On Meet the Press today, host Chuck Todd asked Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders what he thought of the idea of a consumption tax on soda. Sanders' answer, laded with his standard "massive wealthy inequality" argument, led Todd to believe that Sanders might also be against cigarette taxes.
No, those taxes are fine, Sanders said, but given that "cigarettes are causing cancer ... and other diseases ... there's almost a question as to why it remains a legal product."
Todd quickly moved to end the segment. He should have lingered longer to get the socialist senator's take on whether smoking marijuana should also be banned on the same "logic."
Here is video of the segment (HT Mediaite):
Transcript (full program transcript is here):
CHUCK TODD: Why are you against the consumption tax-- the soda tax in Philadelphia--
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: I'll tell you why.
TODD: --that would pay for Pre-K? Universal Pre-K. Hillary Clinton's for it.
SANDERS: Yes. I'll tell you why. Because it is a totally regressive tax and right now, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when the wealthy are getting wealthier-- many of them pay an effective tax rate lower than working people. You have large multinational corporations not paying a nickel in federal taxes. That's where you get the money. Somebody's making $20,000 a year and they buy a bottle of soda, I don't think you charge them $0.30 more for that bottle of soda. Now, the goal of universal childcare--
TODD: Pre-K, yeah--
SANDERS: --absolutely something that I strongly agree. And I applaud the mayor there for coming forward. But raise the money in a way that is progressive, not on the backs of low income or working people.
TODD: So you must be against cigarette taxes, too, then?
SANDERS: No, I'm not. Cigarette taxes are-- there's a difference between cigarettes and soda. I am aware of the obesity problem in this country.
TODD: I don't think Michael Bloomberg would agree with you on that one.
SANDERS: Well, that's fine. He can have his point of view. But cigarettes are causing cancer, obviously, and a dozen other diseases. And there is almost the question as to why it remains a legal product in this country.
Todd then said he would "wrap up the question," but then totally changed the topic to what Sanders would do if Hillary Clinton ends up being the Democrats' nominee against current Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
If Sanders really wants to discuss banning "cigarettes," which in context clearly was about banning tobacco-based cigarettes, the logic against keeping marijuana cigarettes would appear to be weak, at least according to the American Lung Association:
Marijuana and Lung Health
The American Lung Association is concerned about the health impacts of marijuana use, especially on lung health. We caution the public against smoking marijuana because of the risks it poses to lung health.
Marijuana Smoke
Smoke is harmful to lung health. Whether from burning wood, tobacco or marijuana, toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of materials. Smoke from marijuana combustion has been shown to contain many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.
Beyond just what's in the smoke alone, marijuana is typically smoked differently than tobacco. Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which leads to a greater exposure per breath to tar.
Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in directly inhaled marijuana smoke, in similar amounts if not more. While there is no data on the health consequences of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, there is concern that it could cause harmful health effects, especially among vulnerable children in the home. Additional research on the health effects of secondhand marijuana smoke is needed.
Lung Health and Marijuana Smoke
Smoking marijuana clearly damages the human lung. Research shows that smoking marijuana causes chronic bronchitis and marijuana smoke has been shown to injure the cell linings of the large airways, which could explain why smoking marijuana leads to symptoms such as chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis.
Smoking marijuana has also been linked to cases of air pockets in between both lungs and between the lungs and the chest wall, as well as large air bubbles in the lungs among young to middle-aged adults, mostly heavy smokers of marijuana. However, it's not possible to establish whether these occur more frequently among marijuana smokers than the general population.
Smoking marijuana can harm more than just the lungs and respiratory system - it can also affect the immune system and the body's ability to fight disease, especially for those whose immune systems are already weakened from immunosuppressive drugs or diseases, such as HIV infection.
Despite the comparable if not more severe risks, nobody on the left is talking about banning pot smoking, in no small part because any Democrat trying to have such a discussion would see much of his or her support, excuse the expression, go up in smoke.
Sanders' questioning why tobacco-based cigarettes "remains a legal product in this country" is just another example of how the condescending, superier left is constantly on the prowl to inject itself into every choice people make and to criminalize the ones they don't like, instead of letting them live with — or die sooner from — the consequences of their perfectly long-legal actions.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
