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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

#151

Post by coldtea »

PopsiclePete wrote: post #129
coldtea wrote: post #48

The decline of the middle class and the huge explosion of the riches of the rich class will ensure that rich and poor in 50 and 100 years look and live like different species... Slum dwellers and "city trash" on one hand, and 150 year old clean shaven organic vegan genetically modified uberlords on the other. Warlocks vs Elois all over again...

...or another B- summer block-buster starring Matt Damon?

Spaceships and space-colonies aside, Elysium, for many people in the developing world is more everyday reality than a sci-fi blockbuster.

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

#152

Post by sctb »

anovikov wrote: 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.

It's uncivil to make baseless claims about other people. This violates the guidelines, so please don't do this.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

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

#153

Post by antisthenes »

coldtea wrote: post #48

The decline of the middle class and the huge explosion of the riches of the rich class will ensure that rich and poor in 50 and 100 years look and live like different species... Slum dwellers and "city trash" on one hand, and 150 year old clean shaven organic vegan genetically modified uberlords on the other. Warlocks vs Elois all over again...

This has been my theory, but it'll take longer than 50-100 years. It should coincide with Earth's population decline.

After technology removes another 10-15% of jobs, and we settle into global warming, the population should settle at ~3-4 billion, with ~80% of it being service and maintenance workers, and the rest as the controlling elite.

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

#154

Post by madengr »

cloverich wrote: post #126
chc wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A pack of cigarettes is one of the most luxurious pleasures available if all you have is $5. There's nothing luxurious about smelling bad and getting a wicked cough. Unless you're already addicted, nearly anything under $5 is more luxurious than a cigarette. I just ate an orange that cost 50¢ and it was more luxurious than any cigarette I've ever smoked.

There's some subjective aspect to this as well. I smoked off and on for over 10 years. I quit several years ago and don't want for money. But still, to be 100% honest, I've yet to find anything as enjoyable as a cigarette. Its like a tiny espresso that gives an instant rush that I can revisit as often as I'd like. It fits into my 5 minute break mindset. It gives me a reason to (briefly) talk to people I don't know. I…

I don't smoke, but certain cigarettes smell good. A Winston smells good. Cloves and menthols are nasty. Pipe smoke is awesome. I'll probably smoke a pipe when I'm older. Smoking cigars on long road trips with the windows down is good.

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

#155

Post by wmeredith »

ackfoo wrote: post #11

In the documentary, "A Billion Lives", the former spokesman for Winston says he was told by tobacco executives (who did not smoke) that smoking is for "the poor, the black, the young, and the stupid".

This reminds me of the line from The Godfather when the New York mob families are getting into the drug trade, discussing the distastefulness of the business, "In my city, we would keep the traffic in the dark people - the colored. They're animals anyway, so let them lose their souls."

It's much easier to profit of someone else's suffering if you convince yourself of their inhumanity or otherness.

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

#156

Post by wmeredith »

gscott wrote: post #110
GeekyBear wrote: post #109

So America has massively increased the tax burden on the poorest Americans (ever increasing tobacco taxes) while simultaneously cutting taxes on Capital Gains and Inheritance and now we are considering a large cut to the Corporate rate? Not to mention all the states with a lottery, which can also be thought of as a tax on poor people who are bad at math. This seems like class warfare.

In California we have a crisis, not enough people are smoking and paying the taxes. So the cigarette taxes have to be raised again and again then other tax sources have to be found.

That's why you don't use "sin taxes" to do anything but combat "sin". Using taxes like this to pay for things you actually want to keep messes with incentives in an evil way.

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

#157

Post by angersock »

LanceH wrote: post #96
quantdev wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. Nicotine has mental health benefits (e.g., schizophrenia ) and is a nootropic, stimulant, and feel-good drug. By smoking, the poor are trading years in the future for pleasantness now. Calling them stupid or irrational just makes too many assumptions about their opportunities, situations, and goals.

"the poor are trading years in the future for pleasantness now" This also describes how a lot of people are poor.

No, being born into poor families with poor job opportunities in poor areas is how a lot of people are poor.

You should expand your horizons.

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

#158

Post by wmeredith »

coldtea wrote: post #48

The decline of the middle class and the huge explosion of the riches of the rich class will ensure that rich and poor in 50 and 100 years look and live like different species... Slum dwellers and "city trash" on one hand, and 150 year old clean shaven organic vegan genetically modified uberlords on the other. Warlocks vs Elois all over again...

It's heavy handed, but the movie Elysium portrayed this well. It's a dark timeline indeed.

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

#159

Post by fjdlwlv »

josefresco wrote: post #25
gruturo wrote: 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.

Some of those anti-tobacco (I'm blanking on the name) commercials targeted at teens/kids use this approach. I forget the actual line, but they mention something about how smokers make less money .. anyone have a link?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_(anti-tobacco_campaign...

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

#160

Post by fjdlwlv »

kardos wrote: post #112

> Cigarette companies are focusing their marketing on lower socioeconomic communities to retain their customer base, researchers say. > Advocacy groups say funding for smoking cessation is dropping It seems like an uphill battle to let the tobacco industry tell everyone to smoke, and then try and undo that with anti-smoking campaigns. Is there a reason we can't rein in or eliminate tobacco advertising?

Is is reined in. No ads on TV, for example
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