Cigarettes Should be Illegal

~Refutations~ 1. Smoking hurts our economy Subpoint A: productivity I grant my opponent that cigarettes are unhealthy, but if everything that is unhealthy and unproductive should be made illegal, the government would have to criminalize a lot more than just cigarettes under the same criteria, such as junk food and fast foods. Obesity is becoming a national problem. [1] Subpoint B: health care costs We all pay for the expenses of having certain rights and privileges, though not all might agree with those rights. Similarly, while cigarettes can affect the cost of health care, that doesn't mean that right shouldn't exist. The health care also covers Abortions, and those who may not agree with Abortions pay for a health care program that does. Furthermore, there are always going to be things that will harm humans, both voluntary and involuntary, which is what necessitates the health care in the first place. The cost of health care shouldn't be the reason to criminalize a certain right and freedom. 2. Lives This argument can be applied to fast food, which poses a major threat to our nation. "Although most of the health problems related to fast food aren't felt until middle age -- obesity and diabetes are at an all-time high --- the damage starts before children enter kindergarten. Hoping to shape eating habits, fast-food chains market heavily to children. About 96% of American school-aged children recognize Ronald McDonald, second only to Santa Claus. Almost every American child eats at a McDonald'sï¿½ at least once a month. " [2] Fast food markets to both children and adults, and their products start to damage the agent before they enter kindergarten. Should fast food be made illegal too? 3. Marketing (to kids) Because cigarette companies market their products to children, it should be illegal for those who are old enough to smoke? There is already a ban on advertising cigarettes. Cigarette companies that do market to kids are doing something that is already illegal. Teenagers are impressionable and reckless and will do what they want, regardless of what the law states. Making cigarettes illegal because it markets to kids is unreasonable. ~Arguments~ ~Prohibition Era~ My first counter argument is the Prohibition Era of 1920. The endeavor to ban alcohol ended in disaster, as crime rates skyrocketed and "While Prohibition was successful in reducing the amount of liquor consumed, it tended to destroy society by other means, as it stimulated the proliferation of rampant underground, organized and widespread criminal activity. " [3] A ban on cigarettes would only trigger another facsimile of the Prohibition of 1920. ~Loss of Revenue and Jobs~ Cigarettes also attribute to great economic opportunities, as well as jobs. "California's smokers, who comprise only 17.2 percent of the state's population, paid more than $2.2 billion in cigarette-related revenue to the state in 2001. That's more than $6 million a day, or nearly $4,200 per minute. " [4] "In 1999, 2000 and 2001, smokers nationwide paid $88 billion in cigarette revenues. " [4] American Cigarettes are also a popular import to other countries, which encourages trade and helps the economy. [5] Criminalizing cigarettes also will cause further unemployment, and millions of those who work for tobacco companies will lose their jobs, as well as farmers who grow tobacco. ~The Right to Smoke~ As adults, I believe we have to deal with the consequences of our actions and choices; even if the result of smoking cigarettes causes a user to die. . http://www.helium.com... [1] . http://www.fa-ir.org... [2] . http://en.wikipedia.org... [3] . http://www.calnews.com... [4] . http://www.washingtonpost.com... [5]