"Thank you for smoking" 8.5
①
In S01E03 of "Yes, Prime Minister", the Minister of Health, who was a doctor of medicine, proposed a total smoking ban. Prime Minister Jim and Chief Cabinet Secretary Humphrey had the following discussion:
Jim: "This report says that smoking-related diseases cost the Ministry of Health 165 million a year."
Humphrey: "Yes, but we have investigated and the result is that if these 100,000 people survive and die, they will need more pension and social security payments than medical expenses, so from a financial point of view, there is no doubt It couldn’t be better to maintain the current mortality rate.”
Jim: "In 1833, cholera caused 30,000 deaths. We got the Public Health Act. In 1952, industrial waste gas caused 2,500 deaths. We got the Air Purification Act. A drug caused 6 deaths. We will immediately prohibit its sale. Cigarettes kill 100,000 people every year, what do we get?"
Humphrey: "A tax of 4 billion pounds, 25,000 jobs in the tobacco industry, covering many areas such as retail trade and packaging, the booming export industry can effectively balance the trade volume. In addition, tobacco companies are important sponsors of sports. I can’t imagine what a BBC Sports Channel that loses its sponsorship will look like.”
Jim: "Humphrey, we are talking about 100,000 deaths every year."
Humphrey: "Yes. But tobacco taxes account for one-third of public health funds. The reason why we can save so many lives is because these smokers voluntarily actively pay taxes to save their compatriots and sacrifice themselves in advance. Smokers are all The great benefactor of the country!"
Of course, the Prime Minister did not really support the anti-smoking bill. From the very beginning, he knew that he would lose. The anti-smoking bill was only his bargaining chip. Therefore, he reached an exchange with the Ministry of Finance and took his own lead by replacing the 4 billion tax anti-smoking bill proposed by others. The approval of the 1.5 billion tax cut plan.
Where is the Minister of Health? Despite being a technocrat who pretends to be high-minded to serve the people, he cheerfully went up to three consecutive ranks and was promoted to the Ministry of Finance. The Prime Minister comforted him and said, "The reason why the anti-smoking bill cannot be passed is because the enemy is in the Ministry of Finance. You have to penetrate into the enemy's interior and work hard!"
Then, when he changed hands, the prime minister gave the vacant health minister post to the sports minister, an old smoker, a stooge of the tobacco conglomerate. This was also a big promotion. The former sports minister was overwhelmed with joy, even though he repeatedly emphasized it. He did not want to oppose the tobacco group, he was already speechless with excitement.
②
When writing the "Yes, Minister" & "Yes, Prime Minister" series, I shamelessly copied a lot of lines. I forgot to write the most core feelings. I wrote a lot of inscriptions here. I took the opportunity to make up— —
"Politics, in the final analysis, is the exchange of interests and compromise!"
In addition, Philip Morris has made calculations in the Czech Republic, taking into account the tax on tobacco sales, the medical expenses for treating tobacco-induced diseases, and the medical expenses, pensions, and social security benefits that smokers save due to early death. The government brought in a net income of US$147 million.
In addition, Philip Morris is the parent company of Marlboro and is a well-known historical-level super-super-big bull stock in the US stock market. In 80 years, the average annual return is 17%, which is not even considered as the 4% annual dividend rate. This kind of stock is bought once, and you don't have to sell it for a lifetime. You can basically get financial freedom only by eating dividends, and you can leave it as a family heirloom for future generations.
③
China Tobacco Group is the most profitable company on the planet, and its annual profit is higher than the combined of the four major companies and three barrels of oil, BAT Hua. Most of the profits are eventually turned over to the state treasury.
Almost all taxes are abominable. Tobacco and lottery tickets are very rare, and people actively pay taxes. To smoke is to pay taxes for the country, which is glorious, and of course it is glorious to die early.
According to estimates, smokers die three years early on average.
Almost one in every three deaths worldwide is due to cardiovascular disease. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke are the main factors.
The risk of lung cancer in smokers is 22 times higher than that of non-smokers.
Tobacco use causes oral cancer. The chance of surviving more than five years after oral cancer diagnosis is very low. The survivors must be disfigured. In addition, smokers lose 3 more teeth than non-smokers on average.
Among the many chemicals that make up tobacco smoke, at least 70 are known to cause cancer. It is known that tobacco use can cause more than a dozen types of cancers.
I think it’s boring to list these things. Let’s say one last thing. Smoking restricts blood flow to the penis, leading to impotence. Moreover, unless smoking is quit as soon as possible, erectile dysfunction is likely to exist permanently.
④
After talking for a long time, it was finally the turn of the movie "Thank you for smoking".
So, does "Thank you for smoking" promote the smoking ban through mockery and irony? Not really, it's mainly about marketing, marketing and public relations.
Nick Neller, spokesperson for the tobacco company, handsome, smiling, humorous, witty, adaptable, arrogant, unscrupulous, and, in short, a top lobbyist.
His opening remarks were, "I plan for an organization and make a living from it, an organization that can kill 1,200 people every day. We are talking about the passenger capacity of two giant jet engine planes, including men, women and Child. In ancient times there were Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, but now there is me, Nick."
He has two close friends who work for the Gun Association and the Liquor Industry Association. They meet every week, talk to each other, exchange ideas, and make suggestions for each other. They call themselves "MOD", merchants of death, death wholesalers. Nick has the upper hand in each party to compete for who can kill more.
"In daily life, what we need is not negotiation, but debate. So what is the essence of debate? It is not to prove that you are right, but to prove that others are wrong."
Nick rarely smokes. Of course he knows the dangers of tobacco and the immorality of his job, so he never tries to prove himself right——
"Tobacco companies don't want people to get sick, because in this way we are equal to losing a consumer. We all want them to live and continue to smoke. The anti-tobacco association wants you to get sick, because the more people who get sick, the more money and reputation they get. Many. Tobacco companies certainly want people to be healthy so that they can make a profit. In fact, our tobacco company actively invests in advertising to call on young people not to smoke."
"You said that you want to stick skulls on cigarette boxes? Because tobacco is harmful? Then cars and airplanes should also be posted? The number one killer of the American people is cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol can cause arteriosclerosis and heart disease. Vermont Cheddar cheese blocks the entire nation. The arteries. The cheese doesn’t stick to the skull, so why let the tobacco stick?”
"Does your mother say that smoking is bad? Is she a doctor? If she says that chocolate is also harmful, do you believe it? Are all the rules given to you by this society the truth? Children, we must learn to think independently and avoid dogma Slave."
⑤
About independent thinking
Why is finance so complicated? Because it is necessary to use complicated and inexplicable rules to isolate those who are unwilling to take the test, and let them obediently hand over the money to financial practitioners.
Many people have paid various costs throughout their lives to avoid independent thinking.
When some people advise you to think independently, what they actually mean is to stop you from listening to the opinions and suggestions of third parties, and instead listen to him.
I was at a loss for a while. For the same problem, I read different reports and analyses. I think the pros and cons are justified, but I also think that the cons are justified. At that time I thought I had a problem with my brain.
It will take a long, long time before I can finally stand on what I know and think and disassemble the opinions of others. You are right, you are wrong, or, sorry, neither of you are right.
Maybe I still have problems in my mind, at least I can't prove that I am right.
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