barney-312547

They can take this story and stick it where the sun doesn't shine!

Then it would constantly be in your face.

So, because the economy and unemployement are in recovery, you don't want to read about another health care reform benefit? Sounds like lame Teabagger logic to me...

In recovery???? LMAO

Recovery? YA right! This government lies to us about so much, yet some of you are so stupid as to believe anything and everything they tell you.

-god: Bless you for that one. I can't stop laughing.

barney-312547========You sure got that right. Obama wasn't in office but fifteen minutes and he raised the cost of a pack of cigarettes by .63 cent per pack. That was to cover the illegal immigrant kids with health insurance with that SCHIP Plan. Then we get hit again with the new health insurance plan with additional cost for smokers. I can imagine just what we will find when we hear more about this Medicare-Medicaid changes and that health insurance that the majority of the American People still do not want. It is not Uncle Sam's job to tell us to live our lives or what in the hell we can or can not do. If that is the change people voted for than the are in the wrong country./

My Dr. offered me the Nicotine patch. I had to tell him that it didn't work. When he asked why I told him that I couldn't keep the darn thing lit!

Oh, pretty soon you will be worm food anyway. Eating your eyeballs out. hahaha

Most right wingers are dope addicts anyway. Like Beck either booze, coffin nails or now crack cocaine with hotel heiresss getting caught with cocaine.

This is because most righties are weak and need a "crutch" to meet the day. They are emotional cripples.

In addition I think like Rush they like something cylindrical in their mouths. A Freud thing, maybe?

Obama wasn't in office but fifteen minutes and he raised the cost of a pack of cigarettes by .63 cent per pack. That was to cover the illegal immigrant kids with health insurance with that SCHIP Plan.

Smokie, the higher cost isn't to cover illegals - it's because not only is smoking bad for both your health and the health of others, but because smokers like you are apparently dumb enough that you have to make cigs more expensive just to get people to think about quitting.

My solution? Either make cigars and cigarettes a trillion dollars or shut down ever company that makes cigarettes and ban smoking.

You sure got that right. Obama wasn't in office but fifteen minutes and he raised the cost of a pack of cigarettes by .63 cent per pack. That was to cover the illegal immigrant kids with health insurance with that SCHIP Plan.

Nimrod, SCHIP was started in 1997, LONG before Obama was even in the Senate! Get your facts BEFORE posting next time so you don't look like a complete idiot!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Children%27s_Health_Insurance_Program

I wonder why Medicare covers Viagra and not quit smoking medications????

They have been preaching quit smoking for years so what makes them think counseling will work...more wasted money!!

They think it is more important to get it up than to give it up.

Ventilators in ICU and Long Term Care cost $250 per hour. I think if a person has smoked over 20 years they should be denied life support services. Self inflicted COPD costs the USA billions per year when these smokers reach the point where they can not longer breathe on their own. Living at the end of a tube and not being able to speak or eat or move is no quality of life and is a miserable way to die. Every hospital in the US has terminal COPD patients on life support somewhere in their facility. It is very profitable for the hospital and the physicians who manage the machines.

I do not know of anyone that enjoys being adicted to any substance. I hope you never have an allergic reaction to any drugs you choose to take that are on the "let them die list". How much do you think it costs to keep US war ships and troops at the ready to aid people in Libya. Those people have chosen to live there for generations.

Just another note for "Keegan the Awsome", Stastically most smokers have above average IQ scores. The majority of smokers score between 110 and 160. What's your IQ?

politicaldoc

You sound like an ad for being political correct. I take it you have this factual (BS)statement saved so that you can just paste it whenever the opprotunity permits.. If your worried about where your taxes are spent you might be better advised to concentrate of the cost of our immagration problem

I am a doctor in private practice who treats people with all those illnesses, I don't need to paste anything. These illnesses cost more than any immigration problem, but if you can save me money by fixing that too let's hear how.I probably pay a lot more in taxes than you do.

