Poll: Should smokers be denied access to Medicare? (Australian Medicare)

[crudus]

*looks at poll*

Wow Escapist, thats harsh.

Hell, I am against smoking and even think they should be treated.

Wow, after checking the results of the poll, I literally had to walk away from the computer to avoid losing my temper and receiving a perma-ban.

You people sicken me.

The fact that you practically send someone to their death, simply because they smoke, is unfathomable. Everyone does something bad to their body, we all sit on our asses, eat shit food and drink ourselves stupid, and that's all ok, but as soon as smoking gets involved, it's "oh fuck him, let him die, he did this to himself"

Do you have any compassion? Any empathy for someone dying? Any trace of humanity in the wretched black void that used to be a soul, you heartless, arrogant monster?

Kharloth, calm down. Look at the poll question and look at the thread title's question. They are asking two different things. People like me probably didn't realize that until they voted already. The polls statistics are suspect at best.

 

[xDarc]

That would be ridiculous. Making smokers pay a larger levy to cover the costs of their self-harm might be arguable, but denying them access altogether? That would be pretty sad for a first world country to do. Besides, it would open up so many poor precedents.

Ridiculous was the first word that came to mind. That's like saying cops would have to pay more because of risk, or people who work chemicals, or people who are just fat and are probably going to have lots of health problems.

Obesity>Smoking

 

[PurplePlatypus]

But such things aren?t actually free are they; we pay taxes towards them for our own benefit and the benefit of others, smokers pay these taxes to. You want to have them pay towards this then be denied it?

I don?t know why it?s smokers and other specific groups being targeted; life comes with risks, we take these risk all the time and such heath care system are set up so people are covered if something goes wrong not just if things go wrong that we never had a hand in. Yes smoking has additional risks, as does eating too much, alcohol, sports, driving a car and living in certain areas.

Besides, I very much doubt smoking related illnesses are the biggest problem and drain on money such heath care systems need to deal with.

 

[godofallu]

People that smoke know that it will make them sick, so yeah let them pay for the sickness. It's their fault.

That said I don't really like medicare for almost anyone, buy insurance or die. Stop making me pay for your problems, no one will pay for mine if i get sick.

 

[Dags90]

I think a lot of people were confused by the poll options not matching up with the title of the thread. I almost accidentally voted "No."

No one who pays into the system should be denied.

 

[MelziGurl]

Damnit!! That stupid poll

I believe the tax for smoke went up in Australia, or there was at least talk about it. You can have health problems that do not relate to smoking, therefore no I don't believe they should be denied complete access to Medicare. Make them pay more for their habit, yes.

 

[Kasawd]

I do not believe they should be denied access to healthcare, considering the amount of tax revenue from cigarettes.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

In my opinion... yes. People who purposely sabotage their own health like that should not take up the time and money that could have been used on people who are genuinely sick and really need help... but again, that's just me. I don't think it's very fair.

 

[Standby]

Yes.
And whilst you're at it forbid cover to anyone that eats fast food on a regular basis or doesn't partake in at least 30 minutes of excercise a day, i mean if they're not going to look after their bodies why should anyone else?

 

[Miumaru]

No. I hate smoking, and hate smokers who hate me for hating smoking, but I do not think they should be denied medicare or anything like that. Atleast not for other stuff. I do not know hgow Australia works though. But they can feel free to aid them in quitting while doing so. Less people smoking, the better.

 

[Shpongled]

In my opinion... yes. People who purposely sabotage their own health like that should not take up the time and money that could have been used on people who are genuinely sick and really need help... but again, that's just me. I don't think it's very fair.

I'm quoting you specifically but this isn't directed at you personally.

None of the people who agree with restrictive medicare for smokers have yet put forward an argument regarding the fact that A) smokers have already paid their basic taxes, part of which goes towards public healthcare and B) smokers have already paid obscene amounts of added tax on the cigarettes themselves, which goes towards the government budget spent on public health.

What you're essentially saying is that it's ok for you too take money from someone for the promise of care should the need arise, but when the need does arise, to deny them of the aforementioned care they have previously paid for.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I'm quoting you specifically but this isn't directed at you personally.

None of the people who agree with restrictive medicare for smokers have yet put forward an argument regarding the fact that A) smokers have already paid their basic taxes, part of which goes towards public healthcare and B) smokers have already paid obscene amounts of added tax on the cigarettes themselves, which goes towards the government budget spent on public health.

What you're essentially saying is that it's ok for you too take money from someone for the promise of care should the need arise, but when the need does arise, to deny them of the aforementioned care they have previously paid for.

They're paying extra to purposely hurt themselves and others. I just went to Warped Tour yesterday and the insane amount of cigarette and weed smoke gave me a huge headache (it wasn't the music... I've been to six hour long hardcore shows before and hit in the face and I didn't have a headache) and I left smelling like smoke. So it does affect others, whether you mean to or not.

Yes, they're citizens and pay a lot of money anyway, but what about the other citizens who paid their taxes and tried to live a healthy lifestyle? Imagine if someone constantly drank nothing but sewer water day in and day out and then expected to be treated in the same way as a person who lived a healthy life. Personally, I think that if you smoke you really don't care about your health anyway. Which is why I say they shouldn't be allowed to have the same care as everyone else. And they're not paying for health insurance by being taxed extra... you want to know why the governments tax extra on cigarettes? Because addicts don't care how much it is. If people still constantly buy cigarettes, they could charge as much money as they want to.

 

[Shapsters]

I think denying healthcare althogether is kind of harsh, what if they get the flu? its unrelated to smoking...

That being said, if a smoker gets lung cancer, they should have to pay for it on their own, they knew what they were doing to their bodies why should the good people have to pay for their medical bills?

 

[Bebus]

First off, you should change either the poll or thread title, they ask opposite questions and somebody may think they are answering the thread question when they are not.

Secondly, anybody who says they should be denied healthcare is a monster on any level. They pay not only their regular taxes, but I have little doubt the enormous tax on cigarettes more than covers any smoking-related treatment they may need to recieve.

Hell, thank smokers for giving better public services.

 

[Delta 3 Actual]

The way I see it they don't deny people medicare who overeat until it causes multiple health problems and then still continue to overeat, and in today's world most people's health problems come from complications due to overeating, not smoking. So if they deny medicare to people who smoke they should also deny medicare to people who are overweight.

 

[JRShield]

I smoke, but sure, if they also exclude fat people, people who drink to much and overall, people who get themselves sick.

Oh, that's almost the entire population...

 

[Bellvedere]

No. The government already makes a lot of money from smokers. Consider the massive taxes and expensive price tickets on tobacco products the penalty and leave it at that.