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US House set to send tobacco bill to Obama

After more than a decade of efforts by smoking opponents, Congress prepared to take a final vote Friday on legislation giving the U.S. government far-reaching powers to regulate tobacco. . . . . . more.   

It gives the FDA power to order changes to ingredients, including tar and nicotine, to protect public health.

* * * *

It's that last sentence that gives me chills and explains why Philip Morris supported the bill. 

The FDA will no doubt limit the amount of nicotine in tobacco products.

Smokers who are addicted to nicotine will smoke twice as much to try to stop the itch caused by the addiction.   

Smokers will buy more cigarettes to get the same amount of nicotine.

OF COURSE PHILIP MORRIS SUPPORTED THE BILL.

Cha Ching!

 


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24 Comments on CONGRESS PASSES TOBACCO BILL - It won't stop the need to scratch the itch.

JUN
12
2009
310,174 Points 10 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Lenn --- I'm with you on this ---the bill is just going to increase the sale of cigarettes --- I don't smoke, but I believe the same as you.

mama Liz's signature
12:16pm • #1
707,473 Points 36 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lenn I remember buying "near beer" on ski trips to Utah, we had to buy twice as much, which meant more money and more trash.
12:18pm • #2
253,288 Points 58 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hey Lenn,

My husband is a lifetime smoker, and he won't be happy to hear this. Steve, LOL, yeah Utah beer is pretty lame. They are moving to change the laws, but for now, all you get is a little alcohol with your water. 

-Lisa
12:25pm • #3
421,594 Points 76 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Trying to stop smoking or curb the ill health effects through legislation will be as successful as prohibition. Those who choose to smoke and need their nicotine "fix" will get it. The cigarette companies will benefit and the bureaucracy will grow, and the bill will do significantly more harm than good.
1:19pm • #4
616,808 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Smoking is not good for anyone.  I quit cold turkey after years.  But the thing that is not good either is the government regulating all aspects of people's lives.
1:48pm • #5
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Liz.  I don't smoke either, never did.  However, I have seen many friends and relatives suffer with this addiction.  Mr. Waxman, the perp for this bill thinks we're too stupid to understand why Philip Morris backed the bill.

Steve.  You understand the concept of light or low.  I understand.  How can a U.S. Congressman not understand?

Lisa.  Your husband will probably not like this bill.  If the FDA moves to limit the amount of nicotine, smokers will just be smoking more and paying more.  Of course, that's the whole idea.

John.  You're right.  Perhaps we'll have criminal enterprises importing foreign stronger product.

Gary.  Good for you.  I agree.  Everything the government touches turns to crap.

 

 
2:39pm • #6
591,941 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Oh wow. You never cease to amaze me. You're able to see past the rhetoric, right to the real heart of the matter. I'll admit that as I was reading that particular bit of wording, it did rub me wrong. I just get gut feelings to things that are wrong, but I don't usually take the time to figure out why. I just know when something isn't kosher, and I trust my instincts. But you knew, AND hit the nail on the head. Good for you! And thank you for shedding more light on this. The irony is that so many people who smoke are already in a very low tax bracket, and cigarettes are expensive! I wonder how many families will suffer in other ways, as a result of this?
3:11pm • #7
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Right you are Lisa.

This is just a scam perpetrated by the cigarette manufactures and sanctioned by Congress.  I'm sure the President will sign it because it is in the best example of smoke and mirrors.

 
3:14pm • #8
445,582 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Nice  way to see things, Lenn....YUP..they will LOVE it when the addicted consumers smoke MORE cigs to calm thier cravings....

You see it as the truth it is!!

Of course it will also help others to cut down even more and eventually quit.....

;-)
4:03pm • #9
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Anexander.  Also, as the price goes up, and it will, fewer children will have the money to buy them.
4:28pm • #10
518,767 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Lenn - I've never smoked, so thaey can ban the things for all I care. Somehow I see more tax dollars from this. If they cut the amont in each pack, and smoker will somke more, the taxes will be more. Just another way to increase taxes without saying you increased taxes.
7:24pm • #11
981,002 Points 81 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

At least one thhing I know for sure that even the smokers will start smoking double the number of cigarrettes, and the tax from the sale of tobacco will double, it can't replenish the coffers, that are drained in the trillions.

I simply thhink that government has not business getting into everything.
10:59pm • #12
JUN
13
2009
345,372 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

I'm a reformed smoker ... my daughter still smokes.  we disagreed about this today, even though I don't like the government sticking their nose into private matter, I dislike paying the health care bills for all those smokers who won't tackle their problem more!
12:45am • #13
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Larry.  Sad that a product that kills remains legal because of Congressional protection.  The tobacco lobby was very strong for decades and appears still to have some clout.

The cost to our society for care for these patients in their last stages of life with tobacco caused cancer and emphasema is billions and billions every year.  Yet, it's not identified as a cost to society.