Thanks Doc...I am a nurse that works in the prison system and I take care of prisoners that smoked and drank for years prior to being encarerated...They have liver disease, cancer and diabetes that require expensive procedures to be done that is ultimately paid for by the citizens of the state...I support your position whole heartedly...I am an ex-smoker....I smoked for 24 years....Then, when the price of cigarettes went up and I started to realize that I couldn't climb 2 flights of steps without getting short of breathe, I made the decision that it was time to quit...I have not smoked a cigarette now for 12 years and counting...I have also assisted 10 of my friends to quit over the years...We all feel much better, our homes, furniture, car upholstry, clothes, and breathe no longers smells like a cold ashtray...Anyone that tries to blame this as just another ploy by the Obama administration is actually in denial....QUIT SMOKING....You won't regret it....

Shhhh, guys. Leave them alone. In fact, encourage their risky behavior - that way we get rid of them quick. So, righties, I agree with you about tobacco being harmless. You and Rush are correct. In fact, if I were you, just to aggravate liberals, I would double the amount I smoke daily. Joe Six Packs? You need to drink more beer...make libs mad. heh heh Oh, and seat belts and helmets? More liberal crap. If I were you, I would let my kids sit on mommy's lap up front and those speed limits? they are just for liberals.

You know, WHT3, even though smoking will eventually get rid of people if they don't stop, it'll take years for that to happen, and although you say tobacco is harmless, tobacco really is harmless, which would explain why people who quit smoking are twice as likely to get lung cancer as those who don't put cigs in their dirty mouths. Also, you really should stop making fun of liberals. Usually, making fun of others because you think their idea is "liberal crap" only suggests you're an arrogant idiot. If you're doing this to liberals, I'd say you're an arrogant conservative.

I bet you're asking yourself why nobody's clicked on the Favorite button on your comment, and I also bet you'll be asking yourself why you have lung cancer when tobacco is supposed to be "harmless..."

Well, well the anti-smokers are at it yet again. I have smoked 3 packs a day for 61 years and outside the false high prices I have had little or very little effects from the bad habit. I live on social security and the impact of the huge tax rates on cigs have pushed me into buying much cheaper food [re; poorer grade thus more fattening, much more unhealthy.] At 75 my Doctor insisted that I go in and have a lung test, the results was 89.4% use of my black lungs. Cause of the missing 10.6 % is credited to dust in my lungs from operating farm equipment most of my life. Is smoking healthy? NO. Will I quit? NO. My great-grandfather died at 102 from falling down a well [he was blind,] do I avoid hand dug wells?,YEP! But the addiction to tobacco is a small comfort in my old age ,no close family and disabled from diabetes2. So put that in your holier - than - thou pipe and smoke it.

WHT3, please don't suggest that only liberals are smoke free. That's just ignorant.

Oh, woe is you, bubba!

What about being almost deaf? Medicare pays for a hearing test. I guess you do not need to hear when your old, your listing days are over. I'm not diabetic but that should be coverd under Medicare. Why waste money on smokers, they chose this addiction. Let them die, more Medicare for the rest of us. Maybe Obama should sign himself up for smoking cessitation.

I have medicare and all my diabetic insulin n needles are covered.

Medicare DOES cover insulin syringes under part B, and the insulin itself is covered under the Medicare Prescription DRUG plan. Your pharmacist needs your Medicare info and can bill properly for insulin, syringes, lancets, and other supplies.

Lots of good Medicare info at Medicare.gov, "publications", then "Medicare and you" publication. They'll even mail you another for free if you lost the ones they mail to you each year. Or you can download the PDF file to your computer.

He states that he's only 59.

Age doesn't matter. If you have Medicare, Part B covers diabetic supplies. Being under age 65 and having Medicare means it was obtained through disability, but it's still Medicare.

If he replaceed the Medicare benefits with a Medicare Advantage plan, it may affect how or where he gets the syringes, but Advantage Plans are required to provide benefits no less than equal to Original Medicare. Under Medicare Part B, they're covered at 80% just like other medical equipment.

It's TOBACCO, smoker-dude. And TOBACCO still isn't taxed nearly enough to pay for the long-term damage it's done to our society. Go have a smoke and think about it...

