What the fuck, y'all?

[voodoolily]

In Oregon, cigarette taxes pay for the Oregon Health Plan (the Medicaid/Medicare program here). That's why, even though I was a smoker, I always voted to increase the tax.

...and that made sense to you?

Hell, yes! People who smoke know they're doing something bad for their health. They should be the ones paying the increased insurance costs. Not that many poor people are nonsmokers (funny, isn't it?). But I also think there should be a fast food and junk food tax so fat people can pitch in on covering the costs of taking care of their fat asses. FOR REAL.

Edit: popped in quotes since this got bumped to the next page.

[Shockeye]

Anyways, I'll quit when I stop liking it. Not because of health reasons. That may be for another 20 years, or that may be next week. Right now, I like it.

Thats awesome.  Snarky if said in jest; hilarious if said in complete ignorance of the nature of addiction.

I vote hilariously ignorant.

[stray]

 :-D

EDIT: To be serious though, it'd be a shame if I didn't quit eventually. Barring crack, PCP, and heroin, I've experimented (or had a habit) with every drug under the sun. I stopped "liking" those easy enough. If I end up getting lung cancer from cigarettes though, I'm gonna be pissed --- There are so many more pleasurable things to die from, y'know? Tobacco really isn't worth it. But heroin? Maybe.

[Shockeye]

:-D

EDIT: To be serious though, it'd be a shame if I didn't quit eventually. Barring crack, PCP, and heroin, I've experimented (or had a habit) with every drug under the sun. I stopped "liking" those easy enough. If I end up getting lung cancer from cigarettes though, I'm gonna be pissed --- There are so many more pleasurable things to die from, y'know? Tobacco really isn't worth it. But heroin? Maybe.

Heroin might be worth lung cancer?

[stray]

:-D

EDIT: To be serious though, it'd be a shame if I didn't quit eventually. Barring crack, PCP, and heroin, I've experimented (or had a habit) with every drug under the sun. I stopped "liking" those easy enough. If I end up getting lung cancer from cigarettes though, I'm gonna be pissed --- There are so many more pleasurable things to die from, y'know? Tobacco really isn't worth it. But heroin? Maybe.

Heroin might be worth lung cancer?

Yeah, because I'll be nodding away the whole time.

[Bunk]

Huge props to everyone here who is trying to quit. I've never been a smoker, but I've seen the hell that quitting can put a person through with my mother.

Mom smoked two packs a day for as long as I can remember. I've seen her try quitting at least six times over a 15 year period. Everytime she quit, it was after her third bought of bronchitis for that year and her doctor ordering her to quit. She tried nicorette, the patch, and accupuncture. She cheated like crazy with the first two, and it never lasted more than a month or so. With accupuncture, she quit for about 6 months, with some mild cheating. Then Christmas time came and she was right back to two packs a day.

Last summer, she took our dog for a walk one day. Our dog is a big, eleven year old 150lb mutt with two completely gimpy knees. Mom got a little concerned when she realized that the dog had more endurance than her. She basically couldn't walk a quarter mile without starting to wheeze.

So this time, she just decided to stop. No plans or patches, just stopped. Told me it was the first time in her life she had ever decided to quit just because she wanted to. Its been about 8 months, and she swears she hasn't cheated. Hasn't even wanted to. This makes me a happier person. I might get an extra ten years with my mom in my life if I'm lucky.

Anecdote #2:

My Grandmother has smoked two packs a day for longer than I've been alive. Heavy, nasty ass Craven As. I love my Grandmother, but her hacking sounds like a chopper starting up, her house stinks, and she looks like a yellowish prune in the morning. My Grandfather never smoked a cigarette in his life.

My Grandfather died of lung cancer at age 75, four years ago. He was an active guy, full of life, that still went to work everyday up until the day he went to the hospital. He died a month later.

My Grandmother still smokes two packs a day.

[Ironwood]

I'm confused - you're telling us that your Gran killed your Gramps ?

Harsh.

[Pococurante]

Anyways, I'll quit when I stop liking it. Not because of health reasons. That may be for another 20 years, or that may be next week. Right now, I like it.

hehe...

I said, "I know I ain't gonna get hooked. Not on no coke! You can't get hooked." My friends, they've been snortin' for fifteen years. They ain't hooked."