The latest Summary of Kansas Vital Statistics supports those calls for bans on public smoking locally and statewide: Chronic lower respiratory disease (including emphysema, asthma and bronchitis) nosed cerebrovascular disease (the cause of strokes) out of the No. 3 spot among top killers in Kansas last year, behind heart disease and cancer. It was the first change in the top three in 69 years. “That makes tobacco use the leading underlying cause of death in Kansas,†said Ghazala Perveen, director of science and surveillance in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Office of Health Promotion. True, the death rate from heart disease has declined 22.7 percent since 1999, but a recent national report found that over the past year, the number of Kansans who smoke rose from 17.8 to 20 percent of the population. More smokers now would seem to mean more smoking-related deaths later.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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59 Comments
No.1 cause of death is stress, if you want to get down to the nitty gritty of the details.
There are lots of other things one could do if the goal is really to reduce smoking, starting with a higher cigarette tax everywhere and draconian penalties for selling to minors (a law that is currently laughably underenforced with small “cost of doing business” penalties). The way to combat smoking is to prevent people starting in the first place, and the overwhelming majority of those who smoke start young. I do support bans on smoking in public, however, for the simple reason that people who want clean air are entitled to have it.
I do support bans on smoking in public, however, for the simple reason that people who want clean air are entitled to have it.
Posted by: James | December 17, 2007 at 05:34 AM
============…and I guess you’ll also want to ban automobiles since they also dirty the air…and it will be interesting to see what you do about the dust and pollen that blows in the air, too.
James,
Are you also advocating banning smoking in private buisness, such as restaraunts and clubs?
Smokeing should be banned anywhere outside of the home and even then landlords should have the right to only rent to non smokers if they wish. And cigs should be taxed at $4 a pack with the money going to take care of all the sick smokers and trying to get children to not smoke. And the cigarette comapanies should be banned from ANY advertising at all.
Anybody who sells cigarettes to any person under 18 should be:1st Offense $500 fine and 3 days jail2nd offense $1000 fine and 7 days in jail3rd offense loss of business license and 30 days in jail4th and anymore would be a FELONY and require prison time
correlation does not equal causation. People are becoming more asthmatic, and nobody knows why.
Also, cerebral vascular disease is also supposedly underlying cause is also…smoking..TADA. So how can you say that this is why…when one ‘result’ was replaced with another ‘result’?
So, Kev you want the government to dictate to a buisness owner what he can and cant allow in his buisness? Why don’t you just go the whole nine yards and have the government dictate what he can charge for his product
There is no good reason to ban smoking in public. Geez you people are nuts. It used to be the excuse that you wanted the fresh air, bull. You don’t like smokers, and you’ll do whatever you can to limit what they do even if it doesn’t affect you one iota.
My aunt is extremely allergic to cigarette smoke. Anytime she walked into my grandmother’s house, you could visibly see a reaction. We went out to eat before smoking bans took over, and she had no problem at all in the non smoking section, not a tear, not a wheeze, nothing.
I had a family member die from an asthma attack related to smoking. Two other people who lived with her smoked. She died when she was put into a car with the windows UP with someone who was smoking. That’s how bad her asthma was. She could also go to restaurants where there was smoking.
So whatever.
There is really a simple solution to smoking in public, dont patronize buisnesses that allow smoking. If enough people do that you can bet it is going to hurt the bottom line of the buisness and the owner(if he is smart) will change his policy. Let the marketplace decide
No.1 cause of death is stress, if you want to get down to the nitty gritty of the details.Posted by: Wiseman
Poke a rat in the keester with a needle every day and purified air and filtered water will cause cancer?
Personally, I read any statistic with varying degrees of reliability. In Accademia it’s a ‘Publish or Perish’ mentality. It seems the reults of any study is directly proportional to the desired results of those funding the study. I’ve seen the world change because someone wrote a book called ‘Silent Spring’ back in the 60’s. Fudged data, reversed data, and incorrect conclusions. But at least it got the EPA its start.Remember when heart disease was caused by too much red meat and now it’s just a STD? Ulcers were caused by stress, and now just a microbe. Too much salt, then not enough salt caused high blood pressure before it was reported that if your body has high blood pressure from too much or too little salt that’s the way your body just is. Prayer for the ill caused miraculous recovery whether the ill person knew about the prayers or not was also recently found to not be true.But, hey, the folks cranking out these studies still have their jobs and funds continue rolling in. I’m getting to believe the old addage, “78% of all statistics made up on the spot are true” is becoming more accurate every day.