Sorry about that.. I'm certainly not a teacher.:)

dudogger

In my state over 50% of the cost of a pack of cigarettes is taxes. Only a small portion of it goes to medical and cessation programs, the rest goes into the general coffers. These are called sin taxes and are the worst sort of grand larceny the government pulls. Their logic is that they can tax you into quitting by making the product 500% more expensive and not allowing you to smoke anywhere in public. If that isn't dictating a life choice I don't know what is. Maybe they should do that with Marijuana, then maybe we can reduce the DEA budget and reap a boon of taxes on all the pot users out there.

I do my best to make it non profitable.
My state passed a no smoking in public places law, 3 years ago.
You don't have to put up with the egregious violations of the rights of business owners.
or at least you can makem sure that the state does not profit.
I live in the NW corner of the state there are two more states available, in about 20 minutes driving.
We formed out own group and were going to buy a taven and convert it to a private club, then, we found out, it had to be in existence for 6 months prior to the inception off the law.
We now meet twice a week, one time in one state and the next time , in a 3rd state.
We are now up to 116 people 58 couples and we estimate that it cost the state O TN, about 600, 000 a year, in lost sales and taxes.
In addition we take a special subscription every years and donate it to the opponent of the state legislators, who passed the law.
We have only one legislator left, that voted for the law, we think we will get him this year.

Johnny, little cancers are growing now and, by the way, forget the chemo for lung cancer..just wasting our money and the nurse and doctor's time. You will soon be worm food. Probably before Obama is out of office.

Evere see anyone whose face is half gone due to smokeless tobacco? Not pretty site. Keep on dipping, smoking and drinking you dumb right wingers. After all, you are just useful idiots to the country club boys anyway.hahahahaha

WHT3, just SHUT THE F*** UP, would you?! Nobody cares about your comments right now. Don't believe me? Take a look at the Favorite buttons (the buttons with arrows on them) under all your comments!

All you've been doing with your comments on this discussion is making of other people who don't smoke or dissuade people from smoking. You're obviously a cold-hearted idiot.

In fact, I hope one of the administrators does something about you.

It's offered to people that want to quit. It's not mandatory.

It would probably be best of Medicare, VA, and private insurance companies didn't cover any self-inflicted conditions.

It would take a lobotomy to save you from yourself, but you're welcome anyway.

What the hell is wrong with you? Are you a retarded child?

So, you think you are god? Ha, ha, ha. I think you're the biggest on here, and you need help!

-god: Your first comment was funny. This one is ignorant. What the hell is wrong with you?

I won't insult a retarded individual, child or otherwise, by calling you retarded. That would be a compliment to you.

If you cannot be civil on a simple topic like quitting smoking, you need to get off the Newsvine boards.

He's an addict and talking to an addict is useless.

May the government save us from ourselves!

Hallelujah!

Praise Obama!

Thank you. Thank you.

Agreed. Especially when the government stepping in could save lots of lives.

wow !!..90% tax,,,for Real ???.....

That will be the next round of sin taxes, beer, wine, and liquor. They'll use liver and stomach conditions and the cost of treatment to condone it. I really hate the god all powerful surgeon general but how does he explain the number of individuals that have smoked or drank for their entire lives and live to 90 before dieing of natural causes? The medical profession is still just guessing at what triggers the cancer genes to become active, every few years a contradictory report surfaces about some medical truth. Remember when aspirin could prevent heart attacks, or when all cholesterol was bad?

Yeah, you keep believing that. Look up Morton Downey Jr, Rush Limbaughs mentor and tell me how he died and tell me about his diatribes about how harmless obacco was. Funny how Downey turned a 180 after he got lung cancer. So, you keep believing that tobacco is harmless and we will see you soon at the clinic....for a short while anyway.

Ya, they guy thinks he's god. He needs the most help of anyone that is posting on here.

Calm down. Quit been so sensitive!

autiemama

The "R" word is every bit as offensive and the "N" word! I am the mother of a special needs child...

Unlike the N word, this term has evolved.

Very few people use it to describe special needs children anymore, but it CERTAINLY applies to individuals like barney and Ray.

