debate on smoking
Debate on Smoking
Should the Government be able to control what we do in our own lives, or what we do to our own bodies? Would you want a communist country, Where the government controlled what you do every single day? In my opinion if you banned smoking it would just be the start down a path that could allow other unconstitutional laws and freedoms being stricken from the American population.
The main reason why the government has not ban this drug yet is because of the economy, cigarettes alone bring in an estimated 45 billion dollars every year (Clark). Many citizens in our society are saying that the government should not play a role; that banning cigarettes would cause an increase in crime, and that if this epidemic does not come to an end it can ultimately lead to death. Smoking started back in the 14th century when Native Americans used tobacco for medical purposes. When the early settlers came they began to cultivate this product selling it to thousands of individuals around the world. Indians used to use tobacco to help the healing process of skin rashes (Eczema and rheumatism), toothaches, rattlesnakes and insect bites, colds, and toothpaste. They did this by crushing up the tobacco leaves and applying it to the affected area (Borio). On January 11, 1964, Surgeon General Luther Terry concluded, for the first time, that, “Smoking is a direct cause of lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema” (CDC) During this same time only 46-percent of all Americans smoked cigarettes (Borio). Over the past few years our society has gone from using tobacco for medical purposes to trying to ban it because of the effects on our bodies. So how can something useful years ago now be known as the number one killer in the world? Throughout this essay I will discuss why I believe the government should not have control on what we do to our bodies and why smoking should not be banned.
When it comes down to this argument on whether or not the government should have the right to
Should the Government be able to control what we do in our own lives, or what we do to our own bodies? Would you want a communist country, Where the government controlled what you do every single day? In my opinion if you banned smoking it would just be the start down a path that could allow other unconstitutional laws and freedoms being stricken from the American population.
The main reason why the government has not ban this drug yet is because of the economy, cigarettes alone bring in an estimated 45 billion dollars every year (Clark). Many citizens in our society are saying that the government should not play a role; that banning cigarettes would cause an increase in crime, and that if this epidemic does not come to an end it can ultimately lead to death. Smoking started back in the 14th century when Native Americans used tobacco for medical purposes. When the early settlers came they began to cultivate this product selling it to thousands of individuals around the world. Indians used to use tobacco to help the healing process of skin rashes (Eczema and rheumatism), toothaches, rattlesnakes and insect bites, colds, and toothpaste. They did this by crushing up the tobacco leaves and applying it to the affected area (Borio). On January 11, 1964, Surgeon General Luther Terry concluded, for the first time, that, “Smoking is a direct cause of lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema” (CDC) During this same time only 46-percent of all Americans smoked cigarettes (Borio). Over the past few years our society has gone from using tobacco for medical purposes to trying to ban it because of the effects on our bodies. So how can something useful years ago now be known as the number one killer in the world? Throughout this essay I will discuss why I believe the government should not have control on what we do to our bodies and why smoking should not be banned.
When it comes down to this argument on whether or not the government should have the right to