Smoking bans in US

[Winterglo]

Rates have been rising steadily, but the rate of rise has slowed.

One reason a lot of people's rates have risen so much is because they previously had practically useless plans, and companies were allowed to insure only the lower risk candidates, exclude pre-conditions, etc.

The real cost of insurance is now being revealed.

If you want to blame someone it can be shared amongst many, it is too easy to blame the Big O, but I'm not getting roped into a political discussion and I'm disappointed you tried to sneak such a comment in while pretending not to.

Everybody else gets to be a little sarcastic. It is easy to blame. If I am in charge of a team, I take the blame when so goes wrong. I won't ever mention him again. I am not perfect, I make mistakes.
I don't know if the real rates have been revealed, I am upset they are so expensive.

 

[Winterglo]

Which taxes have doubled?

My property tax. I should have specified. I only live in a small villa, 1200 square feet. Over $1200.00 a year.

 

[Winterglo]

I don't expect credibility here.

My goodness, you've never done anything wrong? Never let an emotion get the best of you? I obviously have. Please try to forgive and forget. I am trying to.

 

[One Drop]

My property tax. I should have specified. I only live in a small villa, 1200 square feet. Over $1200.00 a year.

Are those Federal taxes? Have the property values gone up in that time? IIRC there was a massive bursting of property value bubble prices 8 years ago, values and hence taxes were at an all-time low in many areas.

 

[One Drop]

My goodness, you've never done anything wrong? Never let an emotion get the best of you? I obviously have. Please try to forgive and forget. I am trying to.

I'm willing to forgive and forget, and will do so. I just don't see your arguments as being credible on their own merit, nothing to do with past threads.

 

[One Drop]

Everybody else gets to be a little sarcastic. It is easy to blame. If I am in charge of a team, I take the blame when so goes wrong. I won't ever mention him again. I am not perfect, I make mistakes.
I don't know if the real rates have been revealed, I am upset they are so expensive.

I meant that the real costs of properly insuring everyone, not just those with the lowest risks, which is how insurance should work IMO.

 

[Winterglo]

Are those Federal taxes? Have the property values gone up in that time? IIRC there was a massive bursting of property value bubble prices 8 years ago, values and hence taxes were at an all-time low in many areas.

I really don't think I am as smart as you are on most things. I am usually impressed with your postings. They are smart, informative, and I have learned a couple of things from them.
My Federal Taxes went way up 3 or 4 years ago, but now I have to say they seem to have leveled off. State Taxes, word around here has it that living in the county/state I'm in, a certain political party overspends, and that is the reason. I don't know how to figure it out. I am upset with the state of some things so I mentioned the CIC.

 

[Winterglo]

I meant that the real costs of properly insuring everyone, not just those with the lowest risks, which is how insurance should work IMO.

I mean I am in my 50's so Medical Insurance is a lot more expensive. They even ask if I smoke. btw I thought I had to get up early, I guess you do too.

 

[Winterglo]

I really don't think I am as smart as you are on most things. I am usually impressed with your postings. They are smart, informative, and I have learned a couple of things from them.
My Federal Taxes went way up 3 or 4 years ago, but now I have to say they seem to have leveled off. State Taxes, word around here has it that living in the county/state I'm in, a certain political party overspends, and that is the reason. I don't know how to figure it out. I am upset with the state of some things so I mentioned the CIC.

Forgot to mention. I took a bath in 2008. I was trying to flip a condo at the wrong time. The place I'm in now: The property values dropped. I was underwater until recently.

 

[Immigrant]

My property tax. I should have specified. I only live in a small villa, 1200 square feet. Over $1200.00 a year.

I had to look up "villa" because in my mind, it's like a mansion or something. It left me feeling better about myself as my doublewide is larger than your villa.

It's a glorious day!!

 

[One Drop]

I really don't think I am as smart as you are on most things. I am usually impressed with your postings. They are smart, informative, and I have learned a couple of things from them.
My Federal Taxes went way up 3 or 4 years ago, but now I have to say they seem to have leveled off. State Taxes, word around here has it that living in the county/state I'm in, a certain political party overspends, and that is the reason. I don't know how to figure it out. I am upset with the state of some things so I mentioned the CIC.

Paying taxes and feeling like you are not getting value is very discouraging, that's for sure.

It's maybe worth looking into where your local and state taxes go so you can address your local politicians and hold their feet to the fire or ask more questions. Not enough people take the time to make their views known and the result is more shenanigans, especially without responsible journalism to bring abuses and poor policy into the light.

Very often the blame is left at the wrong door, which doesn't help in the quest for change for the better.

 

[One Drop]

I mean I am in my 50's so Medical Insurance is a lot more expensive. They even ask if I smoke. btw I thought I had to get up early, I guess you do too.

It's early afternoon here!

 

[Winterglo]

It's early afternoon here!

I am not a morning person, did not think of that.

I had to look up "villa" because in my mind, it's like a mansion or something. It left me feeling better about myself as my doublewide is larger than your villa.

It's a glorious day!!

It's a duplex, should have specified. That's what they were called when I bought one.

 

[Winterglo]

I had to look up "villa" because in my mind, it's like a mansion or something. It left me feeling better about myself as my doublewide is larger than your villa.

It's a glorious day!!

