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America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

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Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#31
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think so. You are correct that there are a large number of people who don't want the social stigma of being poor etc., but for many they see it as one of the few pleasures they can still have. To these people, they smoke, most of their friends and family smoke, and life is a struggle on a day to day basis. To them calling them a loser doesn't shame them, it just makes them more angry towards you.

But it will help a lot for the remaining ~10% or so of middle class people who smoke, to quit.

so when the poor eat the rich and middle classes at least the meat will be of higher quality?

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#32
post #5

Isn't this in general normal for the poor? Poor are poor because they prefer instant gratification and don't think about what it means long term.

The rich only outsource long term thinking. Humans are generally bad at long term thinking, no matter how much money they have.

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is simply not true, at least not in any even minimally developed country.

You're both talking in extremes. There is a lot of inherited wealth in the developed world [1]. There is also a relationship between "marshmallow test" impulsiveness and peoples' tendency to squander the opportunities their life presents them [2]. The relative balance between these factors is debatable. Their presence is more difficult to dismiss. [1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-23/how-to-st... [2…

35-45% of wealth as a raw figure is inherited, if you consider wealth ownership by the top 1%, that is a hell of an advantaged start. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2015/01...

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is simply not true, at least not in any even minimally developed country.

You're both talking in extremes. There is a lot of inherited wealth in the developed world [1]. There is also a relationship between "marshmallow test" impulsiveness and peoples' tendency to squander the opportunities their life presents them [2]. The relative balance between these factors is debatable. Their presence is more difficult to dismiss. [1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-23/how-to-st... [2…

This study claims 67%[0] of millionaires in the US are self made, with only 8% having inherited all or most of that wealth.

[0]http://www.fa-mag.com/news/most-millionaires-self-made--stud...

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#35
post #10
post #5

Isn't this in general normal for the poor? Poor are poor because they prefer instant gratification and don't think about what it means long term.

Whereas rich are rich because their parents were rich.

There have been studies and the vast majority of millionaires in the United States are still self made, whereas Europe is largely old money.

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#36
post #2

This, if correctly publicized, would be the best motivation in getting huge amounts of people to stop. Think of a slogan like "Only the poor still smoke" or "it's what losers do" and how it would impact people. Suddenly you'd be embarrassed of being seen smoking.

What a completely tone-deaf, condescending position.

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#38
post #2

This, if correctly publicized, would be the best motivation in getting huge amounts of people to stop. Think of a slogan like "Only the poor still smoke" or "it's what losers do" and how it would impact people. Suddenly you'd be embarrassed of being seen smoking.

Uh, what? I know I'm a poor loser, and all the poor losers I know, know we're poor losers. We don't exist in an arena where that's embarrassing. That's just you lot.

Re: America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t

#39
post #2

This, if correctly publicized, would be the best motivation in getting huge amounts of people to stop. Think of a slogan like "Only the poor still smoke" or "it's what losers do" and how it would impact people. Suddenly you'd be embarrassed of being seen smoking.

There might be something there with economics, but a government (or any authority) calling people losers I doubt would have any effect. The "drugs aren't cool" campaign's have never really worked.

...because that wasn't true enough. Sure addiction isn't cool, but moderate amounts of light drugs (canabis) make a great party, unfortunately.
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