What's wrong with people these days?

[homer]

Yeah, that was a nice day indeed.

Although I was tempted to go after the guy I didn't actually see him throw it, so couldn't be totally sure. Also, stopping in the middle of traffic to pick up trash might not be that healthy
Actually... I think it might be more unhealthy than smoking...

Very true
will catch up ...
later

[Toaster]

Nah mate nothing controversial there at all, one thing you might want to reconsider about your darstedly plan though. Smokers, by way of tax on tobacco contribute over M$900 (thats nine hundred million dollars) to the economy each year. Get rid of the smokers, and the government will come looking to take it from your pocket!

But in turn smoking related illness costs the public health system a fortune. Ironic really.

All this talk of smoking... bump me one will ya Mom!

[rwh]

None. Well none that you can prove anyway. The consolidated fund is just that. It's the same with ACC levies and petrol tax. None of that goes back into roading or road safety either, well none that you can prove.

If you want to be pedantic, take out the "of that". Money comes in from tax, money goes out to health care and street sweepers (and roading and road safety).

I would like to know how they compare. I realise that much of it is still hard to judge, given that people get lung cancer without smoking etc etc. But it may be possible to have a rough guess that it's either more or less than $9 million or whatever the figure was.

Anyway - as I said, I'm happy to do without money made out of making people sick, much as I wouldn't vote to legalise heroin in order to tax it, or bring back the death penalty to provide jobs for executioners.

Richard

[rwh]

Wow, lucky I am a non-smoker then eh mate! You sure have yout tits in a tangle about this. Hope you are a member of ASH. Me, I prefer to live, and let live myself.

Or live and let get sick and die, as appropriate.

I'll take that as a 'no'

Richard