Tobacco, a killer of Victoria's poorest
The Age
Thursday September 3, 2009
Tobacco, a killer of Victoria's poorestI WAS disgusted, but not surprised, to see tobacco companies claiming price rises would hurt the poor (The Age, 2/9), while avoiding mentioning that higher burdens of disease caused by tobacco actually cause greater harm to lower income people than the price of the cigarettes. Victorian Government figures confirm that socio-economically disadvantaged Victorians are 1.9 times more likely to die of stroke, twice as likely to die of lung cancer and 2.1 times more likely to die of coronary heart disease than other Victorians.Apart from being unpleasant, environmentally unfriendly and a health hazard to those who are exposed to smoke, tobacco is a killer and governments must act to limit rates of smoking through stronger measures, including significant price rises. If people wish to smoke, they should pay the full cost to the community of their choice. Disadvantaged people should be assisted to quit by more intensive anti-smoking programs.The community should treat comments from tobacco companies with the disdain they deserve and consider that if the companies oppose a measure it must be worth supporting.David Imber, ElwoodShades of 1984I WANT to thank the national preventive health taskforce for recommending the removal of even more things that I will not have to think about myself.It's so much easier for others to make up your mind for you by removing the need to choose for yourself, isn't it? I am confident that Orwell's Oceania was a fine place to live, so fear not when the reality of these benefits are gifted to us.Trevor Penhalluriack, Ringwood North$25m wastedWHY would our Government allow itself to spend $25 million on renaming trains? It matters not one iota what name is on the train. It matters that there are enough trains and that they run on time €“ especially in hot weather. It does matter that thousands of people are hungry each day and thousands are homeless.When will our Government get some decent priorities? Will we ever have a government of which we can be proud?Elizabeth Hill, AshburtonNo victory possibleGENERAL McChrystal defined the new American credo: "The conflict will be won by persuading the population, not by destroying the enemy" (The Age, 2/9). We know the war in Afghanistan is truly unwinnable when US generals start talking about winning hearts and minds. The Afghan election has been a farce, with Taliban intimidation of voters and serious ballot-rigging. The Bush administration installed Hamid Karzai. He is widely perceived as a corrupt US puppet.According to Britain's Times Online "more than 17 million Afghans registered to vote, although the number of eligible voters is estimated at 12 million to 15 million". Thus, the results of the election are a foregone conclusion and the newly elected government will have zero legitimacy. The allies need to revisit the original aims of invading Afghanistan €“ to find Osama bin Laden and to bring him to justice for masterminding the September 11 terror attacks.The Taliban were taken on because they wouldn't give him up. Forget about winning over the Afghan people €“ only they can do that. In short, the allies need an exit strategy and a timeline.Red Bingham, East St KildaIt's just cruelLEAVING aside the logical contradiction that a God who does not exist cannot, by definition, suffer from a personality disorder, Catherine Deveny's latest anti-religious rant (Metropolis, 2/9) has tipped over from mere bad taste to heartless cruelty.In my personal and professional life, I have encountered people who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder. I can assure Ms Deveny that it is no laughing matter.The devastating impact of this condition leaves sufferers and their loved ones socially marginalised, emotionally impoverished and profoundly traumatised by the consequences of the narcissist's behaviour. That Ms Deveny should so callously and ignorantly trivialise this awful condition €“ whose causes remain largely unknown and untreatable €“ for the sake of her atheistic bias reflects both the shallowness of her humanity and the depth of her stupidity.Brendan Byrne, Ringwood NorthWhat they deserveI AM annoyed at John Della Bosca for resigning, and even more annoyed that we supposedly have a system that expected him to resign over what is actually a trivial issue. It is, at most, something between Mr Della Bosca and his wife.I am not a personal fan of Mr Della Bosca. But it would seem that he is a politician with considerable ability and experience. Most of that talent has now been lost because it is assumed that NSW voters cannot abide a philandering politician. Oh please. Has he done anything illegal? Apart from his wife, has he cheated anyone?It is reported that the NSW Government does not have a lot of available talent to replace Mr Della Bosca quickly. His important job will now likely be done less well. Are the voters of NSW, who I presume include many who would not be in a position to cast the first stone, happy with this? If they are, then it is true that people get the government they deserve.Brian Monger, CarnegieMigrant move is a gold medal follyTHANK God the Government has finally done something about those poor nationality-shopping migrant athletes who can't complete at the Olympics because they chose to move to Australia ("Athletes get easier run to citizenship", The Age, 1/9).Are our national identity and self-esteem so fragile and so dependent on sporting success that we have to recruit athletes to maintain it? How can the Government pretend to be so "compassionate" towards athletes who "fall between the cracks", yet maintain such a cold stance on asylum seekers who make it to Australia after fleeing persecution and often life-threatening circumstances in their homelands?Ninety per cent of asylum seekers meet the international definition of a refugee and 90 per cent also meet this country's definition of "skilled migrants". Surely they are more deserving of fast-tracked citizenship applications (and appeals) than athletes who might bring us gold medals? The whole thing smells rotten.Daniel Petrie, MelbourneSilent changesWE ARE informed that 889,722 people arrived in Australia in the past year (The Age, 31/8). This included refugees, New Zealanders, temporary and permanent migrants. No doubt the temporary migrants will include students who will complete some sort of course and then apply for citizenship and then apply to bring out their family, swelling the numbers further.Historian Andrew Markus is surprised at the "lack of debate about these figures". But you can't debate something unless you are aware of it. Recent federal governments have been silent about this nation-changing activity. It is most unfortunate, especially for future generations, that such a significant change is forced on a nation in secret.The next time you feel like complaining about crowded schools or hospitals, or traffic jams or crowded public transport, or high housing prices, consider that the major cause is this influx, which has been allowed to occur without your knowledge or approval.I suggest that the numbers be reduced until we can catch up with catering for everyone who is already here.Michael Morrison, MelbourneDairy myth smells like green cheeseCHOICE spokesman Christopher Zinn will have you believe that dairy milk is one of Mother Nature's wonders (The Age, 2/9). It is, if you are a calf. Humans, on the other hand, need dairy milk as much as we need the milk from any other species. We don't.Harvard University studies found that unnatural human diseases are linked to dairy consumption €“ with or without its additives.The countries with the highest dairy consumption €“ Australia, New Zealand, the US, Scandinavia €“ also have the highest hip fracture rates, while many African and Asian ethnic groups do not consume dairy milk and do not get osteoporosis. The idea that the calcium from dairy milk is necessary to prevent osteoporosis is as much a pervasive myth propagated by the dairy industry as the moon being made of cheese.Turn to green leafy vegetables and other plant foods as the healthier alternative. They are packaged naturally, just as Mother Nature really intended.Natasha Reus, Port Melbourne
© 2009 The Age