Posted by
dylanraines on Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:08:35 PM
Last week a bill called The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco
Control Act was passed by Congress. The said goal of this bill is to
keep children safer from smoking and the health of our society
stronger. Which sounds good. However, all this really is, is another
bill which allows the federal government to dictate the lifestyle
choices we are able to make.
I am in no way endorsing tobacco or smoking. It is a terrible habit.
But it’s just that a habit. It’s a life choice that each human is free
to make. However, with more federal laws being made to take away your
choice, it’s making it far less easy to have the freedom of choosing
what we wish to do in our own lives, not only with smoking. I think we
have to decide what is more important to us as Americans, freedom and
liberty, or safety, security, and a federal government that will take
care of us. Sadly, I believe more and more Americans choose the latter
of these “choices.”
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gives the FDA
sweeping new powers to charge new user fees, raise taxes on
manufacturers and importers of tobacco products and It will regulate
the amount of nicotine in cigarettes. The way to combat poor health
choices is not to make it more difficult for people to make that choice
due to law. The solution is through education and information. Let
people make informed decisions on how to live their lives, but do not
punish them by charging higher taxes on both the business producer and
consumer.