Senate to let FDA Regulate Tobacco:"Thank you Capt. Obvious"
Dee dee dit dee dee dit dee dee dee...Breaking news today from the Associated Press:
"Washington--The Senate votes Thursday on legislation that for the first time would give the government control over the production and marketing of tobacco products, a long-sought goal that supporters say could save lives and millions in health care dollars."
"According to Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, "We're going to be able to protect millions of children and Americans from deadly tobacco-related disease.' The bill would allow the FDA to require changes to nicotine yields and other chemicals in cigarettes and other tobacco products, although it could not ban nicotine. It would require tobacco companies to provide detailed lists of ingredients and any changes in those ingredients."
I read that and started coughing so hard I had to put out my cigarette.
This is just a bunch of hooey. Remember when Dr. David Kessler was the Commissioner of the FDA during the H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations? Naw, you probably don't. He got in trouble for suggesting that cigarettes be designated a "drug delivery device" and as such be regulated by the FDA. Big Trouble! But he was absolutely, dead solid right. So now we get this watered down stuff that says the FDA can regulate some of the content of cigarettes.
Geesh, when is the government going to realize (in spite of the tobacco industry's posturing, lobbying and spending) that these things are killers? The only thing they are made for is to get people addicted to nicotine. Nicotine, in and of itself, is relatively harmless but it's the way the nicotine gets into the system that is the killer.
Anyone who knows me knows that I smoke like a chimney on a cold night. Yeah, I'm addicted and I've yet to permanently quit. It would be nice for the government to do the right thing once in a while. Kessler was right. But so was George Carlin who also said, "Cigarette companies market heavily to young people. They need young customers because their product kills the older ones. It is the only product that, if used as intended, kills the customer."
Isn't it nice to know that the Congress and FDA are looking out for our best interests!
To quote George Carlin again, "Thank you Captain Obvious."
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Boomer Bob
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Comments
The only way they can "save lives" is to wipe out the tobacco industry completely--and we know that won't happen.
It sucks for a few days but life is so much better on the other side.
How d'ya like it now? I love it (if I'm right, of course...)
We are an overeating, drinking, smoking, drug taking, stressed out group of people, and guess what we live longer and with relatively less health problems that the rest of the world.
Common sense. Smoke less, eat less, drink less, move around more and stop worrying about what is going to kill you, because it is going to be something.
I'm not sure what the FDA will do about cigs. We know there are lots and lots of nasty additional chemicals in them (ammonia, for instance) but does this mean all smokes will now be like American Spirits claim to be? Just the tobacco and none of the other additives? If so, I'm cool with that. They should be regulated.
But if we're also going to get into the Quit Talk, let's be serious: Tobacco addiction is not taken seriously in this country. As a smoker, I often get the dirty looks from people but not much understanding that I have a "real" addiction. Like your Uncle Tom's pill problem or little Suzie's heroin phase, cigarettes are a powerfully addicting product. We need real rehab and I think insurance companies need to get on board. Why are smokers the only addicts expected to quit on their own or with the help of drugs only (Chantix) or online support groups?
If I'm going to quit, I feel I'll need to be locked up for a couple months. That's how intense it is for me. And I'm not looking for pity, just can we please temper the "dirty smoker" attitudes a bit? At least until it's illegal and you have one leg to stand on?
//tangent over
Insurance companies will not get on board for rehab, because the cost of insuring a smoker is less than rehab. The majority of smoke related illness and death happen after you are 70 years old. Most insurance companies will pay for patches and stop smoking programs. The cost of smokers is greatly over exaggerated as to increase insurance premiums beyond the risk associated with it.
I bet drive Thur windows and cable TV has contributed to the demise of the American health more than smoking, but it is easier to say I don't smoke than stop eating tons of sugar, salt, caffeine, fat, and alcohol.