Poll: Equal Rights for Smokers

[effilctar]

Please note, I do not smoke and I am no fan of smoking, I find it disgusting by my views on this subject are based on the fact that a lot of my family smokes.

So, in my free period today at college, I was talking to a friend about the healthcare over here in glorious England, when my friend spews out: "Well smokers don't deserve the same standard of healthcare as us, or should at least be made to pay for it."

His argument wasn't structured very well; his main argument was that smokers cause damage to themselves and, if ill, should be made to wait longer for healthcare than other emergencies.

Wait a minute! My friend here is suggesting that because some of the problems these smokers have that are connected to smoking are in need of less urgent attention than someone going to see the doctor over a sniffle and a sore throat, or someone in the emergency room on a Saturday night who's drank themselves into paralysis and need their stomachs pumping.

The whole point of this is the question: Just because smokers bring on their problems themselves, does this mean that they should not be entitled to the same standard of healthcare as us non-smokers?

My mind's made up: Equal healthcare for all!(except the idiots who "slipped" and violated themselves with a silly object)

 

[JanatUrlich]

That's like saying that self harmers shouldn't get help, or we should leave all people attempting suicide to die.

It's bullshit

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

That is possibly one the worst structured arguments I've ever heard.

Also, bring back smoking in clubs/pubs ands such. This whole anti-smoking thing is getting out of hand.

 

[Jamash]

Smokers do pay for the healthcare that they may or may not need.

Have you seen how much tax is on cigarettes and tobacco?

 

[Ninja_X]

I would say make them pay more, but in American there are high taxes on cigarettes that go towards paying for healthcare anyway so.....

I don't think they should have to wait longer or get worse healthcare though. Especially if they are trying to quit.

Smokers do pay for the healthcare that they may or may not need.

Have you seen how much tax is on cigarettes and tobacco?

This basically.

 

[Quick Ben]

We can't just go and make smokers get different health care standards than the rest. That's a slippery slope. Soon it's the fat people, and those who don't have enough physical activity, and so on... If we think that way, soon there will be almost no people who will receive the "standard" health care.

 

[effilctar]

That is possibly one the worst structured arguments I've ever heard.

Also, bring back smoking in clubs/pubs ands such. This whole anti-smoking thing is getting out of hand.

Another interesting issue, smoking in public places. It should be solely the decision of the proprietor. The good old British pub was practically invented for smoking. If families complain about the smoke and their children's health, they can easily go to a proper restaurant instead of taking their children to an establishment made to get people drunk.

 

[Ninja_X]

We can't just go and make smokers get different health care standards than the rest. That's a slippery slope. Soon it's the fat people, and those who don't have enough physical activity, and so on... If we think that way, soon there will be almost no people who will receive the "standard" health care.

I agree, never thought of that.

Can't be denying people healthcare.

 

[Nimbus]

Also, bring back smoking in clubs/pubs ands such. This whole anti-smoking thing is getting out of hand.

No, don't. Non-smoker's right to clean air supersedes smoker's rights to slowly kill themselves wherever they please.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

That's like saying that self harmers shouldn't get help, or we should leave all people attempting suicide to die.

Wait... if they're committing suicide, don't they generally want to be left to die?

 

[brighteyesblackenedlungs]

i love it when i get geared up for an argument and find out there isn't one, it's so much less stressful

the thing to keep in mind is where this would end if you were to legislate it?

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

Well, I can see from his point of view. I personally despise cigarettes, and what they do to people. It is the fault of the smoker for becoming addicted and using a product that they should know will likely cause their death. I mean, it says it right on the box.

However, saying that they don't deserve health-care is not exactly a wise thing to say. It is true, however, that they run a higher risk of contracting diseases and conditions related to smoking, and are therefore a greater potential burden than a person who does not smoke.

I guess it depends on your political point of view. All I know is that I can't stand to be near a person who even smells of cigarette smoke, as I'm highly sensitive to that stuff.

 

[Ninja_X]

Also, bring back smoking in clubs/pubs ands such. This whole anti-smoking thing is getting out of hand.

No, don't. Non-smoker's right to clean air supersedes smoker's rights to slowly kill themselves wherever they please.

