Do not democratic governments owe a duty of care to their citizens ?

Question

If so, can they in conscience permit their citizens to remain in harms way ?

What greater good can be claimed for a community, if large parts of it are discounted as unimportant for the rest ?
Is it acceptable to allow toxins/ poisons be spread to kill people by the government for their own purposes? Isn't this why we invade countries (albeit illegally) to ostensibly stop this happening ?

So how can tobacco usage be permitted to continue when it could READILY be banned by a willing moral government ?

Answer 1

I believe I can understand your rationale, that our representatives have an obligation to represent us, locally, nationally and on a global scale. But I can also see that many governments chose a course of action that leaves citizens disillusioned, over regulated and over taxed with little or no benefit. In most cases, I believe that personal responsibility goes a long way but the government does have a responsibility to ensure that nobody gets left behind. The unemployed, homeless and those who cannot afford health care should be assisted to get back on their feet through various programs so they can become contributing members of society as soon as possible. The homeless guy living on a park bench could in fact be the next billionaire - if we leave him there to die, his great invention will never be discovered. Governments also have a responsibility to provide adequate defence from attack, law enforcement and rescue services, roads and transport infrastructure and regulatory bodies to enforce health and safety, broadcasting and air travel. This is my view, "for the greater good" which is not just a narrow, personal focus.



I fear that individual governments may be handing control to a new unelected global government. This may mean the removal of all individual freedoms like we've never before seen, and we as citizens have no say in the matter. I don't want a government to decide what is MORAL for me, I want a government that will provide the essential services I need with my tax dollars and allow me to decide what is moral or not. A person should be able to smoke if they chose to, however it can be regulated (or banned) from certain areas like restaurants or children's playgrounds for greater community benefit - I don't know a smoker who disagrees with this.



At least, right now... our government is able to listen to us and not shoot us for speaking out against them. Who knows how much longer that will last.

Answer 2

In a democracy the government has an obligation to do no harm Each person is responsible for his or her own welfare. That means you know you need to work because that is how you get the money to live off of .You know you need a job ,get up off your but and go to work.Government policies can interfere with a people's chances to be employed .The government should not do anything that would cause the people of that country to not be able to get a job.I think that the mexican government's policies makes it hard for its citizens to make a living so they export the problems to the United States,Sad thing is that the U.S is headed that same way because of corporate greed.Exporting jobs out of this country and bring their product back to this country for some kinda jacked up profits .In the United States the people and the government is suppose to be for the people ,by the people and of the people..That does not mean the the government should take care of you from cradle to grave,The government has given people the information that they need to know about tobacco and it is up to the person to make that decisions to smoke or not to smoke .There is no law against stupidity .It is against the law to sell cigarette's to minors. because they are not equipped to make that kind of decision .When you become 18 years old then the decision is totally up to the person. There is no mystery about what smoking will do to you . So how can you blame the government .We all have personal responsibilities and the government's has little to do with that .

Answer 3

Depends on the Constitution of that government. In USA the Federal Constitution created a government of defined and limited Powers. According to the 9th and 10th amendments any Powers not expressly granted government by The People, remain with The People or The States. So in USA the answer is no, because We The People did not create a government to take care of us but to run the Army, Federal Courts, regulate commerce between the States and about 18 other things.



What we put in our mouths is beyond the jurisdiction of government. Something to do with Freedom I think . . .

Answer 4

OH NO NO NO ......Democratic governments allow freedom of choice! And if people want to smoke cigarettes, then so be it. YOUR RIGHT TO NOT LIKE SMOKING STOPS AT MY RIGHT TO FREAKING SMOKE. And please.....spread toxins.....You are actually comparing cigarettes to true TOXINS...The ones on the larger scale that get into our water and other things like that....not nicotine...are you truly serious here? YOu cannot compare the two.



A true duty of care is where we are allowed the freedom to choose things. Sure, give information about harmful things, but in the end, LET US FREAKING CHOOSE. Do you honestly think they care about us? Geeze, you must live in Disneyland. It is about revenue dearie. Like seat belts. Its all about money. They could care less if we get pounded into a windshield. Just all the money generated by cops writing tickets for not wearing seat belts and of course, this spews down to the insurance companies raising rates for tickets....they are in this together. Our government protects and allows companies like insurance companies to gouge the american citizen.



I am sick and tired of the government regulating EVERYTHING. They need to die and go away. You sound like one of those "do gooders" that make me totally sick....PLEASE. I am POSITIVE that I could speak with you, get your background and find something YOU like to do or are involved with that I could propose some regulation against....trust me, I am SURE I could. Then, how would it feel? Probably as pissed as I am with the actual idea the government should regulate my smoking.



You surely must be very young as a true adult, who has been around for awhile and dealt with the garbage the government heaps upon us would not say such a thing.

Answer 5

Money to be made th government is there. We live on a put up with it and shut up type of planet. You can be a squeaky wheel for change and it may or may not happen. You would think that the Democrats would do more to maintain a democracy on behalf of the people, but they do not cause it is more important how they look outside of the country then in it.

Answer 6

many human beings decide directly to respond to "None" or "Why difficulty?" because of the fact they have given up on government procedures. the actual people who're to blame for this "failure" are the the Representatives (congress(decrease residing house)) and Senators (bigger residing house) of each respective state (so government.) So ergo, we've not got the government we deserve because of the viscous cycle of gov reps ignoring supplies in choose of extra worthwhile companies. (enormous oil, coverage, companies, etc. etc.) did you comprehend President Obama earned extra by social networking web content than the commonplace donations vs Mcain? and finally specific, the democratically enfranchised citizenry be obliged to accomplish some sort of civic involvement/ interactivity, or "giving-back-to-the-community" form accountability. In doing so we flow back in the direction of the unique objective of our government. basically as long as they stay actual to the human beings, and haven't any decrease than the table effect from companies. So basically make pastimes entirely be of the human beings and by using the human beings, so a procedures we live a 'wag the dogs' life in government. enormous Corp says 'reps try this.' fairly of the human beings asserting try this, 'reps persist with.'

Answer 7

There are a number of reasons why .. but a big part of it is that Tobacco taxes generate huge revenues for the government.

Answer 8

Citizens should care for themselves. It is not governments duty.

Personal responsibility.

Answer 9

No that is not governments job. Their responsibility is to keep us safe from attack.

What you are discussing is personal responsibility.