Completly as an aside, you needn’t appologize for every typo. Those who notice typos just read too stinkin’ slow anyway. As a slow reader I notice most typos, but I’m not so microcephalic that i can’t figure out what people mean. I notice those who harp the most on people’s typos have no argument of substance so they have to fall back on arguing on something of no substance. Besides, Typo is just a town in Kentucky that gets left off most maps for some reason.
How about the stats on second hand smoke? Isn’t that the “underlying” cause for the ban? Its not about a smokers health, who really cares, right? Smokers are bad people.Oh and that pesky second-hand smoke. Yep- it roles in like a fog giving everyone within its grasp cancer, heart disease, and emphysema.
How about the stats on second hand smoke? Isn’t that the “underlying” cause for the ban? Its not about a smokers health, who really cares, right? Smokers are bad people.Oh and that pesky second-hand smoke. Yep- it roles in like a fog giving everyone within its grasp cancer, heart disease, and emphysema.
We can’t even ban illegal drugs.
Ya think tobacco would be any easier to ban.
The Prohibition on alcohol flopped, and so would a tobacco ban.
Anyone see the movie Cold Turkey?
I saw it Max. Very funny movie but made some interesting points about the tobacco industry.
There was an upside in the Cold Turkey solution, Freebird.
You remember the suggested alternative to smoking? Even the preacher supported the alternative.
Not sure how the government would mandate that!
I remember the DR. with the pacifier. Maybe gov’t issue pacifiers could be part of Hillary’s health care
We want to ban smoking, yet every yahoo who can will carry a gun.
Rox can you think of anything more dangerous that a guy trying to kick the smoking habit? Maybe we should not let them carry until it has been a year since they smoked.
interesting … I still remember seeing all those tobacco industry guys – including their company doctors – testifying at Congress that tobacco os NOT bad for your health and that nicotine is NOT addictive.
As Yogi Berra said – “deja vu all over again”
Time to tax death sticks at $5 per pack, and sending anyone who sells death sticks to minors to prison for at least two years. I also support a full ban on smoking in ANY public venue, indoors or outdoors. Also, there needs to be a strict law in place which prohibits smoking in vehicles whenever a person under the age of 18 is present. Kids do not need to be breathing in poisonous air from these smokers, who are the number one reason why our health insurance premimums are so high.
Death Sticks make Tiller the Baby Killer the #2 cause of death in Kansas.
As a smoker I kindly invite you out of my car.
If you do not want me to smoke near you, POLITELY say so.
My kid was nearly killed on several occasions by idiots on cell phones. You can legislate against that.
J R – I agree. I remember telling a smoker friend that she and I could write good legislation. It would start with “You don’t smoke in my car and I don’t bitch in your car.” (I will, however, crack the window)
So whatever happened to those billions of dollars the tobacco companies paid out to the states?
Did Kansas spend any of that money to stop smoking? Did any get earmarked toward smokers ailments?
Or did it all go into the general fund, along with the cigarette tax to be used for whatever purposes the legislature wants?
After 28 yrs of smoking — I haven’t had a cigarette since late June —- Always preferred sitting in the non smoking sections at restaurants / etc —– now I ask people to blow smoke my way —- cheap thrill / quick fix
I ban of fast food would be much more effective at prolonging lives.
If you can’t give up Mickey’s fries, then tax em:
$6 Hardees Philli Cheesesteak Thickburder$5 on Big Macs and Whoppers$5 Wendy’s 1/2 pound cheddar jalepeno burger$4 on Quarter Pounders (w/Chez)$3 Happy meals$2 Wendy’s (more toy than food)
I have a hard time with the statitic that says only 20% of Kansans smoke. It seems that at least a third of the people I see driving down the road have a cigarette in their hand. (And a good share of those have a cell phone in the other hand.) I’m guessing that half the people where I work are smokers. But the statistics don’t matter. Smokers do not have a right to contaminate MY air. Ban smoking in all public places.
AmWay – thing is; even fast food can have a place in a reasonable diet if balanced against other meals. That is NOT the case with the recreational drug tobacco. I would add that there is not a move to BAN tobacco; just to control exposure to second-hand smoke.
