With the overwhelming response of Congress to pass the US tobacco regulation bill, it gets me thinking: "What won't they regulate?"

So many things are done "for the children", so it comes as no surprise to me that the tobacco bill talks about banning even more ads that are targeting school children. What? When? And Where? I have never seen an advertisement that when I looked at it I said, "Screw my lungs and health, that is awesome!". (Where is Tony Hawk when you need him?)

But thanks to Congress' increasing distance from reality, we now will have FDA regulated cigarettes.

"Tobacco is such a serious and compelling public health problem, and we really do feel by being able to regulate tobacco and tobacco products we can reduce the burden of disease and help promote stronger smoking cessation efforts," Hamburg told reporters.

So you need this bill so you can then stop people from smoking? How about drinking? How about eating fatty steaks? In the US 936,923 people died in 2001 from Major Cardiovascular Diseases. Seems like the next "save me" bill that we need.

The facts are these:

• To non-smokers, like myself, smoking is annoying.
• Smoking is dangerous to your health and increases risks
• Smoking is a turn off to a lot of people, decreasing your chances of relationships

But at the end of the day, smoking is the SMOKERS choice. They know it is dangerous, they know it can be addictive, they know it can eventually kill them. But you know what I do when I am confronted with a smoker? I move! I cross the street, I don't eat at that restaurant, I don't frequent that bar. And I support establishments that have non-smoking policies BY THEIR OWN CHOICE.*

A year or so back, President Bush vetoed a bill to tax cigarettes and give the money to children's insurance. This was another overstep of Congresses boundaries taxing a "bad" thing and giving it to a "good" thing. I supported President Bush's veto. Obama has expanded this program.

"Critics like Siegel said the bill did not go far enough.

Lawmakers could have banned nicotine as well as popular mint-flavored menthol cigarettes, raised the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 and restricted sales to certain stores, much like alcohol, Siegel said." (emphasis mine)

I'm sick and tired of government's implied duty to save me from myself.

Well smokers, enjoy your shitty light cigarettes or go online and find some real Mexican brand cigarettes. At least until they finish regulating the internet.

*Side note:
Government should have no ability to regulate private businesses to stop allowing patrons to smoke in their establishments. Also, the government should have no ability to force a private business to make patrons do anything. It is up to the business owner and that is all. In a public/government owned building or situation, by all means.

If you want to see a change, then give tax benefits to business that allow a completely non-smoking environment.