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This is an interesting question, because I was actually having this discussion with a co-worker the other day. Governments really should ban cigarettes, and there is no real reason why people should be allowed to smoke. There is no health benefit, there is nothing that says that a smoker should be allowed smoke, and there is no amount of smoking that can be considered safe. So why exactly do governments allow smokers to continue such a disgusting habit?

Some people say that smokers have the right to smoke if they chose. Technically it is not illegal to smoke, except for some public areas where people are not allowed to smoke. That is all fine and good, but where does it say in the law that it is a god-given right to smoke a cigarette. All a cigarette will do is kill you, or give you some sort of health ailment that will end up costing everyone in the long run. Health care costs are much higher due to smoking.

However, the tobacco lobby tends to be a tough bunch to crack when it comes to getting rid of them. Tobacco companies have tried everything that they possible could to convince people that cigarettes were not dangerous. Now they try to be more consumer friendly, and even offer smokers ways to quit, despite the fact that they still willingly sell the product for a generous profit.

There is where the real problem lies my friend. If the tobacco industry was thrown out altogether, and cigarettes were made illegal, there would be a shortage of tax revenue. Whenever we need more tax money, we go right to the tobacco companies, and the cigarettes that they make. Cigarettes are a huge source of not only tax revenue, but a source of profit for those who sell tobacco. It is also a good way to make money to grow tobacco, and other things that you can do with tobacco.

So it really just comes down to the monetary aspect of tobacco. It is hard to get rid of it because of all the money that it brings in, and all the taxes that you can place on it. If it weren't for the money issue, I am sure that governments would gladly get rid of the cigarettes altogether, if they cared at all about the people that they govern.

I believe that governments should ban smoking, but that it would be too much of a financial burden. If we just eliminated smoking, we would also be crippling the economy. It is too bad that something like a cigarette could hold so much sway over our lives, and hold the public hostage. Smoking is not good for anyone, yet we cannot get rid of it.

Learn more about this author, Cody Hodge.
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