Chirac to Smoking Frogs: No More!

[Updates below.]

Chirac's 'War on Smoking'

President Jacques Chirac, himself a former chain-smoker, launched a high-profile anti-smoking campaign on Monday that will mean French smokers end up paying more for their pungent Gauloises.

Turning to his domestic agenda after months of diplomatic wrangling trying to prevent war in Iraq, Chirac declared a "war on smoking" as the main thrust of a fight against cancer, to which he pledged to devote half a billion euros over five years.

Because, of course, smoking is bad for your health. That translates into higher healthcare costs. And that means socialist economies like France (and to a lesser extent, the US) are losing vast sums of money paying for these costs. Since governments don't like news of their programs going bad, corrupt, bankrupt, and such, the easiest way to solve the problem is to not admit their programs are not working (besides being unfree); no the best way to fix the problem is to expand the programs.

"The fight against smoking is a must, an absolute priority," Chirac said in a speech to health professionals and politicians. "This isn't about undermining individual liberties, but about doing everything to change attitudes and save lives."

Chirac is either total idiot or has no problems twisting his lies into the minds of the French who bother listening. His method to change minds and attitudes can only work one of two ways: a voluntary, non-taxpayer-supported ad campaign...or some application of government force. Guess which one he chooses?

France would continue to raise cigarette prices after a tax rise added about 15 percent to the cost in January, Chirac said.

In the broader fight against cancer, research would be boosted, access to treatment improved and more preventative measures taken. Screening for breast cancer would be made available to all women in France by the end of the year.

State force, in the form of additional taxation and added state-funded healthcare services. Of course, in the valiant fight against smoking, France's government has already undermined individual liberties.

Allowed in many offices until recently, smoking is a part of everyday life in France. Lighting up after dinner or over a drink is common, and smokers can sometimes be seen sneaking a quick, illegal puff while waiting for the Paris Metro.

Nothing to see here! Move along! Your individual liberties are safe!

Either you peacefully convince people of some issue or you force them to comply and understand. You can't change minds if they are unwilling to be changed through debate. So, you force them to change. Don't worry, though. He's in in good company.

UPDATED 8/30/2005 2:00pm
Deadline for the Austin Smoking Ordinance

Posted by Drizzten at March 24, 2003 01:56 PM