aquascoot wrote on Sep 27^th, 2018 at 10:01am:


Donald Trump is 5kg lighter than me, yet is about 7cm taller. Yet, he looks like a blimp compared to me. I could run the 100m in about 13 seconds, whereas Trump would struggle to get to the 80m mark by 15 seconds. I look overweight for someone my age. But Trump looks like he is on death's door for someone his age. Trump will die in office.

And I can't see where his sharpness of intellect comes. I know he is a smart man. But Mr Trump is not as well-read or refined in the art of making speeches. Mr Whitlam was a fine speaker. But Mr Trump shows himself to be a little in over his head with the presidency. How obvious does it show when Mr Trump has to fold his arms like a child getting reprimanded. And why would it not be clear to all that he has no idea what sort of response he should give. He loves to express "really, really" or "very, very" to then describe something mundane or common.

Green tea should be his go-to choice of drink. Ditch the junk food, etc. Pick up a dictionary now and then. Give it a month, he should be well on his way to weight loss and better public speaking.

Cu Chulainn wrote on Oct 15^th, 2018 at 4:51pm:


I work in restaurants and have work in fast food industries in the last 22 years. By 2001, there was a system in place called the GST. On July 1, 2000, the price of most fast food went up 10%. The public freaked out about the cost increase, and we had a rush of orders at fast food places the week or so before July, 2000. The point is that places all around Australia have seen a new source of revenue coming from fast food. There was also an alcohol tax of premixed drinks that also came into effect in the 200s. I went from paying $12 for a six pack of Woodstocks, to paying $15/$16 the next week. Last week, I paid $22.99 for a 6-pack of Johnnie Walker pre-mixers on special. Next year, the prices for many spirits are supposedly going up 25% for government revenue raising.

My point is, should I claim to have made the government money by being a constant customer of alcohol and junk food? I understand that you paying tax on your cigarettes means that you are contributing to a tax revenue. But the cost of you spending that money on cigarettes instead of something else that is taxed is something you don't seem to understand. We are all going to die. But I would be sure that you have had more numerable cold and influenza days as an adult than I have had in my entire life. I bet your quality of life would be better had you been a non-smoker. And the savings from not smoking would have gone towards other taxed products.

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 2:39am:


He's also 72 years old. Google what he looked like when he played college sport. Probably was fitter than you've ever been.

AiA wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 9:56pm:


We could also work like white ants or bees. That is not the mankind I want to be a part of. The strength of western civ has always been individuality. If you don't believe me, explain the move from common ancestral burial to individual burial with grave goods. Explain why in the east we never see this type of burial apart from Scythian influences in the Altai region, it's always the ruler in the east. The west has always fought for individuality even though it has been repeatedly crushed.

Edit: Or maybe I'm too pissed to explain it properly.

Cu Chulainn wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 6:51pm:


I highly doubt that you have a strong enough immune system to have fought off communicable diseases whilst being a smoker. The number of smokers I have heard say that they cease smoking during their sick days... well, I can probably count the number of them on my fingers. Smoking does not promote good health. It inhibits the immune system's ability to fight disease. And, if you smoke in your own home, you are probably elevating the ability for germs to multiply.

As for comparing 10% tax revenue to 400% tax, you missed the point. You don't light your other purchases on fire and then throw them away after one use. Food you get to eat. Goods you get to reuse. But cigarettes are a once use product that does not help your in any way... other than to give you a wake up. I could do that with a morning coffee. But I can't recall drinking coffee giving people elevated rates of lung cancer. Save your money, and buy something else. The amount of revenue lost to smokers wanting to breathe in smoke and nicotine is unforgivable.

AiA wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 9:56pm:


Absenteeism, lost work productivity, the general moodiness of smokers, accidental arson, the general ugliness of smokers, the loss of finances saved to pay for other things, the heightened stress from people who can't pay their bills on time because they could not save due to their $100 a month smoking, the lowered standards of health in general and into your old age, etc.

15% of Australia's adults who smoke do not foot the bill for 100% of Australia. Money saved on not smoking will eventually be spent on more constructive/beneficial things. All that the tax on cigarettes does is to try and recoup the costs smokers impose on society.

AiA wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 11:16pm:


Perhaps I should get back on the pokies and lose $50 a week. The last time I was on the poker machines, I won $570. I thought that I should quit whilst I was technically ahead of my losses for the financial year of 2018/2019. I also justified my poker machine habit. All those clubs getting financed for sporting equipment, etc. Made the same justifications about raising tax money when I was a regular drinker. But I could have not spent money and saved for bigger purchases. Don't worry. If all smokers in Australia quit smoking by next year, 2019 will see Australia in good financial shape.

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 19^th, 2018 at 5:46am:


Whatever your doubts, I don't get colds or flu. I aslo don't get flu shots. I worked in a germ factory(school) for 18 years, never once sick. I now volunteer with homeless and other disadvantaged in the local soup kitchen. Everyone in my house can and has gotten sick bar me. Wife, son, his wife and daughter.