This Is What Coercion Looks Like
Legislation forcing smokers to do the bidding of non smokers.
WASHINGTON – Congress struck the government’s strongest anti-smoking blow in decades Thursday with a Senate vote to give regulators new power to limit nicotine in cigarettes, drastically curtail ads and ban candied tobacco products aimed at young people.
Cigarette foes say the changes could cut into the 400,000 deaths every year caused by smoking and reduce the $100 billion in annual health care costs linked to tobacco.
The legislation, one of the most dramatic anti-smoking initiatives since the U.S. surgeon general’s warning 45 years ago that tobacco causes lung cancer, would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the content, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
This interference in the rights of citizens in justified under the aegis of saving lives. I can’t wait to see how many things I won’t be able to do when liberal force universal health care down my throat.
And they are the party that supports civil liberty. My ass.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
but it’s for their own good!
June 12th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Lets think… when the government has instituted universal health care they will be paying for everyone’s medical expenses. This will mean that my health is no longer my own private matter but the business of the entire nation. To reduce health care cost and thus help the nation, they are going to want to get me healthy. First they will help me will all those pesky self destructive habits I have like smoking or drinking. Then they will try to limit my food intake and level of exercise under the guise of “preventative medicine”. And there are so many bad things we do as human beings - to truly limit the cost of universal health care and reduce taxes my life will be controlled by a whole system of laws and regulations meant to guide me down the path of an ideal healthy adult. Man, sign me up. At least I’ll have my health, right?
Gah, it makes me mad. Especially considering the quality of health care is going to tank after universal health care passes. So I guess I wont have my health either. Damn.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
So we told people that cigarettes will kill them, that didn’t work. Now we’re limiting nicotine and advertising; this should be much more effective.
June 15th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I couldn’t be more against this measure. I’ve never understood attacking people’s lifestyles… I may not smoke, but I certainly would like to retain the right to smoke… Something that is shrinking every day.