| We all know that cigarette smoking is bad for our | | | | is the primary addictive substance in tobacco. What's |
| health. In fact, by now, nearly everyone on the planet is | | | | less known is that cigarette companies have been |
| aware of the dangers of cigarette smoking. Even | | | | adding between 500 and 1000 'additives' to cigarette |
| knowing the dangers, there are over 3000 kids that | | | | tobacco. These additives are also addictive and are |
| start smoking every day! | | | | also toxins. When combined with nicotine, these other |
| Now like I said, nearly all of us are aware of the | | | | additives have been shown to make cigarettes more |
| hazards of smoking. When I started smoking, packs of | | | | physically additive. So that leads to the question, |
| cigarettes had just began to have the warning | | | | shouldn't our legislators have the intestinal fortitude to |
| "Caution: Cigarette Smoking May be Hazardous to | | | | put some real teeth into this FDA authority? Why don't |
| Your Health" printed on their side. This was the first | | | | they have the FDA require that all of the additives be |
| government effort to inform people that smoking was | | | | removed, thus approving a much less addictive |
| bad for you. Since then, fighting the battle against | | | | product that people might actually be able to beat? |
| cigarettes has been a case of the tobacco industry | | | | Here's the real rub. Most of us have been |
| versus common sense. | | | | brainwashed to think that the FDA is supposed to |
| Unfortunately common sense does not prevail and our | | | | regulate food and drugs in a manner that provides the |
| government continues to rather ineffectually attempt | | | | consumer with safe products. All of us have heard |
| to legislate our behavior. At the same time the | | | | about drugs put out by large pharmaceutical |
| tobacco industry continues to spend hundreds of | | | | companies, like fen-fen, that obtained FDA approval, |
| millions of dollars fighting the legislation and promoting | | | | and later are found to have side effects with |
| their products of death. | | | | devastating consequences. This same body that is |
| I wrote earlier this year about how the legislation | | | | supposed to protect us from bad food and drugs |
| passed on April 1, 2009 nearly doubled the price of | | | | allows additives, growth hormones and antibiotics to |
| tobacco. I believe that the rationale was that, by | | | | enter our bodies through various approved foods. So |
| making tobacco products so expensive, especially in | | | | why should we believe the FDA will do any better with |
| the economy we are now experiencing, smokers | | | | cigarettes? |
| would give up, simply because of the cost. | | | | Since most of their older clients either quit or die, I think |
| This rationale will work to some extent. In fact, more of | | | | that the increased tax can do good if, the funding |
| the smokers that come to me this year to help them | | | | were used for classroom coursework for kids, the real |
| quit have told me that the cost was the biggest factor | | | | targets of tobacco companies. After all without new |
| for them wanting to quit. But can we legislate behavior | | | | consumers their companies will die instead of the |
| modification? Let me ask, do you or the legislators | | | | consumers of their products. Use the tax revenue for |
| really believe that the person who has just been laid | | | | documentaries that have patients on oxygen tanks, |
| off is going to quit smoking while searching for a new | | | | photos of the effects of smoking like those you can |
| job? I'd say that's a stretch. Many smokers will reduce | | | | find at the Tobacco Control Supersite as well as a |
| their food budget before quitting smoking. | | | | few images of what cigarette smoking does to your |
| So what are the positive effects of such legislation? | | | | lungs. Then the money might be well spent. |
| Tax revenues will grow. These taxes are supposedly | | | | I admire President Obama. I believe he is an educated |
| earmarked to fund new programs to help reduce | | | | and intelligent man. The problem I have with him is that |
| cigarette smoking and fund even more legislation to | | | | he still smokes. If someone like him won't give up the |
| ban smoking in public places. Of course the problem | | | | smoking habit at the least as an example for his two |
| with this is that this is the same government that has | | | | lovely daughters, then it seems to me that we should |
| given us the well oiled entities of Amtrak and Medicare. | | | | use that money to target the future generation, |
| One thing I especially liked about the government's | | | | including the president's kids. |
| latest move to put a damper on cigarette smoking is | | | | When commenting on the new tax, President Obama |
| that it has empowered the FDA with the authority to | | | | said "... For over a decade, leaders of both parties |
| approve what ingredients may be allowed in tobacco | | | | have fought to prevent tobacco companies from |
| products. It also gave the FDA the authority to order | | | | marketing their products to children and provide the |
| changes, eliminate toxins and disallow new tobacco | | | | public with the information they need to understand |
| products. I believe these are all good things. | | | | what a dangerous habit this is." Amen Brother Barack. |
| I think that everyone knows that nicotine is a toxin and | | | | |