Australia bans tobacco branding

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I think that THAT is what I get rather riled about, the Hypocrisy of not only governments but the newly "reformed" and the naive.

Ah,you're upset with politicians for being hypocritical? I think that's a bit like getting upset with a shark for biting off some bloke's leg. But of course ,emotional responses are involuntary. We ARE able to choose whether or not to whine about our feelings.

Rudd's genius is spin and tokenism. Howard's was wedge politics.In the end our choice is between centre right Labour or Greens and far right Liberals. There is currently no effective political left in Australia. Regardless, we continue to get the government we deserve.

My view is to complain about the hypocrisy of others may provide a smug glow of self righteousness,but is adolescent and pointless. Hypocrisy part of the human condition.

EVERYONE lies. The average is about once every few minutes.It rare that we are able to change the behaviour of others.It's hard enough to change one's own behaviour in any significant way. Mostly our options are limited to avoiding behaviour we don't like or learning to accept it.

I have no idea if changing the labeling laws will have any significant effect. I see it as just another small step in making smoking socially unacceptable. THAT is what is reducing the rate of smoking in our society. I want cigarettes to remain legal ,but smoking banned in all public places,including motor vehicles

The number of smoking-related deaths are reducing,because the rate of smoking is reducing. However, the irony is the revenue from cigarettes does not come close to balancing the long term financial cost to the community.--and how do you measure social/personal costs?