I started working for the county back in 1989. In order to learn field work I had to ride in the vehicle of my supervisor. She smoked and told me I had to endure her smoking because it was her SUV. I rolled down the window and it reall P_ssed off. I protested vigorously until I was allowed to take my car. Of course, the main boss didn’t like my complaining and told me so. I countered that I would file a greviance if I were punished in any way! That settled that! Now, there is no smoking at any county office, building and garage! Guess who was hollerin the loudess! WOMEN! That’s right. The fair sex. You’d think they would be the ones who would support such a ban. Heck no! They want their smokes as close to the building as possible. And if you have to walk through it that’s tough! All of the hospitals and health affiliated businesses, such as dentist, eye doctors etc; have such bans! Those businesses that allow smoking will soon find out how hard it is to stay in business. Take the bars! Say they want a delievery of liquor or beer. The company or companies may not want to bring it inside because their employees would have to inhale the smoke! Their healh coverage may prevent them from being even NEAR smoke. Think it won’t happen? Guess again. Some health coverage already restricts how much body fat you can have in regards to your size. Even some companies have made employees pay more for health coverage because of such instances as over being weight and smoking. Yes, you smokers may not like it but the ban is on its’ way. It may not be this year or the next. But eventually it will be here!!!
States were supposed to spend much of the tobacco settlement money on anti-smoking programs. Most didn’t use it for what it was intended for. Only 3 states spend anywhere near what the Centers for Disease Control recommend on tobacco control measures. All the while tobacco companies are increasing their advertising budgets. More needs to be spent on anti-tobacco programs. A tax hike on tobacco and a public places smoking ban would also help reduce the toll of tobacco related diseases.
I started working for the county back in 1989. In order to learn field work I had to ride in the vehicle of my supervisor. She smoked and told me I had to endure her smoking because it was her SUV. I rolled down the window and it reall P_ssed off. I protested vigorously until I was allowed to take my car. Of course, the main boss didn’t like my complaining and told me so. I countered that I would file a greviance if I were punished in any way! That settled that! Now, there is no smoking at any county office, building and garage! Guess who was hollerin the loudess! WOMEN! That’s right. The fair sex. You’d think they would be the ones who would support such a ban. Heck no! They want their smokes as close to the building as possible. And if you have to walk through it that’s tough! All of the hospitals and health affiliated businesses, such as dentist, eye doctors etc; have such bans! Those businesses that allow smoking will soon find out how hard it is to stay in business. Take the bars! Say they want a delievery of liquor or beer. The company or companies may not want to bring it inside because their employees would have to inhale the smoke! Their healh coverage may prevent them from being even NEAR smoke. Think it won’t happen? Guess again. Some health coverage already restricts how much body fat you can have in regards to your size. Even some companies have made employees pay more for health coverage because of such instances as over being weight and smoking. Yes, you smokers may not like it but the ban is on its’ way. It may not be this year or the next. But eventually it will be here!!!
Phil – the tobacco industry protested vigorouslyagainst the best of the stop-smoking ads. they claimed they defamed the industry.
Actually, you all should be kissing smokers and thanking them for smoking. The last thing we need is for them all to die off.
Who is going to pay for all the free healthcare?
Well, I guess this theory didn’t work. Raised revenue, but……..Kansas is smoking more than ever!
For Immediate Release
May 17, 2002 Contact: Tony Iallonardo 202.296.5469
Kansas’ Higher Cigarette Tax Will Save Lives, Reduce Health Care Costs and Raise Much-Needed Revenue
Statement by William V. Corr, Executive Vice President Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Washington, DC – Kansas leaders have taken an important step toward protecting the state’s kids and taxpayers from the devastating toll of tobacco by increasing the cigarette tax by 55 cents a pack. This is a win-win-win solution for Kansas that will reduce smoking among both kids and adults, save lives by reducing smoking-caused disease and raise much-needed revenue to help balance the state budget. We applaud Governor Bill Graves for his leadership in proposing a cigarette tax increase and the Legislature for enacting the 55-cent increase into law yesterday. Once the full increase takes effect on January 1, 2003, Kansas’ cigarette tax will be 79 cents a pack.
Studies show that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes will reduce youth smoking by seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by three to five percent. Kansas can expect a 55-cent per pack cigarette tax increase to prevent some 20,500 kids alive today from becoming smokers, save 9,700 Kansans from smoking-caused deaths, produce $365 million in long-term health care savings, and raise roughly $103 million a year in new revenue.
Still no mention of the new scientific study linking red and processed meat to colon and lung cancer.
Phantom – i knew there was a big link with processed (especially with nitrates) but less sure about red meat. Also, I wonder how much that would be dose related since it is also a great nutrient source.
Similar to the eggs issue – they are both good for you and bad for you. Also sun exposure – vitamin D (which defends against cancer) and skin cancer (which I have been dealing with for about 2 decades)
Read an article that said the link was much stronger than had been previously thought. Ks. being so heavy in the beef industry, I see why the Eagle hasn’t been talking about it. I was surprised to learn it was linked to lung cancer, wonder how many of those non-smokers that get lung cancer aren’t really related to second hand smoke but to what they eat.
