H.R. 1256

H.R. 1256

 

 

To protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products, to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes.

 

This is the Anti Smoking bill recently signed by our new President.  Although I wonder what the ‘other purposes’ are and  how the federal employees’ retirement system benefits are, we probably all agree that preventing our nation’s youth from starting the habit is a good thing.  What happens to the youth in the rest of the world I suspect is not a concern of most of those involved in this bill back here where we grow the stuff.  Smoking rates in other parts of the world are as high as 70% among males.

 

This is also an opportunity to continue to attack the vicious George Bush who when he wasn’t out starting unjust wars, was at home blocking important legislation like this bill.

 

Here is a recent quote…

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By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

 

“Fortunately, he (Obama) understands the damage that cigarette smoking can do to Americans. And -- unlike former President George W. Bush -- Obama is willing to sign a bill making it more difficult for the industry to attract young people to the harmful habit.”

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Bush either wanted kids to get hooked or he didn’t want to sign a bill that took care of ‘other purposes’ and ‘Federal Employees’ Retirement.’  Most I am sure will go with the former when it comes to the evil Bush, who by the way is now a retired Federal Employee himself.

 

The thing that concerns me the most however is that the bill apparently will reduce the nicotine level of cigarettes by 50% among other things like telling kids to keep away with new warnings.  If they reduce the nicotine by 50%, won’t smokers just buy more cigarettes adding more tax revenue to the government’s coffers?  

 

Duh, are you beginning to see why the Federal Employees Retirement System is included in the bill?  This bill will pretty much double the tax revenue on cigarette sales to people who will try to keep their nicotine level stable.

 

All of the other things that cause cancer, heart disease, etc. will most likely double here in America under this new law. 

 

Perhaps they should double the nicotine level in cigarettes so those already hooked can buy less of the horrible things, and make it illegal for children to buy, and put warnings on things like, celery, carrot sticks and granola bars.

 

Reviews

[Kathryn Star, Shine!]

Ironic isn't it! I don't know what to say because I haven't read and researched the bill itself, but if reducing the amount of nicotine is going to help then it's a good thing, however your point that people will just buy more to feed the addiction, then all the money goes back to the government ((double perhaps Triple)) and again, they win again. Good arguement!

[hyancynthstofeedthysoul]

I cannot remember the first time I smoked one. I can remember before I started school I would twist a long green and smoke it.
I quit when I was 35. My eight year old daughter climbed on my lap and said, "Do you have to smoke." I said, "No, I could quit if I wanted to." She said, "Then why don't you."
That was my last smoke.

Here is a little doggerel.
Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette
Written by Merle Travis and Tex Williams
Now I'm a feller with a heart of gold
And the ways of a gentleman I've been told
The kind of guy that wouldn't even harm a flea

But if me and a certain character met
The guy that invented the cigarette
I'd murder that son-of-a-gun in the first degree

It ain't cuz I don't smoke myself
And I don't reckon that it'll harm your health
Smoked all my life and I ain't dead yet

But nicotine slaves are all the same
At a pettin' party or a poker game
Everything gotta stop while they have a cigarette

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette

Now in a game of chance the other night
Old Dame Fortune was a-doin' me right
The kings and the queens just kept on comin' round

And I got a full and I bet 'em high
But my bluff didn't work on a certain guy
He just kept on raisin' and layin' that money down

Now he'd raise me and I'd raise him
I sweated blood, gotta sink or swim
He finally called and didn't even raise the bet

So I said "aces full Pops how 'bout you?"
He said "I'll tell you in a minute or two
But right now, I gotta have me a cigarette"

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hates to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette

(Ah, smoke it! Hah! Yes! Yes! Yes!)

The other night I had a date
With the cutest little girl in the United States
A high-bred, uptown, fancy little dame

She loved me and it seemed to me
That things were 'bout like they oughta be
So hand in hand we strolled down lover's lane

She was oh so far from a cake of ice
And our smoochin' party was goin' nice
So help me cats I believe I'd be there yet

But I give her a kiss and a little squeeze
And she said, "ah, Marty, excuse me please
I just gotta have me another, cigarette"

And she said, smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette