Posted by
Tony Guinta on Monday, June 22, 2009 3:42:32 PM
Obama passed the "Kids Tobacco Legislation" bill, which on the surface
looks nice. Tobacco is stinky, it kills, and we all have to protect the
children. But regardless of how we feel about tobacco and protecting
our children, we need to look at the consequences of such legislation.
Note: I am not a smoker, so this isn't about my personal preference.
I'm concerned with the fact that this is yet another area where the
government is over-reaching.
Obama tied this bill into
healthcare reform by pointing out that illness due to smoking will
raise healthcare costs for all of us. This is where we need to be
concerned, since this is just the start, folks. First, it will be
smokers and I guarantee next will be obesity. Yes, next they'll say
that they need to stop you from eating McDonalds and drinking soda
because it will raise healthcare costs for all taxpayers. After that,
it'll be alcohol.
I know, some of you still aren't convinced.
You think that cigarettes, junk food, and booze are evil and they
should be banned. But sooner or later they're coming for something you
do care about, because they know what's best for you.
The
government
is not full of a bunch of geniuses who know what's best for
us. They are a bunch of regular schmoes like the rest of us, except
they
are wielding power that's not even granted to them through the
constitution. This isn't just about Democrats -- Republicans are also
guilty of being power-grabbers, just trying to control different aspects of our lives.
Let people make choices for
themselves. Some people will make bad ones, but most will make good
ones. The problem is that by having universal healthcare, we're now
tying everyone together more so that your vices that wouldn't normally
effect me, now will via my tax bill.
We need more choice
regarding healthcare -- not less. We need personal policies that we can
purchase from any state and keep with us from job to job. I am in favor
of having reasonable safety-net programs for those who can't afford
coverage, but I am against raising costs and reducing services for
everyone in the name of "fairness".