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On The Biggest Problem In The Universe podcast Maddox asserted that the Broken Window Fallacy is a fallacy. He stated the earthquakes and hurricanes are good because they destroy things which then have to be replaced by newer things and money gets spent.

Somewhat related he also asserted that World War II was good because he got a microwave oven out of it. Had WWII not occurred his assertion was that the microwave oven would not exist.

In a stunning twist of statist thinking Maddox now asserts that smoking is bad because . . . wait for it . . . smoking requires people to seek out additional healthcare which . . . wait for it . . . cost money. And that money is subsidized by people other than the smoker.

Hurricane destroys a city and kills people. City is rebuilt and subsidized by tax payers. Maddox says this is good.

Smoker gets lung cancer and requires medical care. Medical care is subsidized by tax payers. Maddox says this is bad.

It never occurs to Maddox that healthcare should not be subsidized. A statist will never entertain the thought that only the person receiving the medical care should pay for the medical care.

Like “The Roads” the need to take money from healthy people and give it to sick people is never questioned.

Notice as well the usual statist hatred of people making choices and suffering the consequences. Hurricanes and earthquakes are “good” because they are imposed of people against their choice. Smoking is bad because people choose to smoke.