BIG GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING, WHERE DO THEY DRAW THE LINE?

[AQUAMAN]

Today I witnessed the fact that cigarette packages of the near future, will have half the pack, pasted with Government sponsored and paid for advertising of a "danger picture" of people and perhaps their "cancerous innerds", whom have died of cancer. The pictures on the pack will be of a gross nature, to turn people away from the horrible effects of tobacco on the human body. WELL, is that all we get? I mean, can't we outlaw McD kid's meal toys? Sorry, already been done. How about surgeon general warnings pasted on the sides of the pack? Sorry, already been done. How about outlawing cig. TV advertisements? Sorry, already been done. The list of liberties being abused, spotlighted with taxpayer dollars, and liberties altogether canceled, is already here, and increasing at alarming rates, imho. I don't think to date, anyone has proven that tobacco in itself, alone, creates any cancers, except maybe for chewers. A LOT of the secret ingredients unknown to the public are mixed in the product, and it evolves into a partial-tobacco product now, wouldn't you agree? Just like food coloring, or putting animals on steroids, so we get the meat and so forth faster to market. So, where does the line get drawn? I'm not saying cigs. are good or bad, I'm just asking, where does the intrusion into the American rights to smoke, drink, eat, anything we want that is FDA approved and legal end? Methinks this just goes a tad bit too far! And again, thanks Mr. Prez., it comes from a progressively liberal socialist marxist type party, that is already way over the top where finance, business, insurance, rights of the individual, are daily on the cutting block for our good. Instead of cutting government waste, taxing the masses must go up, I mean way up more, cause they don't know how to create anything positive, just spend till there's no more paper and ink and dies to print with. Sometimes when I wake up I truly wonder, am I still in America, or some foreign dictatorship that presumes to be all-knowing and all-protective of us dumb taxpayers? Cause they alone, are in the know, and surely they alone KNOW what is best for us, not ourselves. But they can't even balance a budget since when? Can't enforce our border laws? Can't fix our roads and bridge infrastructure system? Can't defend the nation against terrorists and missles being fired in our own backyard? Can't take care of the elderly and disabled? Can't get the deficit spending under control? Can't win a war in what, how many years? But they do have the time and can-do attitude to govern our personal liberties to the grave! Here's what I say, Uncle Sam, No Drama Obama, you have enough tragedies and comedies on your plate in front of you, resolve them first, don't pick and choose what you want to, get all your homework done, now, and leave the public alone to decide how we run our private lives, wake up and take the running of the nation seriously, and bring us forward, not backward in time and progress.

[AQUAMAN]

That is quite the statement for a Free and Independent Republic X, you don't like nor envibe in smoking, but, you will support a free trade and legal product to be produced and envibed by the public, even with warning labels. Some so gross in 2013, that may make us just sick! That in itself sells me, and should any other Patriot for the USA. All I say is Obama, Mr. Scamma, please just let us Americans be who we want to be, not a proletariat type, not a fit to your ideology, but a free self, a free individual, that can make these self choices for ourselves, not dictated by any authority self-absorbed in power and goodness, just let us be one, please?

[Willy]

X and Aquaman
You both make valid points regarding this situation. On one hand I think of this as an intrusion into a persons right to choose a legal product to consume without being harassed. On the other hand it's not a bad idea to remind folks about the terrible affects of tobacco use. A tough call.

[XLFD]

Once they do force the tobacco companies to effectively advertise against their own product what will the government do next in their position as our nanny.

Force beer and liquor companies to put cirrhotic livers and drunken bums on the side of their bottles with warning labels indicating that use of the product may make you sleep with someone you may not have found desirable before.

Force Hostess to put pictures of overweight guys and gals in tights and speedos on their Twinkie's boxes, with caution labels saying use of the product may cause any or all of the health problems associated with consuming a lot of calories.

Give me the usual unrelated and trite images I associate with advertisements for these items: beach girls, suave dogs, rugged cowboys, bottles with football helmets on, teenagers having fun, cartoon mascots, et. al.

This is one reason why government will never function as well as private businesses. Keep Pennsylvania Avenue away from Madison Avenue.

[AQUAMAN]

I just peeked in that link with the proposed pics., what a travesty on our freedoms. True X, if this is what they do with cigarettes and get away with it, the rest you mention isn't too far behind us, jmo.

[Willy]

Don't forget that tobacco companies perfected and altered tobacco to be highly addictive and they targeted youthful users so they would be addicted at an early age. These companies sell death. They knew that and did everything in their power to propagate their deadly product. It may be overstepping of Government powers but tobacco companies made their beds and now have to sleep in them. Most everyone takes a sip of alcohol and eats twinkes now and then. Only tabacco has been altered to be profoundly addictive.

[XLFD]

You can't fault the marketing strategy they used if you are a pure capitalist, however. Get them early and keep them puffing until they die an early death.

Thankfully, laws have been created over time to restrict and regulate the business and such practices, while weighing individual rights and their infringements of other's rights. No one may like all the compromises, but overall, it's working, and it is a lot better than what we had for the welfare of smokers and non-smokers.