This query is perhaps a little tangential to Hasbeen's topic, but perhaps someone can help me out.

Recently, whilst driving in city traffic, I observed a bumper sticker which pretty obviously had at least part of the MSM as its target. It started off with:

"Is your news limited, or ......?"

It is the second part of it that I either cannot remember or did not see properly in the first case. Can anybody complete the punchline?

Does anybody know where these bumper stickers may be obtained?

If these measures (tax hike and packaging rules) have anything at all to do with public health smoking products would be by prescription only, the legal age to buy smoking products would go up each year, quitting products like patches and gum would be subsidised by some of the taxes they raise from tobacco, and there would be an end-point for legally buying tobacco products in Australia.
Now I hear the tobacco companies are going to be compensated for loss of value to their trademarks etc., which I wouldnt have an issue with provided said companies realise they will have an ongoing responsibility the same way James Hardy has with asbestos victims.
Maybe I'm being a bit naiive and idealistic regarding the media, but in a nutshell they provide stories people want to hear. I dont think I would want to watch the news if it was just going to be a reworking of last week's stories.
There's also a racial element to this way of solving problems. Some races' problems are solved by throwing money at them hand over fist, but generally us caucasian folks are helped out by having to pay more tax.
The alcopop tax didnt stop teenagers from drinking, the new wine cask tax wont stop pensioners (I assume this is the story we'll be sold) or teenagers from drinking.

Hasbeen that is the nature of the media - a new story to get the teeth into when much of what is written these days is plagiarised or rehashed from another's work.

I see what you mean though, it is a bit like watching a pack of dogs chasing a ball in constantly changing directions. Thus is the nature of news.

However, it will be a while before the health reform will be off the front pages for good.

PatTheBogan
I doubt that compensation to tobacco companies will ever see the light of day. I would be livid if tax money went to bulk up the profits of what is only a legalised drug trade.

Hasbeen and others. See the problem with introducing a product of addiction or any product that has lights and bells attached to it, is quite simular to the crows overwhelming attraction to shiny objects, and with that, if you try and take what shouldn't have been introduced in the first place away from them, sometimes the cold turkey or higher pricing, can be best when money literally goes up in smoke before their eyes, and can change minds quite quickly. I would have to agree with Pat The Bogans comments on subsidized nicotine medication and so on.

Unfortunately the world has been designed in a very similar fashion to the way sheep are used for its productivity and not so much emphasis of the animals welfare, and people fit directly in this category of the rock and hard place scenario, and you know what its like taking candy from a baby.

Hasbeen. You say the poor old pensioner just wants to sit back and have a beer and a smoke, don't you think that's shooting the whole idea of bringing Australia (young or old) into a more healthy realm which would increase productivity and save money in the health system.

Because of greed, the world has gone backward and if Mr Rudd and his offset partner in crime Tony Abbott, and yes folks they all lie in the same bed together and everyone knows the entire Australian economy just needs care takers from both left and the right, and just take turns in power to suit there own needs and with that the rich get richer and the poor can only sound like a sheep.

I wonder if politicians have a soul or some type of human consciousness, because some of the decisions made on behalf of the people are quite questionable in believing that the decisions are for the welfare of the all.

Continued.

"I would be livid if tax money went to bulk up the profits of what is only a legalized drug trade."

And now we are getting to the bones of the matter. Well I can tell my findings on the pouch tobacco and the difference with tailor made cigarettes.
I went to the pouch one,s, and after 4 days the cravings for tailor mades when through the roof, and it was only until I put the tailor one,s in side me, that the fix was instantly satisfied, so they do know the substances are addictive, so why cant we sue?

Pelican. You have made my point quite well. thank you.

I don't understand why they don't just ban the import and growing of tobacco.
Sure there will be people that will grow it like they do the other
stuff but the amount would be so small as to have no effect on the
medical system and the number of patients with tobacco related
disease would start to fall.
Tobacco is very bulky and not easily smuggled.
As it is now it comes into the country by the multiple container loads.
The addicts would just not be able to get enough to maintain their addiction.
Any other product that killed as many as tobacco does would have had
them running around the shops and taking it off the shelves.