Nice try eating your words, -god, but I don't think anyone is buying it!

GOD---------- Talk all you like everyone knows all they need to know, about you.

-God, just STFU, okay? If he exists, the real god would probably use a nicer word for special needs children than RETARDED, except in your case, because you're twice as retarded as the people you're calling retarded. And they're not retarded at all.

Next time, think before you speak.

Oh, believe me, they're working on it. The carbon tax is about like taxing each one of us for living here. In Iowa, about a year ago, the Governor was trying to tax the air. And that's no kidding. He said dish tv services didn't have tax customers in rural areas the same as in cities, so that was not fair. His proposal was shot down by the state legislatures.

No, you cannot buy cigarettes or alcohol with food stamp cards. Never could, to the best of my knowledge.

Callie

Your probably correct, but do you really think that stops people on welfare from doing so?

shhhh! Don't let the politicians know, they will spend $32 million on investigating it.

please, how often did she smoke ?? did she smoke more than a pack a day ?? i have found; the abusive smoker are the ones that suffer..my grandmother also smoked, she too lived to a healthy 93..she was a occasional smoker, about a pack a month..

You are correct. Tell ya what, why don't you prove a point by smoking, say, 8 packs a day and doing smokeless at the same time. If you are still alive in 10 years, you win.

Be honest. You need that little white crutch

My father is 93, he has smoked two packs + daily, since 1929, 1930.
It would behoove you to keep your opinions to your self around him.
It seems he is less and less patient with the smoke nazis.
He pointed out, that even if he got life, so?
He walks 3 miles daily and routinely carries what is known as a Thunder 5, that is a 5 shot revolver, that chambers a .410 shotgun round.

Johnny Alford,

It sounds like the old coot needs someone to steal his Thunder pronto!

Thunder 5 sounds like a 44-40 long colt a real nice pistol

:)

You're right Gnelson. Knowing everything we know about smoking, and you still choose to do it. Why should society take care of you when the inevitable happens?

Chill in peace.

You are absolutely wrong!Take the money spent on tobacco and buy your own glasses,viagra and hearing aides. ED and cataracts are frequently a result of smoking. The average life expectancy inUS is 86-87 yrs old and quitting at 65 could give you several yrs more of sexual function and quality of life. You might be in better health and able to work and live and have sex longer than expected.

Just a thought and I don't expect to change anyones mind.

Gelson Ditto

I'm a smoker and have been since the early 1950's. Just had a phisical and except for that d*mmed prostate I'm in decent health. I don't have the lung capacity that I once had, but when I asked my doctor if it was do to my smoking, he said "Probably". Went on a short hike the other day with my wife who hasn't smoked in 48 years. (And no I don't smoke in the house or where she is subjected to second hand smoke) . We went about 100 Yards and she had to quit due to her having arthritis in her hip. I was about done myself due to a bad knee I sustained years ago from working. Point is my lung capicity never became an issue. Also my wife was just yesterday told she has cancer.

My doctor while advising me to quit and also being honest said that the first year would no doubt have me in his office at least 6 or more times for complications associated with quiting. I enjoy smoking and I choose to not spend one of the few ears I have left being sick.

Rodger

Just using common since and no actual facts. I wonder how much of these sacred $ that are collected from this excess tobacco tax are being put into the treatment of smoking ralated illnesses. It seems to me that since I'm paying this huge tax and your not that it must be a sort of insurance policy. I'm guessing that the amount recieved for this discriminating tax, if it wasn't lining some politicians pocket would satisfy some of your concerns of your sacred $ being used to help some senior citizen who made a bad choice years ago when it was still socially acceptable.

PS. Please excuse spelling errors. half of them are just bad spelling and the other half are related to my typing.

The lie that the taxes were for getting people (teenagers mostly) to not smoke or quit smoking was shown in Minnesota when the government used it to help balance the budget. That tax was never going to be used for the stated purpose anyway, just another source of revenue for government (both state and federal) that they wouldn't lose many votes over.

