly. He says over 90% of the SNAP recipients misuse the system in some way.
On a side note.
Our local Walmart has a permanent ad in all the local "jobs available" places. The starting wage is $17.45 per hour. Macdonalds starts at $15.50 per hour. Our state has some of the highest minimum wages in the country. Our local ALDI starts at $21.55 per hour. Yet they still have trouble finding employees.
Numbers aside, to even suggest that SNAP fraud by work capable people isnt a HUGE problem, is just goofy.
Even our extraordinarily left leaning governor, Kathy Houcul, says its a HUGE problem that they are working on.
Ok, NOW im done here.
Hmmm.....
they banned cannabis, a highly medicinal plant, add tobacco, another medicinal plant they are banning, they don’t care about our health.
Ever heard about the smokers paradox?
they banned cannabis, a highly medicinal plant, add tobacco, another medicinal plant they are banning, they don’t care about our health. Ever heard about the smokers paradox?
I’m pretty sure there will be “major civil changes” noted in the next ten years. And I’m pretty sure free people will still have their smokes.
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