steffijade
Achiever
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2012
- Messages
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Over recent weeks there has been a strong media push towards heavy touch controls on tobacco smoking. There was the announcement that smoking in cars with children is to be banned and the associated provisions in the children and families bill that leave the door conveniently open for further restrictions down the line.
Today I see yet another article that states quitting has the same effect as taking anti-depressants... from an organisation that has established links to big pharma.
I have already seen it suggested in the mainstream media that a total ban on smoking in cars would be fully justified and even that a total ban on tobacco smoking is within reach.
The antis have always trodden quite lightly around the issue of an all out ban on tobacco, mainly because of the associated revenue income loss it would bring to some of their major financial backers (big government and big pharma). Now, however, the solution to that problem is at hand.. and quite literally, in our hands in the form of vaping devices.
The World Health Organisation have plans to push for vaping (or more precisely, e-liquids) to be classified as tobacco products and if these plans are successful, that opens the door for controls and punitive taxation to be applied to e-liquids (the one element of vaping that 'they' can conceivably have a measure of control over).
This would allow governments world wide to levy taxes in a similar range to tobacco cigarettes with impunity, whilst also maintaining a presumed position of being in the moral/ethical high ground. It would also allow organisations such as ASH to broaden their remit to legitimately include vaping.
I'm beginning to wonder if this is the real reason for the recent media onslaught of smoking related articles.
They don't have to pussy foot around a total ban on smoking anymore.. they can just ban it, shift the tax burden and the demonisation onto vapers, maintain the revenue income and also maintain the justification for the anti lobby to perpetuate their gravy train. The government also gets the added bonus of reaping the benefits of THR and (theoretically) less NHS expense on 'smoking related diseases'.
Big pharma and big tobacco get to keep their profits too, as they will both no doubt put forward devices for medical licensing that will subvert any heavy handed taxation, restrictions and regulation.
It's a win all round.. a solution that's full to the brim of win.. except for us that is.
We end being the ones getting fingers wagged at us again, looked down upon, demonised and taxed to the hilt for the privelige of vaping.
I did consider putting this in my jokey conspiracy theory thread, but of late, the more I see, the more I think this could well end up being conspiracy fact rather than conspiracy theory.
It's also why I've been quite vocal, possibly even rude on a few occasions lately, when the question of etiquette and vaping in public has been brought up. I publicly apologise here and now if I've offended anyone with my strong opinion, but I feel the motivation to voice opposition to meek acceptance of what I see as very real risks to our freedom as vapers and also to the risks of us becoming tomorrow's new acceptable targets for vilification, as being a valid justification.
I think I'm gonna need a bigger roll of tinfoil.
Today I see yet another article that states quitting has the same effect as taking anti-depressants... from an organisation that has established links to big pharma.
I have already seen it suggested in the mainstream media that a total ban on smoking in cars would be fully justified and even that a total ban on tobacco smoking is within reach.
The antis have always trodden quite lightly around the issue of an all out ban on tobacco, mainly because of the associated revenue income loss it would bring to some of their major financial backers (big government and big pharma). Now, however, the solution to that problem is at hand.. and quite literally, in our hands in the form of vaping devices.
The World Health Organisation have plans to push for vaping (or more precisely, e-liquids) to be classified as tobacco products and if these plans are successful, that opens the door for controls and punitive taxation to be applied to e-liquids (the one element of vaping that 'they' can conceivably have a measure of control over).
This would allow governments world wide to levy taxes in a similar range to tobacco cigarettes with impunity, whilst also maintaining a presumed position of being in the moral/ethical high ground. It would also allow organisations such as ASH to broaden their remit to legitimately include vaping.
I'm beginning to wonder if this is the real reason for the recent media onslaught of smoking related articles.
They don't have to pussy foot around a total ban on smoking anymore.. they can just ban it, shift the tax burden and the demonisation onto vapers, maintain the revenue income and also maintain the justification for the anti lobby to perpetuate their gravy train. The government also gets the added bonus of reaping the benefits of THR and (theoretically) less NHS expense on 'smoking related diseases'.
Big pharma and big tobacco get to keep their profits too, as they will both no doubt put forward devices for medical licensing that will subvert any heavy handed taxation, restrictions and regulation.
It's a win all round.. a solution that's full to the brim of win.. except for us that is.
We end being the ones getting fingers wagged at us again, looked down upon, demonised and taxed to the hilt for the privelige of vaping.
I did consider putting this in my jokey conspiracy theory thread, but of late, the more I see, the more I think this could well end up being conspiracy fact rather than conspiracy theory.
It's also why I've been quite vocal, possibly even rude on a few occasions lately, when the question of etiquette and vaping in public has been brought up. I publicly apologise here and now if I've offended anyone with my strong opinion, but I feel the motivation to voice opposition to meek acceptance of what I see as very real risks to our freedom as vapers and also to the risks of us becoming tomorrow's new acceptable targets for vilification, as being a valid justification.
I think I'm gonna need a bigger roll of tinfoil.
