Michael Fitzpatrick has a very interesting and biased take on comparison of Nazi anti-cancer campaigns against smoking and those of the Labour government in We have ways of making you stop smoking.

While some of the comparison seems valid, he oversimplifies and extends implied facism even while denying the allegations. He attacks second-hand smoke studies while downplaying the primary smoker issues.

Here in Taiwan, health officials have cited smoking and betel nut chewing as major drains on health resources as well.

Smoking in and of itself is serious health threat . . . much more so than many other voluntary recreational drugs . . . to pretend the costs of smoking are minimal is to pretend the moon is made of cheese, simply dissociating oneself from reality.

Yes, smokers have rights . . . however, others have rights to breathe clean air as well . . . regarless of health risks. Of course, knowing the health costs and still contending it should be okay to blow smoke into the faces of others is well nigh irresponsible.