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As a non-smoker, one would think this did not concern me, but it does.

I blame the tobaco industry. When the first ban on advertising on television was proposed they should have fought it to the bitter end. They never should have given in. That was the first step.

This ban established the legality of banning "commercial" speech. I find it strange to have a consitution that allows pornography, but not some commercial advertising.

The next step was the no smoking areas in restaurants. This should have been fought, but again, they gave in. (The tobaco industries have billions of dollars for advertisement, you are telling me they could not have established teams of lawyers to fight these local ordinances. Well they didn't, and in a short amount of time they went from haveing non-smoking areas to completly banning smoking in the bar and restaurants, and from there to public buildings and now I see they are after public spaces."

I do not see this battle as a "smoking" issue, but as a freedom issue.

We are already hearing the rumbles of how bad fast food is for us, how long will be it be that there is a ban on fast food restaurants from advertising on TV?

The power to tax, is the power to destroy. Once they establish the ability to tax cirgarettes, they will soon begin taxing other items, all of course for our own good.

Our only hope now is that they over reach themselves and there is a policitcal backlash, but I don't have much hope this will occur.

I blame the tobacco industry. When the first ban on advertising on television was proposed they should have fought it to the bitter end. They never should have given in. That was the first step.

Big Tobacco sold us out. And the liquor industry has so many ads on TV and with the YOUTH no less.

Also, you hear the anti-smokers yelling that Big Tobacco is still advertising to our youth! WHERE? And in magazines, it takes TWO! It's the EDITOR who is taking Big T's money and putting the ads in the magazines. Big T isn't holding a GUN to his head! But yet, the anti's are blaming Big T............

The next step was the no smoking areas in restaurants. This should have been fought, but again, they gave in.

The restaurant owners thought it couldn't happen to them. Well....it DID happen. Now we see more restaurant and bar owners standing up and fighting this. It should be up to them, NOT big GOVERNMENT!

I do not see this battle as a "smoking" issue, but as a freedom issue.

THANK you!

There is many layers to this. Too much to go into here. It's all about power and MONEY.