For a non-smokers group they sure blow a lot of smoke up our backsides. From Breathe Free Kenosha, click on studies. Before I actually get into their claims lets look at what they say you should look for in a study.
* Was the study funded by a source clearly independent of the tobacco industry?
* Did the study objectively measure what actually happened, or was it based on subjective predictions or assessments?
* Was the study published in a peer reviewed journal? (Scollo, et. al., 2003.)
The first one I will answer with a question. Is a study funded by the tobacco companies any less credible then one funded by the tobacco control movement? Does anyone actually believe they are any less biased?
The second one is obvious. So I won’t even go there.
The third on is the one that I find a hoot. Peer reviewed? And what financial or economic journal were their studies published in and who reviewed them? If I want peer reviews of an engineering report I am sure not going to publish it in a medical journal. I guess now I should bring my car to my doctor to get the engine rebuilt.
The fact is that their economic claims are so ludicrous that I can’t believe they still make them. The fact that when they push for a statewide ban they cite the need for a level playing field because of the economic harm done to the hospitality industry or why would a level playing field be necessary? The harm done by the bans has been shown all over the world, Just in the UK alone the damage to the pub business is enormous!,
Even our neighbors in Minnesota have taken a big hit! So make no mistake about it the economic damage done by smoking bans is very real. Here is a study done by the State of Minnesota that proves the damage done to the gambling industry.
Now let’s look at their study or I should say who is behind it Stanton Glantz! Is he an economist?? NO! Is he a Medical doctor? NO! Was his study peer reviewed by Economist? NO! He is a mechanical engineer who is an anti-smoking activist who started Non-smokers rights groups back in the 70’s. I would hardly call him an independent unbiased source! He has had more studies discredited then anyone else, Helena comes to mind! The fact is that in a speech to a tobacco control group he publicly admits his bias!
Here’s his policy statement on how he approaches research:
“…that’s the question that I have applied to my research relating to tobacco: If this comes out the way I think, will it make a difference [toward achieving the goal]. And if the answer is yes, then we do it, and if the answer is I don’t know, then we don’t bother. Okay? And that’s the criteria.”
- Written Transcript Of 3-Day Conference Called “Revolt Against Tobacco,” L.A., 1992
So I guess the bottom line is, why is it the only studies that show no economic harm are done by Tobacco control? And why would they be peer reviewed by medical science, wouldn’t economist be the appropriate peers?
Filed under: Ban Damage, Wisconsin Ban, anti insanity, economic impact, reality check | Tagged: ban economics, breathefree kenosha, economic impact, Politics, smoking ban
More of the antis’ smoke:
Antis are always claiming that “There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.”
Surgeon General’s Report
Introduction, Summary, and Conclusions page 11
Major Conclusions
4. The scientific evidence INDICATES that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Note that the report does not say evidence PROVES that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke,the report says the evidence is suggestive but not sufficient to infer proof.
Sooo, there maybe is, there could possibly be, there might be, we kind of think that, but there is NO CONCLUSIVE PROOF that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
The 2006 SG’s Report PROVES that there is no conclusive proof that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke!!
If such conclusive proof did exist, I am certain that they would have shown it!!!!
Gary K.
The scientific evidence PROVES that there is no risk-free level of exposure to the Health Care System.
Gary K.
Total hospital caused death toll is from 140,000 to 200,000 and more than 1,500,000 injured!!
This article does not mention the fact that there are 3 times as many nursing homes as there are hospitals.
Nursing homes are notorious for their very low health care results.
VA hospitals are no better.
The total death toll caused by the health care industry is probably over 750,000 per year!!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/07/healthcare-death-part-one.aspx
That is 12 times the claimed death toll caused by SHS and about 2 times the death toll claimed for smokers!!!!
The health care system is the leading cause of preventable deaths in this country.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/25/hospital-risk-pneumonia-ent-manage-cx_mh_0825riskhospital.html
Scariest Hospital Risks
According to The Institute of Medicine, a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, at least 1.5 million Americans fall prey to hospital error every year.
The mistakes aren’t exactly minor, either. Between 40,000 and 100,000 people die every year because of shoddy handiwork, including surgical mishaps and drug mix-ups.
One big problem: Hospital patients may get the wrong drug one time out of five, according to a study by Auburn University.
Another 100,000 people die because of infections from hospital-bred bacteria that are resistant to one or more of the antibiotics doctors use to kill them off, according to the Center for Disease Control. Some of those might be prevented by more hand washing or other precautions.
You can choose not to go into a business where smoking is permitted.
If you are sick, going to a hospital is your ONLY choice!