I have a theory in which the Government will never ban cigarettes not because of our "right to smoke", but because it is an effective means of population control.

Originally posted by Fallacy
I have a theory in which the Government will never ban cigarettes not because of our "right to smoke", but because it is an effective means of population control.

Interesting thought, but if you were going to controll a population, there must be easier ways of doing so including throwing an occasional war etc.

However points in that favor:
1) Smoking rates in 3rd world countries is high.
2) Looking at the annual report for my Phillip Morris stock, Asia is a prime expansion area being targeted.
3) Part of spreading American culture. Marlboro is one of the most recognized names on the planet.

I don't thinks its population control
but it is control
and its evil and has no good or redeeming qualites

Don't packs of smokes in the US have a listing on them that shows the nicotine and tar content of the cigarettes?

Over here its mandatory (they even have to put big labels on the packs that say 'SMOKING KILLS" etc.

The amount of tar and nicotine also has to be consistent and if its changed, it has to be advertised clearly to the buyers.

Thanks for the link annestacey, very interesting. Our own necessities for sustaining life are killing us and people are to stupid to do anything about it, or they just dont give a flying @^#*.

To answer your question matrix, yes we do and it doesnt scare people. The only reason they put that info on the cartons/boxes is so they wont get sued. The majority of smokers wont be detured by the printing on a box of thier favorite smooth mild cigarettes. On a side note: I'm a social smoker and personaly don't understand why people get addicted. I've smoked about 130 cigarettes in my life (over 3 years) and i have never understood what people are talking about when they say they cant quit?!

Originally posted by Fallacy
On a side note: I'm a social smoker and personaly don't understand why people get addicted. I've smoked about 130 cigarettes in my life (over 3 years) and i have never understood what people are talking about when they say they cant quit?!

That's very interesting to me why the majority of people become addicted to nicotine while some others do not. My first thoughts on that is taking into account the healing properties of certain foods and herbs. I'm wondering if there is something particular in your diet that may help in blocking the nicotine addiction.

Let me give you an example by telling you my story. I was on antidepressants for over 6 years because I had been on a rollercoaster of anxiety and depression that just seemed to get worse as I got older. I thought that I would be on these meds for the rest of my life.

But the research I've been doing that shows the mass amount of chemicals that are in the water, the food supply, and the products we use, led me to believe that this whole problem could be related to my diet and the meds were simply masking the symptoms (while also turning me into a zombie).

So I weaned myself off of the antidepressants (no easy task), and completely changed my diet. I stopped buying foods with chemicals in them (which is the majority of what is in the supermarket). I found that when I only consume fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains and stay away from processed foods, I feel very clear-headed and stable. Occasionally, if I consume anything that contains chemicals, the anxiety and depression returns. When I get back on the chemical-free diet, I return back to normal again. It's very easy to see the cause and effect.

I often wonder if other people around me are being affected the same way by the food, but it's hard to tell because people don't just come out and discuss their medical problems with strangers. It could be that these other people are suffering ill effects but they're not showing it the same way. Or maybe they are on certain medications that are also masking the symptoms.

I am sometimes shocked to find out that someone I know is on antidepressants and I never would have suspected that person to be on these drugs.

If people didn't buy the product and have a need for it they would stop producing it...plain and simple. I mean, how dare cigarette companies come into our schools and make our children forceably smoke them until those innocent children become addicted (sarcasm intended). Let's face it, if you don't choose to smoke in the first place and show a little self control then cigarette companies would not exist. It's all fine and dandy to blame the supplier, when we as a society are not intelligent enough to stop smoking ourselves.

In my mind its kind of like people who sue McDonald's for making them fat. It not McDonald's fault for making you fat, it's your own self reliance on their fatty food products that has made you fat over the years. Blame it on your parents for not showing you how to eat a nutritionally balanced meal when you were a kid, or on your psychological problems resulting from low self esteem issues and peer pressures.

Same thing with the cigarette companies...McDonald's does not force you to eat their food, Marlboro does not force you to smoke their cigarettes. If you lack the brainpower to make decisions for yourself as a child or adult and decided to fill your body with nicotine to replace your own fears of rejection by your peers or family then don't blame the manufacturer.

Annestacey, I take zoloft and adderal and have decided to stop taking them because they inhibit my abilities and like you said, turn me into a zombie. I highly doubt that these drugs would block nicotine because of the numerous people who smoke and take these meds; after all diagnosis for depression and other diseases are at an all time high.

I can however see why you gave up chemical foods. Also, I would imagine that your immune system is benefiting. Props to you, I would love to take on the task of switching my diet, but because of the inconvenience and lack of will, I would only last a week. Could you perhaps explain some of the benefits that you noticed after the diet shift?


[edit on 5/22/2007 by Fallacy]

The McDonald's thing is a good analogy Jazzerman except for one point. McDonald's does not inject their food with more addictive chemicals to make people addicted to it. Although you are right about people smoking on their own, when I started smoking, it wasn't considered as bad for you as it is today. That also goes back to the tobacco companies lying about the health effects etc. For some of us who started smoking at a young age, it's not as easy as quitting. Imagine being a heroine addict and herione being readily available at the corner 7/11. Imagine how hard it would be to quit.

Notice the amounts of drug commercials recently? We are talking a multi-billion dollar industry here. Not to mention processed foods kill people everyday but takes dozens to raise a red flag.

I love chicken but ever since I looked at PETA site I cant eat KFC anymore. Strange.........am I a wanna be vegan or does something tell me hormones and such are pumped into the chickens and I enjoy them more because they are jucier and taste better than me killing one at home to eat?

I smoke, drink, eat fast food...........I dont feel like I'm dying but maybe shorting life in a way. I cant get enough of TACO BELL now for some reason.

I think population control is real but it is a conscience choice made by commercialism. Smoking is a thing of the past replaced by "legal drugs" that people can make money on. Smokes wont go away until there is no money to be controlled by the government. Mary-Jane cant be controlled like tobacco because if legalized most people will grow it in the garden then dry it in the oven and done! No money gain except for the sellers of the pot plant at Home Depot.

I still feel that the ultimate reason for addiction stems from the mind and one's depency. I believe there are also studies that suggest genetics might have something to do with the suseptibility to nicotine, which would explain why I dont get addicted.

Originally posted by Elfworkz
Mary-Jane cant be controlled like tobacco because if legalized most people will grow it in the garden then dry it in the oven and done! No money gain except for the sellers of the pot plant at Home Depot.

Couldnt have said it better myself, perfect explanation.

Thanks Fallacy,

The truth will set you free! No tax on something natural thats makes you feel better! Imagine a natural plant that isnt illegal and you can feel better naturally! Or buy Zantec, and mass produced chemically dependent and nicely commercialized to permentaly alter your chemical balance thats all.

Thoughts to ponder....................

Griff, that's a good point. I should advise everyone that I am not standing up for the tobacco companies and I actually do think it is wrong to overload them with more nicotine than occurs naturally (along with all the other terrible things they put in cigarettes). However, the blame game is one I am all too familiar with. When I teach Health classes in the prison system I am inundated with the inmates telling me that it is never their fault, but the fault of someone else or the Correctional system itself. Perhaps that is why I have become enamored with people who tell me it's the tobacco suppliers fault and not their own.