The Pentagon wants to take Cigarettes and Tobacco away from our troops.
- Thread starter compuwiz1
- Start date
You can still be physically fit even if you smoke. Excersise is the key and soldiers get a lot of physical training. Hell, when I was enlisted we had a drill instructor that only had one lung and he could outrun all of us. I don't see how you can tell grown men whether they are allowed to smoke or not.
CallMeJoe
Diamond Member
- Jul 30, 2004
- 6,938
- 5
- 81
Generations of soldiers have smoked, and it didn't seem to interfere with their ability to fight.
As for the VA, they seem quite adept at avoiding treatment for soldiers with direct service-related injuries and disabilities; I see no reason to believe they won't be equally adept at avoiding treatment of smoking-related problems, especially as they are not service-related.
Besides, think of all the money saved on retirement benefits for smokers who die early!
MovingTarget
Diamond Member
- Jun 22, 2003
- 9,002
- 115
- 106
I wholeheartedly disagree with this idea, and I am going to be a doctor. Taking away cigarettes is just going to cause problems. People needs outlets and do not like being told what to do. This is just like when they try this stuff in prisons. This is another cheap fix just like everything else the gov does. I really doubt it will do any good at all.
frostedflakes
Diamond Member
- Mar 1, 2005
- 7,925
- 1
- 81
Yeah that's the one thing I'm really worried about with the move to nationalized healthcare, unfortunately there will be a lot more incentive for the government to try to regulate the peoples lifestyles because of the associated cost savings.
I disagree with this idea on the basis of personal liberties, I think people should be able to do whatever they want to their own body regardless of the consequences. It also sounds like tobacco may be beneficial in some ways by helping soldiers to cope with the incredible stress they have to deal with.
GodlessAstronomer
Lifer
- Oct 27, 2007
- 17,009
- 5
- 0
That explains why it's illegal to smoke here in New Zealand and every other western country.
Oh wait...
I'd support taking cigarettes away from soldiers just to spite them. If the rest of America can't smoke anywhere but their homes, so should soldiers. Let them see the freedoms they aren't fighting for. It's absolutely ridiculous where this anti-tobacco movement is going and if we take them away from soldiers, this might be the move that breaks the movement and actually let Americans choose what they want to do with their bodies.
I heard they want to stare recruiting only non smokers. That's a lot different than telling soldiers who already smoke they can't.
frostedflakes
Diamond Member
- Mar 1, 2005
- 7,925
- 1
- 81
Well I was more referring to the government trying to prohibit unhealthy behaviors, stuff like that is what I'm afraid of. I'm not necessarily against providing incentives against unhealthy behavior, which like you mentioned is basically what goes on with private coverage currently. People are free to smoke, but they will have to pay more because of their lifestyle choice and the health problems that come along with it.
Note to young people who don't want to get drafted - take up smoking!
But seriously, this will have only one effect, lower morale. Not a good idea, nothing good can come from it.
But seriously, this will have only one effect, lower morale. Not a good idea, nothing good can come from it.
They might as well outlaw jelly doughnuts and mcdonalds while they're at it. Say all ya want about smoking but there are just as many OTHER unhealthy lifestyles. What's next...our military can't have caffein or eat a double whopper with cheese? What about all the smoke and gases the troops are exposed to on a daily basis from weapon discharges?
Most of you know I hate the tobacco comapanies on general principles for continuing to pimp their addictive deadly products. That said, it would be impossible to cut off every tobacco addict in our military cold turkey.
The good news is in the article at the OP's link:
This could only work if it's implemented over time and with a well planned program to help current addicts to quit, and it would be consistant with current trends in the civilian population.
The good news is in the article at the OP's link:
This could only work if it's implemented over time and with a well planned program to help current addicts to quit, and it would be consistant with current trends in the civilian population.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 20K
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter