Mayor Ban-berg now wants your tobacco

[amtharin]

Negative. A lot of Bloomberg's best policies will not bear fruit for a long time, anyway. Hudson Yards, rezoning of most of the city, the Cornell/Technion campus, etc.

So NYC was not the best city in the world just a few years ago??

[lasher]

that would seem to be a logical next step if the fatties refuse education and eat-well initiatives

What the hell is it with people like you that you actually think you have any right to dictate to anyone what they can eat, drink, or smoke? WTF clicked wrong in your brain at some point that gave you this superiority complex that leads you to believe you know what's best for the poor pathetic plebeians of society, or that those poor pathetic plebeians should give two shits that you know (lol, I use to word know very loosely here) what's best for them?

[MentalAssasin]

So NYC was not the best city in the world just a few years ago??

It was, but that doesn't mean he didn't keep it there. Trust me: London is on our heels. We can't give the keys of this magnificent city to a populist who panders to the poor.

[YUL]

What the hell is it with people like you that you actually think you have any right to dictate to anyone what they can eat, drink, or smoke?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health

in other words: your time and your $$

[amtharin]

It was, but that doesn't mean he didn't keep it there. Trust me: London is on our heels. We can't give the keys of this magnificent city to a populist who panders to the poor.

Then it is despite bloomberg, not because of him.

[Driftslut]

The goal, he says, is to curb the rate of youth smoking.

Bulls***.

[Tamorlane]

What the hell is it with people like you that you actually think you have any right to dictate to anyone what they can eat, drink, or smoke? WTF clicked wrong in your brain at some point that gave you this superiority complex that leads you to believe you know what's best for the poor pathetic plebeians of society, or that those poor pathetic plebeians should give two shits that you know (lol, I use to word know very loosely here) what's best for them?

Sometimes the government has to act like a parent. And the tobacco companies have attacked our societies with their influence. It's mind-numbing to see kids and people these days defend smoking. We all know they are victims of a well-thought out marketing campaign. Maybe you care about liberty and being left alone, but obviously this doesn't always work. You can claim it's a slipper slope, and no one is saying it's not. These laws exist for good reason. They help protect children from being influenced.

[HumptyBrah]

Sometimes the government has to act like a parent. And the tobacco companies have attacked our societies with their influence. It's mind-numbing to see kids and people these days defend smoking. We all know they are victims of a well-thought out marketing campaign. Maybe you care about liberty and being left alone, but obviously this doesn't always work. You can claim it's a slipper slope, and no one is saying it's not. These laws exist for good reason. They help protect children from being influenced.

No. Just no.

This is...idk. What is...what? I don't even...

[flairon]

dont see what the big deal is. they already do it in Canada and the UK (as far as I know about it). You can still buy cigarettes

it's not like cigarettes provide any benefit anyway

Neither does candy, but there are entire rows of it in stores.

Can't say as I've ever heard of an actual benefit of soda, but again..another whole row of soda.

There are a lot of things people may not "need" but the biggest thing people don't need is people telling them what they don't need.

[Wakiza33]

Neither does candy, but there are entire rows of it in stores.

Can't say as I've ever heard of an actual benefit of soda, but again..another whole row of soda.

There are a lot of things people may not "need" but the biggest thing people don't need is people telling them what they don't need.

This. The precedent of this makes my blood boil. I do understand his point, but in this country, we are free to pursue happiness, whatever that may mean to us.

[Tamorlane]

Obesity, which kills thousands New Yorkers per year, is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, second only to smoking. Additionally, driven by obesity, one in three adult New Yorkers now has diabetes or pre-diabetes. Obesity also increases the risk of some cancers, heart disease, arthritis, and depression. With the majority (58 percent) of New Yorkers now overweight or obese, obesity is the only major public health crisis in America that is getting worse. In addition to the toll on health, the costs to the public are steep: in New York City $4 billion is spent annually on health care costs related to obesity.

"In New York City nearly 60 percent of adults and nearly 40% of children are overweight or obese and there are real world consequences," said Mayor Bloomberg. "People's lives will be shorter, their quality of life is going to be dramatically reduced and obesity is going to start killing more people in this country than smoking. Obesity is the only major public health issue we have that is getting worse and New York City has the courage to stand up and do something about it."

"We applaud Mayor Bloomberg's courageous efforts to help fight obesity," said Dr. Safyer. "I've watched for years as sugary beverages and unhealthy foods have been marketed to our children, while the obesity epidemic exploded. What we need now are far-reaching measures to protect our children from the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancers associated with obesity."

Only when it becomes an epidemic will Americans start to question where they went wrong. Kind of like gun violence and health care.

[HumptyBrah]

Obesity, which kills thousands New Yorkers per year, is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, second only to smoking. Additionally, driven by obesity, one in three adult New Yorkers now has diabetes or pre-diabetes. Obesity also increases the risk of some cancers, heart disease, arthritis, and depression. With the majority (58 percent) of New Yorkers now overweight or obese, obesity is the only major public health crisis in America that is getting worse. In addition to the toll on health, the costs to the public are steep: in New York City $4 billion is spent annually on health care costs related to obesity.

