There is a reason I love the Cato Institute.
Besides having what I consider reasonable ideas they published an amazing handbook in 2009 that I just started reading.
Cato Institute Handbook For Policymakers:Tobacco
It's called The Cato Handbook For Policymakers.
Included inside on chapter 23,I found this little gem.
As former Commissioner David A. Kessler stated, outlining his concept of FDA oversight: ‘‘Only those tobacco products from which the nicotine had been removed or, possibly, tobacco products approved by FDA for nicotine-replacement therapy would then remain on the market.’’ In other words, cigarettes as we know them would cease to exist.
Truer words were never written.
No one should be allowed to make something they don't like go away.
It doesn't matter how damaging it could be.
Reasonable laws would and could have been applied to tobacco if only cooler heads had prevailed.
Instead you see what happens around the world when someone begins a crusade.
It might begin with the best of intentions but it usually turn into a huge stinky pile by the time all is said and done.
It can and has gone so far as to challenge amendments to our constitution here in America.
In other places it has lead to an odd prohibition of sorts,in some other places it has lead it's leaders to propose an all out ban on smoking,using or buying any tobacco product would be the courageous way to handle things.
What people forget when they impose their will on others is a simple thing,people will do what they want and hurray if it's legal but if it isn't then they will still do what they wish to do.
The path we are headed down is just going to get worse,this is what demoralizing something does.
It hurts people,economies and personal freedoms.
George Santayana said 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'
