Nationalizing Cigarettes, are Guns next?

[bryang]

This is just one more step...in the wrong direction.

I don't smoke, but I sure don't like government regulating private enterprise. If they do this to the tobacco companies...who's next?

-geo

[Bunkins]

The downside: Lots of auto mechanics smoke. They can't get their nicotine fix, it might be harder to get your car repaired at an Obama National Auto Warranty Repair Center.

Your right that lots of mechanics smoke.. All the guys I know that work in shops smoke, the ones that dont drink like fish. The guys that work more in the hotrod/custom stuff dont.. It's kinda like being a doctor, you tell people bad news all day long, but mechanics have to listen to people whine and complain about cost, then worry about when they come in 6 months later blaming you for their radio going out, after you did a front end alignment Or they hear a noise only while driving 30 MPH at 8:17 pm on Fridays, making left hand turns, with their windows 1/4 way down, and it started right after you got done working on it But if they twitch their big left toe the noise goes away..

I smoke, bad habit, even knowing the health risks it's very hard to quit. I've quit a few times, but always end up going back to it. After working all day around diesel soot, you blow your nose when ya get home and it's black Honestly, smoking isnt the only bad thing going into my lungs, it sure doesnt help matters, but still........ I can say though, smoking isnt what's going to kill me So I might as well do what I enjoy doing... I do know that other people dont want to be around it, so I simply dont smoke around them.


But yeah, the banks, the car industry, now the tobacco industry? All of this in less than a yr? It's scary to think whats going to be next...

[Oldgringo]

As many have alluded to herein, the real issue isn't smoking or cancer; it's Obama, Pelosi et al exercising control over American industry and by extension, our lives.

BTW, isn't Obama a couple of packs of Kools ( ) a day type guy or did he quit when others elected him POTUS.

[txmatt]

It's nice to see this thread with even non-smokers seeing the huge problem with this. Most of the comments I've seen on news articles are supportive on this measure. First they re-engineer cigarettes so they don't burn (FSC) and now they want to limit the amount of nicotine in them.

Also, I have read that this bill says that even though the FDA has to approve cigarettes the tobacco companies aren't allowed to say that the FDA approved their cigarettes. I think this highlights the absurdity of FDA regulation of tobacco.

Oh and notice how the largest tobacco company (Phillip Morris, I think) was pushing for this while all others were against it... makes it pretty obvious that they think the net effect of this bill will be to increase their market share or at least protect it. I started stockpiling tobacco when the 2700% tax increase on loose tobacco was about to hit, sounds like it's time to increase my reserves some more. I guess it's one up side to not being able to find ammo: my dry boxes have plenty of room in them.

[couzin]

Look at it this way - the nicotine content goes down, takes more tobacco to satisfy the need, more tobacco is bought, more taxes paid ---- government wins, tobacco companies win, anti-smokers are happy ---- guess who gets shafted again...more)???

[Zero_G]

Look at it this way - the nicotine content goes down, takes more tobacco to satisfy the need, more tobacco is bought, more taxes paid ---- government wins, tobacco companies win, anti-smokers are happy ---- guess who gets shafted again...more)???

That's exactly the point I was going to make. People who switch to the lower-nicotine brands tend to smoke more to get the same fix. That's probably why the manufacturers bought into the program. They can put out a lower quality product for the same price and sell more of it.
No doubt nicotine has bad effects on the body (every read the package insert on the nicotine patches?) -- it used to be sold as bug spray. However the carcinogenic effects are from the combustion products and other chemicals present in the tobacco. If the number of cigs per person per day goes up to get the same nicotine levels, the adverse health effects will increase also.
As a public health physician, I certainly agree that smoking is the biggest health problem worldwide (closely tied with obesity in the US). BUT - Big Government is not the answer. They should have learned that with lesson with prohibition. The key is getting people never to start smoking so they don't have to fight the addictive properties of nicotine. When we find out an effective way to do that I'll personally write the recommendation for the Nobel Prize.

[Locke]

Politicians never seem to think of the long term consequences. Seems like they are trying to cut down on smoking again. I don't smoke and think this is a good thing. But just recently they raised taxes on cigarettes to pay for healthcare. Both this new legislation and the raising taxes will lower the number of smokers. Less smokers means less taxes for healthcare. So over time they are going to have to raise taxes again on cigarettes or something else to fund their programs.

[casingpoint]

It's scary to think whats going to be next...

Assisted openers and folding pocket knives. What the hay, I always favored fixed blades for every application, including self defense. Much quicker to deploy. But all the constraints desired by Washington are getting spooky. They're not exactly in key with, "Land of the free and home of the brave."

[bryang]

What scares me about the future is what are they pushing through congress (and down our throats) that we don't even know about.

What ever messiah wants, messiahs gets... and if he don't he appoints another czar.

-geo

[Rokyudai]

Between this and proposed taxing of 'sugared drinks', I believe that it just makes sense that the gubm'int wants to further pave the way for Nationalized Healthcare. Over time, they are just making it harder for you to develop conditions commonly found in obese folks or those who smoke.....and save $$$$ that will be needed to line the pockets of our elected officials.



Rok

[Oldgringo]

Being a Sr. citizen is not a bad thing once we think about who has to pay, and for how long, for all of these apparent socialistic programs du jour.

[Kythas]

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve........

[KD5NRH]

Assisted openers and folding pocket knives. What the hay, I always favored fixed blades for every application, including self defense.

Problem is, I carry five different blade types on me, four with special purposes from picking splinters to opening clamshell packaging and one general purpose for whatever else comes along. Doing that with fixed blades would require five separate knives, each with its own sheath.

None of them are particularly suited for self-defense. If I need more than a kubotan or pepper spray, I'll use the gun.

[stevie_d_64]

All I know is that I have never smoked...And it doesn't look like I am going to start...

I remember when we got underway in the Nav and as soon as we crossed over 2 miles off the beach the ships store would open up and they could seel cartons of cigs for about 6-7 bucks...That was back in the late 80's (not 1880's!)...There was always a line from the door and down the passageway that almost looked like the chow line...hehehe

What got me just the other day was the price advertized on a gas station convienience stores pylon near the pumps that said you can get a carton of cigs for $44.90...

For once in my life I really felt sorry for smokers...

As for Nationalizing guns...What guns???