I wonder also how much that might have to do with adulterants.
Especially for the processed meat.
I have never heard that eating red meat caused lung cancer…colon cancer maybe…but lung cancer is usually only caused by three things: smoking and exposure to asbestos or grain dust. If someone has lung cancer and has never been exposed to these things, usually there is a primary cancer somewhere else in the body that has spread to the lung.
“Actually, you all should be kissing smokers and thanking them for smoking. The last thing we need is for them all to die off.
Who is going to pay for all the free healthcare?”American Way
If everyone quit smoking the money the taxpayers would save not taking care of people with smoking related illnesses would more than cover the cost of any heathcare program. We spent billions each year taking care of sick smokers courtesy of the US taxpayers.
Wow..just think if we spent BILLIONS on preventative and children’s healthcare instead of wasting it on people who slowly commit suicide with cigarettes. What a difference it could make.
What if we took the billions we waste on smokers and put it toward education and paying teachers what they’re worth..what a difference that could make.
What if we took the billions we waste trying to keep smokers alive and put it toward revitalizing our inner cities and crime prevention..what a better world that could be.
What if we took the money we throw away on treating people with smoking related illness and instead put it toward researching cures for cancer, juvenile diabetes, or MS? It would be wonderful to have more money to help people who are sick through no fault of their own.
I really hope they pass the smoking ban…everytime I travel somewhere where they have it, it’s so nice to be able to go to any restaurant and not have put up with some jerk lighting up right next to me and polluting the air I breathe.
They better get ready to write lots of tickets if they pass a ban.
I will be polite. But I will NOT obey any such ban.
And if they ban smoking in pool halls and bowling alleys? They may as well close them down.
I don’t think so JR. In communities that have smoking bans, it hasn’t affected business. Only 20% of the population smoke anyway..so you can take your smokes outside. No one will even miss your business.
I went to teh Oasis the other day for lunch..no one was smoking at all and it was nice. Then some guy comes in and lights up close to my table and it all but ruined my lunch…20% of the population shouldn’t be able to dictate what goes to the other 80%..you’re the minority now.
Wellll I guess they can just not miss my business then.
Sheesh I remember when there were ashtrays on the end of the aisles in the stores. You smoke haters are getting rediculous.
See, it’s not about breathing smoke, it’s about the anti-smoking nazis wanting to punish smokers in any way possible. It is absurd that smokers are treated worse than heroin addicts. We contribute a great deal, people used to smoke all of the time and it was considered the norm. I’m truly glad fewer are smoking, but damn, get OVER it already and stop dictating other people’s lives! If I drank booze all day long I’d be more ‘acceptable’. And that is WAY worse.
Political Mama, ya sound familiar some how.
You be Political Mom, per chance?
That foul mouthed Political Momma who calls people As*es and Bo*neheads?
Ban the red meat, and processed meat, not smoking at restaurants.http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=8e793162-fd9c-473c-b1b9-3d57d75d3a39
Why yes, Pat…I have both names and have used both names.
PMom — DNFTT
Why shouldn’t a 20% minority be able to dictate to an 80% majority? It works for every other minority out there…
If you drank all day Pmom, that wouldn’t affect MY health..so drink away, just don’t drive while you do it. You have NO RIGHT to pollute my air..especially now that medical science has PROVED that secondhand smoke is harmful…why don’t you just quit and then there will be no conflict in your life about the issue. You’ll save your lungs AND the taxpayers a lot of for your health care when you can’t walk across a room without being tethered to a O2 tank.
Mary Caruso, since when did it become your air. How much out there is your air. If you don’t like the air you breath, move on. I agree that smoking is horrific. I don’t like to see others profit from packaging and selling poison. I don’t like to see others destroy their lives financially or healthwise. But I don’t think that resorting to tyranny is the answer or solution. When and if we get a handle on the smoking situation, then what do we use what we have learned on. Do we use that tyranny to control and stop fast food, bad food, bad clothing? The goal is to handle the smoking situation without resorting to snobbery, righteouness, and tyranny. There is the right way and the wrong way to handle the smoking situation. We can start by ending the profitability of it, then since the Cigeratte Companies created a product to enhance demand, how about creating a product that reduces demand. Merry Christmas.
Mary Caruso, one more point. It’s been the habit in the last few decades of the 20% controlling the other 80%. They just pick and choose whats politically correct to oppose and control. The next time your one of the 20%, just remember your own words, and mind your own business.