Jon.  Agreed.  I just want them to protect us from foreigh invasion, which they haven't done and regulate interstate commerce, which they do based on who pays the most for what.

Lisa.  No need arguing with a smoker about it.  They will find the most obscure arguments to justify the fact that they are hooked and can't stop.

 

 
7:36am • #14
212,517 Points Hit Router

If the part of the program that isto reduce the number of smokers is successful the result will be less tax revenue collected.
11:40am • #15
427,829 Points 32 Featured Posts Outside Blog

It's always nice when Congress gets a chance to help out a company. I guess it's only fair after all, Philip Morris didn't need a bailout so Congress had to give them something.
2:14pm • #16
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Scott.  If the bill contributes to fewer young people beginning to smoke, it will work.  The existing smokers will just die off and there will then be fewer.

JL.  I like the way you think.

 
2:52pm • #17
387,863 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

This bill is hypocritical on the face of it.  The purported reason for the bill is to get people to quit smoking.  However, while smokers are addicted to nicotine, the government is addicted to the billions of dollars they get from taxing tobacco.

If fewer people smoke, the tax revenue will fall; thus tax rates would have to be raised.  When the tax rates become sufficiently suffocating, a robust black market will arise, depriving the government of revenue without really cutting back on tobacco use.
3:16pm • #18
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Brian.  Agreed.  The government cannot control the citizens as long as what the citizen wants is freely available. 

Shucks.  They can't even control illegal substances.
4:13pm • #19
JUN
14
2009
1,256,142 Points 242 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lenn- I started smoking when I was 12 and quit when I was 19 as soon as the doctor told me that smoking could hurt my baby growing inside of me. I quit cold turkey for my baby. I hate smoking, get a headache when I smell it. But no matter how much I hate it; I don't want the government to have all this control over anyone or anything.

What makes me sick about this is:

1. Allowing the FDA to be in charge- ( Nestor says FDA stands for F%#k Dumb Americans) They are like the Mafia for the govt.

2. The FDA wants to outlaw the E cigarettes, the ones that don't smell and you can buy them in malls, they give you the nicotine and you smoke them but they are smokeless. HMMM, Cha Ching for the FDA.

3. The President promised NOT to raise taxes on the poor. Hmmm, studies show that many Poor people smoke. SO there goes that promise right down the tubes.

4. Phillip Morris is in bed with Big Pharma on this one and with the FDA. What a scam! SO pretentious also.

5. The taxes on tobacco went up alot for raw tobacco; which again, is what poor people buy and they roll their own cigarettes. Of course, Phillip Morris does not want them to do that either.

 
10:20pm • #20
JUN
15
2009
504,137 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

We wonder why the governments of Columbia, Afghanistan and othere nations can't get control of the cocaine or other drug traffic coming to our country. We roundly criticize their national and local government officials for taking bribes and looking the other way.

For such relatively poor, developing countries,  illegal drugs make up half or two-thirds of their national economy.

In America, tobacco represents less than 1% of GDP, but we are unable to keep the tobacco companies from selling their addictive, evil products to our people.  We long paid a subsidy to tobacco farmers just like more legitimate parts of our agriculture.  We do little to keep them from addicting the world --with virtually no regulation or disclosure in most developing countries.

The tobacco companies are allowed to openly lobby and repeatedly lie to Congressional and state legislative committees.  Their corporate bigwigs are honored citizens in the states of our TabaccoLand. They donate millions in campaign contributions to obtain favorable legislators and legislatures in every state of the union.  We don't call those bribes though. 

(Here in Oregon this year, a brave legislator sponsored a bill to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco from 18 to 21 -- with a view toward making it harder for 14-year-olds to find a person to legally buy their cancer sticks for them.  Big tobacco has been fighting her tooth and nail and will doubtless target her in the next election.)

No wonder many peoples of the planet despise us so.

We need to tax these products within an inch of a black market.  We need to declare war on any exporting of our habit.  We need to treat the tobacco companies as organized crime.  We need to treat their corporate leaders as the vermin they are.

(Some time, when I have more time, I'll tell you how I really feel about this subject.)

 
1:21am • #21
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Katerina.  BINGO!

Jim.  Right you are.  I believe that anyone testifying before Congress should have a lie detector strapped on.  Of course, the Congress persons should too.  We're fed such garbage it ludicrous.

 
5:48am • #22
JUN
17
2009
981,002 Points 81 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jim,

Why then not close the Casinos and Liquor stores? Haven't we went through the prohibition? Didn't it gave rise to unprecendented crime and drug use?

Burgers are fat, so why not just outlaw them as well. And if someone is still stubborn and does not want to follow, just shoot 'em

And yes, the goals were so honorable.

Will we ever stop stepping on the same rakes?
1:13am • #23
1,546,109 Points 417 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jon.  Well, when it comes to cigarettes, it gets personal with me. 

 

 

 
4:49am • #24

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