"In New York City nearly 60 percent of adults and nearly 40% of children are overweight or obese and there are real world consequences," said Mayor Bloomberg. "People's lives will be shorter, their quality of life is going to be dramatically reduced and obesity is going to start killing more people in this country than smoking. Obesity is the only major public health issue we have that is getting worse and New York City has the courage to stand up and do something about it."

"We applaud Mayor Bloomberg's courageous efforts to help fight obesity," said Dr. Safyer. "I've watched for years as sugary beverages and unhealthy foods have been marketed to our children, while the obesity epidemic exploded. What we need now are far-reaching measures to protect our children from the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancers associated with obesity."

You forgot to lead with "post unrelated"

Only when it becomes an epidemic will Americans start to question where they went wrong. Kind of like gun violence and health care.

Lol at gun violence being an epidemic

More people die from drowning every year than die by gun violence

[lasher]

Sometimes the government has to act like a parent.

And this is where we part ways.

It's mind-numbing to see kids and people these days defend smoking.

I don't see smoking being defended. I see people's right to smoke being defended.

We all know they are victims of a well-thought out marketing campaign. Maybe you care about liberty and being left alone, but obviously this doesn't always work. You can claim it's a slipper slope, and no one is saying it's not. These laws exist for good reason. They help protect children from being influenced.

I have no problem with laws that prevent children from smoking. This can be done with simple things like age restricted purchases. What I have a problem with is the state legislating its morality on the adult populous through soda size restrictions, tobacco hiding nonsense, and other peripheral inane laws that do nothing other than restrict personal liberty.

[flairon]

Obesity, which kills thousands New Yorkers per year, is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, second only to smoking. Additionally, driven by obesity, one in three adult New Yorkers now has diabetes or pre-diabetes. Obesity also increases the risk of some cancers, heart disease, arthritis, and depression. With the majority (58 percent) of New Yorkers now overweight or obese, obesity is the only major public health crisis in America that is getting worse. In addition to the toll on health, the costs to the public are steep: in New York City $4 billion is spent annually on health care costs related to obesity.

"In New York City nearly 60 percent of adults and nearly 40% of children are overweight or obese and there are real world consequences," said Mayor Bloomberg. "People's lives will be shorter, their quality of life is going to be dramatically reduced and obesity is going to start killing more people in this country than smoking. Obesity is the only major public health issue we have that is getting worse and New York City has the courage to stand up and do something about it."

"We applaud Mayor Bloomberg's courageous efforts to help fight obesity," said Dr. Safyer. "I've watched for years as sugary beverages and unhealthy foods have been marketed to our children, while the obesity epidemic exploded. What we need now are far-reaching measures to protect our children from the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancers associated with obesity."

Only when it becomes an epidemic will Americans start to question where they went wrong. Kind of like gun violence and health care.

It is a person's choice to do with their body as they will. If someone wants to run an IV of coke 2 liters while sticking ho-ho's up their ass and snorting crushed up pez until they get to be 900lbs, pissing cola and sh*tting cream filled sponge cake, that is completely up to them and not the place of anyone else to tell them how to live. When people start committing crimes and shooting up convenience stores for their smokes or twinkie fix then the city may have some input..maybe.

[Wakiza33]

It is a person's choice to do with their body as they will. If someone wants to run an IV of coke 2 liters while sticking ho-ho's up their ass and snorting crushed up pez until they get to be 900lbs, pissing cola and sh*tting cream filled sponge cake, that is completely up to them and not the place of anyone else to tell them how to live. When people start committing crimes and shooting up convenience stores for their smokes or twinkie fix then the city may have some input..maybe.

This. But we have to realize this DOES come with a price. People will **** up, people will get sick on taxpayer dime, we will have to pay cops to carry a fatty out of their own house because they cant move anymore. That, my friends, is the price of freedom and one I will gladly pay.

[bailey1106]

Really because it's pretty effective and accepted in Canada.

Really so we should just do everything canada does?

Tobacco is legal, the overwhelming majority of smokers are legal aged consenting adults, now tell me why they shouldnt even be able to see the product they want to buy?

This hits home for me, not as a ciggarette smoker, but as a premium cigar smoker(btw cigars cost upwards of 60 dollars in canada lol, strong country to model our laws after, considerate of middle class not even once). A gigantic part of cigar smoking is the art, the look, the smell, the feel, the boutique brands, and just being able to browse. Under this new bs law bloomberg is trying to pass, all that will be un attainable to the consenting, paying, legal aged adult just trying to enjoy a product that is 100% legal. Tell me again why these people should be punished like this?

