tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post4936436112949409092..comments2024-03-27T03:00:27.024-04:00Comments on Facts & other stubborn things: Tobacco regulationEvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12259004160963531720noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-69950055907120241992013-03-06T21:33:34.542-05:002013-03-06T21:33:34.542-05:00> I must be giving off some pretty bad vibes if...> I must be giving off some pretty bad vibes if that's the default assumption!<br /><br />I didn't think that you would think of things that way. Where I live support for anything that interferes with the tobacco industry is very strong (Ireland was the first place to ban smoking in pubs in 2002). Lots of people are very into "nudging" even if they haven't read the book.<br /><br />When I read someone's writing I like to ask a question.... Suppose this person were offered two choices. Firstly, they could make a one-off wealth redistribution so that every person on earth were materially equal, but at the cost that free-market capitalism would continue forever. Second, they could leave things as they are now, where the possibility of free-market capitalist ending or being severely curtailed exists. (I hardly ever ask this question, it's interesting mostly to think about).<br /><br />I think most would reject the first idea. One reason for rejecting it would be Marx's, that capitalism causes alienation and creates class divisions by itself. That's not a crazy reason, though I wouldn't agree. Another would be chance. Even with material equality some people will be much luckier than others, so in time class and wealth divisions will resurface. That's a bit more of a sensible reason. But, another group would reject the idea because they don't believe the humans are fairly equal in ability. They believe that innate individual differences would cause class and wealth divisions to arise again. This is also quite a reasonable idea, but it de-marks the split between Paternalists and non-Paternalists. These days most of the Paternalists would never admit to this view, at least not publicly. Though there's a book called "Against Autonomy" by Sarah Conly that was published recently that makes this case, so things are changing (I haven't read it, it's expensive).<br /><br />Amongst Leftists or "Progressives" there's quite a lot of difference of opinion about Paternalism. I can see it becoming a significant split between the academic Left and the political parties.<br />Currenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645195276844244481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-54552321309031562013-03-06T20:12:10.666-05:002013-03-06T20:12:10.666-05:00I am intrigued... you thought I wanted to go aroun...I am intrigued... you thought I wanted to go around snatching people's cigarettes and heavily regulating and studying and holding up production on a pretty simple and well understood substance?<br /><br />I must be giving off some pretty bad vibes if that's the default assumption!<br /><br />I do not generally think of myself as "leftist" but the old left and the old "New Left" is a lot more interesting than a lot of the left today if I had to be so aligned.Daniel Kuehnhttp://www.factsandotherstubbornthings.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-73229989631249285802013-03-06T18:11:53.568-05:002013-03-06T18:11:53.568-05:00I'm pleased you think this way Daniel, but to ...I'm pleased you think this way Daniel, but to be honest I'm surprised.<br /><br />Apart from old left-wingers who want the freedoms they enjoyed to continue I haven't met very many young left-wingers who oppose this sort of thing. Your view is consistent with the old-style socialism of capturing the reigns of power from the rich and the aristocracy. I can't imagine Marx opposing smoking even if he knew about the damage it did to smokers. I can't imagine British social-democrats liking that idea either in the 80s, but now it's inconsistent with modern social-democratic thought.<br /><br />It's interesting how there are groups within the left and right who are pessimistic and optimistic about the ability of humans to choose and make their own decisions. The left is generally very pessimistic today, more than the right, even though things used to be the other way around not so long ago. Libertarians are generally optimistic, while conservatives are only a little less pessimistic than the modern left.<br />Currenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645195276844244481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-31451648530925966102013-03-06T17:40:04.645-05:002013-03-06T17:40:04.645-05:00Should be "now impossible", rather than ...Should be "now impossible", rather than "not impossible".Dave Churvishttp://www.extraordinaryinsignificance.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-24098004383962771622013-03-06T17:38:17.760-05:002013-03-06T17:38:17.760-05:00I've been following Hestia since I first heard...I've been following Hestia since I first heard about them a couple of years ago. I am a social smoker, and I love the idea of this product - a truly special, high-brow cigarette. The FDA's overreach is ludicrous right now, and it's not just on this. I use a CPAP, and the rules have recently changed- it is not impossible to buy one without a prescription, even if you know you need it. So if you are not insured and can't afford to see a sleep specialist, it is nearly impossible to get care. Dave Churvishttp://www.extraordinaryinsignificance.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-29406836744513190832013-03-06T14:45:45.195-05:002013-03-06T14:45:45.195-05:00So are there no sales at all right now? It's a...So are there no sales at all right now? It's a total prohibition? Anything going on under the table? (you can email me - I obviously don't want a public paper trail or anything.Daniel Kuehnhttp://www.factsandotherstubbornthings.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-5193969105833131602013-03-06T14:39:54.585-05:002013-03-06T14:39:54.585-05:00I just added Hestia Tobacco's new blog, Leaves...I just added Hestia Tobacco's new blog, <a href="http://hestiatobacco.com/blog/" rel="nofollow"><i>Leaves of Smoke</i></a> to the blogroll; it's a fun and aesthetically pleasing read of the company's story as it goes along.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12259004160963531720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-28047889157052461372013-03-06T14:28:40.248-05:002013-03-06T14:28:40.248-05:00I couldn't stomach all my sociology...I couldn't stomach all my sociology...Daniel Kuehnhttp://www.factsandotherstubbornthings.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-5662955176881962232013-03-06T14:21:53.077-05:002013-03-06T14:21:53.077-05:00Oh boy! You really need to take some anthropology...Oh boy! You really need to take some anthropology courses.mike shupphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08383379836883992742noreply@blogger.com