Here here!

If you wanna kill yourself, don't make us share the fumes!

 

[Susan Arendt]

We can't just go and make smokers get different health care standards than the rest. That's a slippery slope. Soon it's the fat people, and those who don't have enough physical activity, and so on... If we think that way, soon there will be almost no people who will receive the "standard" health care.

Bingo. We don't get to start saying that this person is more worthy of health care than that person, or we start going down a very bad path, indeed.

 

[Distorted Stu]

I find that smoking is only allowed outside a good idea, really helps those who do not wish to smell or take in the smoke (myself for one). Think of it as a cheap anti-smoking tactic for when you have to go outside in the snow for a quick fag!

But serious im against smoking, ive seen what it can do and if my family didn't stop smoking when they did, they would most likely be dead (their own words).

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

That is possibly one the worst structured arguments I've ever heard.

Also, bring back smoking in clubs/pubs ands such. This whole anti-smoking thing is getting out of hand.

Another interesting issue, smoking in public places. It should be solely the decision of the proprietor. The good old British pub was practically invented for smoking. If families complain about the smoke and their children's health, they can easily go to a proper restaurant instead of taking their children to an establishment made to get people drunk.

Its not just families though. I don't smoke and i don't like smoking. If i want to go down the pub for a pint, i shouldn't have to breathe your smoke. If it wasn't harmful to others then i would agree with you but it is so i don't.

Edit (forgot about the op XD): The NHS was created to give everyone free and equal healthcare. You cant just pick and choose what standard of healthcare people recieve based on their lifestyle. They still have problems and these should be treated to the same standard as everyone else

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

I really hate smoking, I don't smoke myself for one im 14 and for two i just dont like it. Both my parents are chain smokers and because of that i have athsma and my lungs are filled with secondhand smoke. Once or twice i've acually seen smoke come out of my nose because of it.

But they do deserve healthcare regardless of the fact that they're doing it themselves.

What i think though it will never happen, is have the tabaco companies start weening the amount of nicatine (sp?) out of the cigarets. That would let smokers lose ther're addiction without even knowing it saving thousands of lives.

 

[GrinningManiac]

I think that, should they fall ill from their "condition", we should help them. But I lack any sympathy.

Same way I would talk down a man on the edge of a skyscraper, and take my time to watch him afterwards and make sure he's okay, but I'd still think him as pathetic for his cowardice

 

[El Poncho]

That is possibly one the worst structured arguments I've ever heard.

Also, bring back smoking in clubs/pubs ands such. This whole anti-smoking thing is getting out of hand.

Another interesting issue, smoking in public places. It should be solely the decision of the proprietor. The good old British pub was practically invented for smoking. If families complain about the smoke and their children's health, they can easily go to a proper restaurant instead of taking their children to an establishment made to get people drunk.

Restraurants had smoking in them aswell though. I wouldn't mind smoking in pubs or places where you expect people to smoke but I don't like smelling smoke when i'm eating. I know there is smoking and non-smoking areas but the smoke still reaches over to the non-smoking areas.

OP- I'm not too sure about this since healthcare is incase something is going to happen to you but smoking increases the chance of something happening to you, sae with obiesity.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

Personally I think all this fucking nanny-ing about with what you should or shouldn't (allowed/not allowed) to put into your bodies is utterly stupid now and needs to stop.

Every smoker makes a calculated decision to start smoking. You don't take one drag and go OH HEY IM ADDICTED. Everyone knows how bad they are for you and how much they're taxed, yet you either make the decision to carry on or not carry on. More power to smokers to making a choice either way and getting on with it.

Alcohol is just as dirty a drug, probably the dirtiest feeling drug I've ever used out of any, legal or otherwise, in terms of what it does to you, yet people don't seem to be complaining about that QUITE as much. Someone getting drunk as hell and yelling at you = 10 times more annoying than someone blowing smoke in your damn face.

Does your friend drink? If so, if he ever needs some form of alcohol related medical help then he should be denied it or pay extra for it if he's going to be like that with smokers. Treat others as you'd like to be treated and such.

Just to clarify, I'm a smoker.