More trouble for pipe smokers

[Anonymous]

If this passes we will be in big trouble bill:Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, H.R. 1256
and a lot of people will be out of work so I would write my leaders and let them know you dont like it


http://pipesmokersintelligencer.org/journal/?p=23

 

[kilted1]

Bad news indeed :evil:

 

[john-in-kc]

Say goodbye to aromatic blends ...

 

[Doc Manhattan]

It's a wide-sweeping bill, but the editorial's author makes some questionable conjectures IMHO--e.g. reading a provision labeled "SPECIAL RULE FOR CIGARETTES" as applying to pipe tobacco, "cigarettes" being clearly defined earlier in the bill with the traditional FTC meaning. And the author's assertion that the supervisory body could "decide that all tobacco products must be eliminated" is misleading at best--he's describing a theoretical scenario where the FDA rules that no tobacco product *currently* meets their guidelines. (My guess is the bigger cig producers are already formulating "FDA-approved" versions of all their blends, in the event this passes--they'll be ready to flood the market in any contingency.)

But don't take my word for it:
1. Read the current version of the bill yourself (found here on the THOMAS database.) It's wicked long, but that's all the more reason not to trust anyone's summary of it (least of all mine.)

2. Check how your Congresscritters voted on this here.

3. Raise merry hell with your Senator.

 

[shootist51]

I guess this means that the FDA finally has a handle on the increased incidence of food poisoning and all the pistachios are now safe.

It would be nice if government agencies did the job they formed for before nosing into new areas of responsibility.
shootist51

 

[glpease]

Of course, the idiot Waxman is behind this. And, of course, the thing is earmarked to the hilt. And, of course, it's so long and convoluted that there's not a snowcone's chance in Death Valley that any of the mindless fools we've "elected" to political office have actually READ the thing prior to voting on it, let alone understood it.

And, of course, it's not being opposed by the Big Tobacco lobbyists. Why? Because Big Tobacco will survive it, whilst their little competitors wither and die. And, your little pipe tobacco companies will die alongside them, but, we're all too little to matter to those who will simply consider us as collateral casualties.

This is a very scary thing. It truly, if allowed to pass, could spell the death of boutique pipe tobaccos. Simply put, there simply is not enough money in our segment of the market to comply with the FDA requirements. And, if the FDA get their claws into it, compliance will almost certainly become increasingly difficult. Having experienced this stuff first hand in a previous life, I'm quite certain I don't want to go back there.

I'm starting to think that a suitable vacation spot for pretty much most of our "elected representatives" would be a lovely beach-side resort on Bikini Atoll.

 

[kilted1]

Very sad indeed Greg, I like your selection for a vacation spot for our elected officials though. Summer is nice in Chernobyl and winter at Bikini Atoll :affraid:

 

[Mikem]

....................I'm starting to think that a suitable vacation spot for pretty much most of our "elected representatives" would be a lovely beach-side resort on Bikini Atoll.

I was on Bikini Atoll back in the early eighties when we had to evacuate the Marshallese because they found out that the place still glowed in the dark from all the tests. You are right it would be the perfect place for most of our elected officials. Maybe the radiation would start growing some kind of growth in their collective heads...................like a brain.

 

[Tennessee Dave]

Yep....the Pleasure police are at it again.

 

[Dubbya]

Yep....the Pleasure police are at it again.

You don't listen to the General, do you?

This really is a sad state of affairs. The same people who think that this is a lovely idea are probably the same people who think that the Toyota Prius is good for the environment. (It isn't)

 

[Justpipes]

Least ye forget that a majority voted for a government to take care of them like children rather than protect their liberties, knowing full well that liberty (or should I say lack there of) would be the price.

 

[TallSmoke]

Sigh. All the while the peasants clap their hands for their king and cry, "More! More! Bravo!"

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure we could discuss politics here. But, people want to keep voting a certain way...fine. When tobacco is so expensive that only people in office can afford it, don't blame me. Keep voting for liberal and socialist, by all means.


The only solace that I take is the locals here, that voted without knowing issues and are now scratching their heads because they can't afford to smoke their Bugler any more.

 

[morleysson]

I wish that the answer was as simple as "left and right", but, this bill has a broader support than I would have ever believed. Clearly, many of the affirmative votes come from those "representatives" who would curry favor with as many diverse constituences as possible, the 'casting the net broadly' philosophy. Self-preservation, not representation, is the constant motivation.

For an outstanding discussion of the issues swirling about this bill, I have been reading the PipeSmoker Intelligencer, a balanced and thoughtful discussion (BTW):

http://pipesmokersintelligencer.org/journal/?p=23

 

[Justpipes]

Thanks for the link Bob!

 

[pipetongue1]

Yes Bob, Thank you, Ken :tongue:

 

[HoosierPuffer]

Nothing like painting something (like smoking) with such a broad stroke that you cause unintended consequences.

Fear the government that does not fear its people.

History is repeating itself.

 

[Justpipes]

Haven't you heard? The Constitution is flawed and the people are suppose to fear the government! Our founding fathers had a blind spot and didn't know what they were doing when they penned the Constitution as an instrument of liberty, and didn't give the judicial branch the power to seize wealth for redistribution as they see fit. Throw off the blinders and open your eyes men!!!

 

[HoosierPuffer]

Like it or not, the constitution only means something if people care enough to defend what it means.

If 99% of the people in this nation decide to ignore part of the constitution, it doesn't make it right, but they have by default won since their view is allowed to prevail.

If 60% of the people in this nation disregard part of the constitution, it doesn't make it right, but if nobody will stand up to them, it won't matter.

People no longer have the intellectual honesty and integrity to submit to the constitution - whether they agree with it or not - and change it the right way.

 

[wintermute]

And, of course, it's not being opposed by the Big Tobacco lobbyists. Why? Because Big Tobacco will survive it, whilst their little competitors wither and die. And, your little pipe tobacco companies will die alongside them, but, we're all too little to matter to those who will simply consider us as collateral casualties.

This is a very scary thing. It truly, if allowed to pass, could spell the death of boutique pipe tobaccos. Simply put, there simply is not enough money in our segment of the market to comply with the FDA requirements. And, if the FDA get their claws into it, compliance will almost certainly become increasingly difficult. Having experienced this stuff first hand in a previous life, I'm quite certain I don't want to go back there.

Well said! So much for helping out small business! So much for my fledgling pipe smoking hobby! This is just another bill in a long string of vague legislation designed to be interpreted however the gov't sees fit.