Devious

First off I would like to state that I myself would probably fall under the classification of a Libertarian. The original author seems to believe that there is a certain criteria for what happiness is. That he (I'm just assuming that the author is a man I apologize if it isn't) quit smoking because he was addicted and didn't like that feeling of sheer need. But he forgets to tell us that it was his choice to start smoking in the first place. I highly doubt that there was someone with a gun pointed at him saying "You smoke until you're addicted or I'm going to kill you." Second he states that we need to tax tobacco up front (something I would think this forum would be against) because we don't have the foresight that if we do this now it make some back to us in the future in some way or another. I think it's safe to say that pretty much everybody knows that smoking can cause significant health problems, alcohol can too, as well as pretty much anything in your house can kill you. Next I would like to tackle the authors hate for the free market. "[b]Government does not stifle humanity. All signs indicate that government nurtures us.[/b]" Innovation is one thing The United Sates does very well. When the first computers come out the French government gave out massive amounts of money to fund research. While at the same time people in the US were using their own hard earned money to research and improve computers. I'll give you three guesses who was more successful. It was Americans who had their own money on the line, which provided incentive for them to work harder because they didn't have unlimited money from the government. There is a reason Silicon Valley is in the US. The author also seems to have a notion that all wealthy people do is hoard their money in their huge houses and let it collect dust. This is completely false. First it is probably in a bank somewhere, you might say it's not doing any good there either. But in fact the bank actually loans it out to people to make purchases such as houses, cars, businesses, and many other things, provided they have sufficient collateral (At least that's how it's supposed to work). Then That person eventually pays back the bank the money they borrowed plus payment for using the money "Interest", the bank also pays back the person who put their money in the bank with this same payment of interest. The second way someone does good with their money is through stocks. Which allows companies to become bigger and creates jobs in which people are paid for their goods, ie. labor. Lastly, this will be my last point because I really am too lazy to go through a rebuke every point the author makes, how does an institution have have a right to tell me how to use my body. As long as I do not encroach upon you or your property why can't I smoke crack, shoot heroine, and drink copious amounts of alcohol?