Smoking and Unemployment

United States
July 12, 2009 11:57am CST
The unemployment rate in the United States is now 9.5% What happens when laws and taxes completely eliminate smoking in this country? There will be thousands, if not millions left without jobs: all the tobacco plantation workers; all the tobacco processing workers; all the production workers; all the truckers who transport tobacco products; stores that lose income from tobacco purchases will begin to down-size staff; lighter manufacturers will also suffer as well as the farmers. Our tax dollars will go to paying unemployment benefits and welfare for the unemployed and farm subsidies to the plantation owners. Will this be less than the tax dollars spent on medical care for illnesses related to smoking? Why hasn't anyone seen this potential problem?
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1 response
sid556
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
12 Jul 09
I think they just assume that while some will quit as the prices go up....there are a good many that will just pay their constant ridiculous increases. It is a very powerful addiction and they are right. Some people just can't seem to quit. I am one of them but I will say that I have cut back drastically. It's true tho, as much as people complain about the smokers, they all should just stop and consider what would happen if everyone actually did up and quit.