POLitical DOC. you remind me of the doctor I had before i got tired of sc#ewing around with the crappy medicare medicine.
I pay my on way, I pay for private insurance, I cost no one anything, it have smoked for 54 years, it's my business no one else.
I'm so sick of the pukes, that continue to try to help me.
Keep it to yourself.

Darn Kath

You almost make me want to quit except for the food comment. I already like food too much and if it tasted better I might get fat and as mentioned in a previous comment that will probably be the next discriminating tax increase.

Kath:

Good for you! Quitting is one of the very best things anyone can do, not only for their health, but for their wallet!!!

Forget cleaning your furniture, bed, carpet, etc. I quit six years ago and the only thing you can do to get rid of the smoke smell is to repaint your house, throw out all the carpet, furniture and bedding and it will be much better. You can wash all your clothing, but the out-gassing of the cigarette smell will be in your home forever, sorry to say.

I'm lucky, because when my husband and I bought our townhouse, it was only 5 years old and had never been smoked in. I had stopped smoking in my apartment about seven years earlier, so any new furniture was never exposed. I had also purchased a new car prior to stopping, but didn't allow myself to smoke in it. I am ever so happy that my unconscience "plan" to become a non-smoker worked out, because now I have only a few pieces of furniture that still out-gass cigarette smoke odor. Several of these pieces are antiques my grandmother gave me. Yep, she was a life-long smoker. I even have a dresser that after all these years of not smoking in the house, still manages to stink up my clothing. I can no store anything cloth in it.

My smeller is so good, I could be a bloodhound for the police department. My sense of taste didn't really change that dramatically, though. The most surprising thing I got out of quitting was the disappearance of the small wrinkles in my face. My complextion really changed for the better!

About this article:

It's about time we embrace PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE. Quitting at any age will reduce the overall costs of medical coverage and treatment. Additionally, those individuals can help pay for their treatments, should they come down with a smoking-related illness, because they're not continuing to spend it on cigs.

It's time to stop pursecuting those who smoke, those who've quit and get with the program.

To those to still smoke: This isn't about judgement. I smoked for 26 years and it took four attempts to finally quit. I did it cold turkey, but others need stop smoking aids. It is well worth it for you to try and if smoking cessation help is made a little easier to access, it will benefit you and your families.

I really don't understand how anyone could think this is a bad thing. You either have to be a current smoker who doesn't want help or a person who never smoked and simply doesn't get how hard it is to get over the hump to quit. To them I say butt out.

Next, they will go after alcohol. Then taxing us to the hilt on everything and anything our government determines is "bad" for us. As they follow the insurances companies recommendations and everything and anything they lobby for.

Does anyone remember when they pleaded and begged us to let them put airbags in vehicles. They said it will raise the price of the car, but seat belts would no longer be required or needed. Well, guess what, we got airbags and the mandatory seat belt law is on the books in all 50 States. Why, because the insurance companies lobbyed for it. If you think you know who really runs this country, you better think again.

NAH------- Food is next, frankly I'm looking forward to watching all the fatties, whine.

it will be a sugar tax we are all too fat now

No, and we only have about 5 oil companies anymore that control the price of gas and they don't bust that up. They're going to let the airline consolidate to about 5 or so and the DOJ says that's fine. The meat industry is down to about 5 major processors and they are sort of finally looking ino that, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

That's just it. They're betting people won't and this will be huge tax revenues. They're going to tax everything and anything that our government determines that is "bad" for us. Smoking was just the start of this. Uncle Sam is going to determine was is best for you and they'll pass the laws to make sure you follow what they want you to do. Until a few years ago we still had freedom in this country.

Only a very few seemed to really care. JFK had many plans, Regan had some also, but when they looked especially at changing the way our financial system worked (changing the Fed), they killed one and tried to kill the other.

This so-called healthcare bill, is, by far, the biggest windfall for the insurance industry that any corporations have ever seen in this country.

If you think you know who really runs this country, you better think again.

Roger, No, that's Not it..their just Greedy !!!....

I didn't quit, I just go north a few miles and buy leaf tobacco.
$6 buye s me enough to last me about a month.
Wait for my taxes, jerkos.