Yes, I lived in a trailer before it had a "Tipout". I loved it. My taxes were $24.00 (not a typo) a year back then.

 

[Immigrant]

Yes, I lived in a trailer before it had a "Tipout". I loved it. My taxes were $24.00 (not a typo) a year back then.

I had one of those. This is the fourth cardboard house I've had. My property taxes were real low at first too, then averaged about $350 a year after that (still low compared to a regular house), then last year is was $6! Then back to normal this year. Mobile homes shouldn't be taxed like real property anyway.

Back to our cheery topic. Sorry.

 

[Winterglo]

Oh yeah,,. Hats inside. I don't care. If it doesn't ... wait I already said that

 

[ZenG]

Smoking? The tobacco companies were crucified...but Hollywood walked away (and is walking) scotfree. Up to a certain point you couldn't watch a movie where they weren't all smoking.
That went on for decades. Take Clint Eastwood for example. Every western he was smoking.
But long before him the stars were puffing onscreen. Some stars didn't smoke but were required to fake it on film ( and still are)

And they still do today in many movies (and also t.v. series.......the man portraying Lt. Joe Kenda, for example, smokes in every episode).

And we all know how influential a movie or t.v. series can be and how people can be affected by what they see.

Take Star Wars or Star Trek or anything with the name Kardashian on it.

To say that the alcohol companies are innocent because we know we should drink in moderation doesn't make sense. There are millions of people who have crossed the line on moderation and suffered the consequences. At one point drinking was perceived to be so bad that it was prohibited.

The hard drinking often smoking hero or anti-hero has been glorified time and time again on screen. And we even looked up to those characters at times.

These same character portrayals received lots of space and exposure in magazines, periodicals and magazines in the form of reviews and accolades independent of influence.
The media did their share of promotion for years without ever taking issue with smoking.

We aren't living longer because we're healthier. We're living longer because there are more drugs,prescriptions , surgery and medical commodities to keep us alive.

Tale away all the medical precriptions in North America and half of us would drop in our tracks tomorrow.

 

[GregC]

Smoking? The tobacco companies were crucified...but Hollywood walked away (and is walking) scotfree. Up to a certain point you couldn't watch a movie where they weren't all smoking.
That went on for decades. Take Clint Eastwood for example. Every western he was smoking.
But long before him the stars were puffing onscreen. Some stars didn't smoke but were required to fake it on film ( and still are)

And they still do today in many movies (and also t.v. series.......the man portraying Lt. Joe Kenda, for example, smokes in every episode).

And we all know how influential a movie or t.v. series can be and how people can be affected by what they see.

Take Star Wars or Star Trek or anything with the name Kardashian on it.

To say that the alcohol companies are innocent because we know we should drink in moderation doesn't make sense. There are millions of people who have crossed the line on moderation and suffered the consequences. At one point drinking was perceived to be so bad that it was prohibited.

The hard drinking often smoking hero or anti-hero has been glorified time and time again on screen. And we even looked up to those characters at times.

These same character portrayals received lots of space and exposure in magazines, periodicals and magazines in the form of reviews and accolades independent of influence.
The media did their share of promotion for years without ever taking issue with smoking.

We aren't living longer because we're healthier. We're living longer because there are more drugs,prescriptions , surgery and medical commodities to keep us alive.

Tale away all the medical precriptions in North America and half of us would drop in our tracks tomorrow.

Again, the tobacco companies were found culpable in lawsuits because they suppressed evidence that their products caused cancer, and made claims to the contrary for almost 50 years. In short, they LIED or personal gain. I know you "don't believe" this because you "know how it all went down", but this stuff is all well-documented. Here is one of many sources: Invalid Link Removed

 

[One Drop]

Smoking? The tobacco companies were crucified...but Hollywood walked away (and is walking) scotfree. Up to a certain point you couldn't watch a movie where they weren't all smoking.
That went on for decades. Take Clint Eastwood for example. Every western he was smoking.
But long before him the stars were puffing onscreen. Some stars didn't smoke but were required to fake it on film ( and still are)

And they still do today in many movies (and also t.v. series.......the man portraying Lt. Joe Kenda, for example, smokes in every episode).

And we all know how influential a movie or t.v. series can be and how people can be affected by what they see.

Take Star Wars or Star Trek or anything with the name Kardashian on it.

To say that the alcohol companies are innocent because we know we should drink in moderation doesn't make sense. There are millions of people who have crossed the line on moderation and suffered the consequences. At one point drinking was perceived to be so bad that it was prohibited.

The hard drinking often smoking hero or anti-hero has been glorified time and time again on screen. And we even looked up to those characters at times.

These same character portrayals received lots of space and exposure in magazines, periodicals and magazines in the form of reviews and accolades independent of influence.
The media did their share of promotion for years without ever taking issue with smoking.

We aren't living longer because we're healthier. We're living longer because there are more drugs,prescriptions , surgery and medical commodities to keep us alive.

Tale away all the medical precriptions in North America and half of us would drop in our tracks tomorrow.

You are just plain wrong about longevity.

 

[slobake]

Forgot to mention. I took a bath in 2008. I was trying to flip a condo at the wrong time. The place I'm in now: The property values dropped. I was underwater until recently.

Hoo boy, 2008 until recently! That was one long bath. Didn't your skin get wrinkled?