Oh the kids you say? As long as tobacco exists, and as long as it is not allowed by law to be sild to minors, it will have the forbidden fruit aspect and thus be wanted by kids no matter how much you punish the adults.

Oh its health reasons you say? Funny, i thought we all knew smoking was bad, but i guess glancing at a pack of smokes behind the counter throws all that out the window.

The government encroaches on smoking enough already, leave us the hell alone. Freedom, not even once.

[Meatballx]

While some people may see positives in this, I only see negatives.

By regulating the display of these products, Bloomberg is encroaching on a businesses ability to act freely and display the products they wish to sell. If individuals do not like this, they can simply not shop there. These are the principles of a free market. The business provides the product and services, and the consumers choose whether or not they do business there. While I agree that smoking is nothing more than a detriment to ourselves, I still find it funny that a governing body that wishes to act as if its legislation is in our best interests elects to keep cigarettes and alcohol legal yet criminalize other things that pose no immediate threat to bodily function.

This is a matter of American principles yet again being ignored in favor of the pussified, irresponsible populace.

[TH3SHR3DD3R]

Just so you guys know, human health is of such complexity that bans are not going to fix or solve anything. Banning sodas will not rid the world of obesity and disease. Could we take a look at the parts of the world where things are banned arbitrarily for 'the common good'? Those places aren't so awesome, but they are an example of what happens when people start randomly declaring things 'bannable' without having a clue as to what they're saying.

Not too long ago even members of this forum were calling for bans on fatty foods, thinking that low fat diets were good for us. Now we know that's not so true.

[HumptyBrah]

This. But we have to realize this DOES come with a price. People will **** up, people will get sick on taxpayer dime, we will have to pay cops to carry a fatty out of their own house because they cant move anymore. That, my friends, is the price of freedom and one I will gladly pay.

So take the taxpayer dinme out of it

[flairon]

This. But we have to realize this DOES come with a price. People will **** up, people will get sick on taxpayer dime, we will have to pay cops to carry a fatty out of their own house because they cant move anymore. That, my friends, is the price of freedom and one I will gladly pay.

Yeah, we have to pay people to scrape crotch rocket riders off the street, pick parachutists out of power wires, pry people out of 180mph cars wrapped around poles in a country where the top speed limit is 70mph.

Peoples version of the pursuit of happiness isn't always what everyone else considers 'happiness', but I'm pretty sure there is no defined list of 'happiness' that we are mandated to be in pursuit of.

[tk217]

dont see what the big deal is. they already do it in Canada and the UK (as far as I know about it). You can still buy cigarettes

it's not like cigarettes provide any benefit anyway

what's next? speed limits are encroaching on your rights?

Yes.

And it is called defacto prohibition. Ish bull****.

[wings_unhinged]

Nanny state of peace

[Wakiza33]

So take the taxpayer dinme out of it

Touche mate.

[Wakiza33]

Yeah, we have to pay people to scrape crotch rocket riders off the street, pick parachutists out of power wires, pry people out of 180mph cars wrapped around poles in a country where the top speed limit is 70mph.

Peoples version of the pursuit of happiness isn't always what everyone else considers 'happiness', but I'm pretty sure there is no defined list of 'happiness' that we are mandated to be in pursuit of.

Yes, i believe there is (generally). If it does not infringe others right to happiness (such as going 180 mph does) than you are free to do so

[flairon]

Yes, i believe there is (generally). If it does not infringe others right to happiness (such as going 180 mph does) than you are free to do so

Me doing 180 out on a highway all by myself and tasting a tree has nothing to do with anyone else. If I eat a tree, its just me the car and the tree, and I don't think the car and the tree really care.

[HumptyBrah]

Me doing 180 out on a highway all by myself and tasting a tree has nothing to do with anyone else. If I eat a tree, its just me the car and the tree, and I don't think the car and the tree really care.

You doing 180 and obliterating someone else in their Prius is a different story. Quantify "all by yourself."

[flairon]

You doing 180 and obliterating someone else in their Prius is a different story. Quantify "all by yourself."

You're right.

let's ban corvettes

Hey...you could drop a weight in the gym, possibly landing on someone else's foot and irreparably damaging it, impacting their quality of life.


Better turn in your gym card.

[BeefyMcNasty]

Sometimes the government has to act like a parent.

**** No! The only people who should act like parents are parents.

Bloomberg should just shove a leash up everyone's ass. Would cover all bases.

[tk217]

You're right.

let's ban corvettes

Hey...you could drop a weight in the gym, possibly landing on someone else's foot and irreparably damaging it, impacting their quality of life.


Better turn in your gym card.

Stop breathing. You're spreading germs.

What if I get infected because of your breathing problem?

The Mayor needs to do something about this germ spreading epidemic!

[Wakiza33]

You doing 180 and obliterating someone else in their Prius is a different story. Quantify "all by yourself."

This, that's what the law is in place for. But i agree that it is imperfect, hence the dialogue with bloomberg. Liberty does come at a certain price, of course.