In case you aren't aware of this, and it's no April Fools joke, today is the day that millions of "select Americans" will be charged a 298% increase in tax on a single commodity -- tobacco.

In an effort to control people based on the governments wants and desires, the tobacco industry and its customers are once again the default go-to guys for raising money in America. After all, our government has not yet deemed tobacco illegal, and they aren't likely to in the near future, but tobacco seems to be the easy target for all the worlds woes when big cash is needed.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, which increases the Federal excise tax against tobacco products, was signed into law on February 4, 2009.

This act is large scale discrimination based on a LEGAL item that certain individuals choose to put in their bodies. All Americans should be terrified by how far the government is willing to go to bend people's will into submission deemed on what they think is good for "the people".

Where are the civil liberty lawyers on this? Why don't I see them barking all over the news at what an injustice this is? Perspective. Priorities. Who knows?

The civil liberty attorneys will jump at the chance to defend homosexual rights to marriage or women rights to abortion because there is publicity in that.

Defend a man (or woman) who wants to smoke a cigarette or chaw on some tobacco after a long day of hard work and there isn't any money to be made. Besides, don't most Americans think its a nasty habit that every other American needs to quit anyway?

The government knew how to win in congress, too. Pit the "nasty habit" versus "children's universal health care" and tobacco farmers and their industry didn't stand a chance. After all, we have to take care of the children, right?!

The blindness of my fellow Americans aggravates me beyond reason.

We sit idly by and don't speak up for tobacco taxes because, well, maybe we think it is a good idea that Uncle Bob quits smoking. But do we ever think maybe Uncle Bob thinks we need to quit eating at McDonald's every week?

The president of the American Heart Association, Dr. Timothy Gardner, recently stated "the tax increase 'is a terrific public health move by the federal government'" but I wonder what he would say to Uncle Bob about the rest of us needing to quit eating fast food.  

The World Health Organization states communicable diseases are not the major causes of death worldwide, but rather chronic diseases such as obesity, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.

I agree tobacco has some cause in those increases but not all. Not even minutely!

So why aren't we taxing all the culprits?

Where is our taxation on sugars, alcohol, fast food, salt, and vegetable oils? 

Doesn't the medical community know that quitters of tobacco gain weight from all the snacking they do to keep from smoking? There goes the obesity rates rising in America again.  

I have an idea: why don't we tax stores and manufacturers that don't give away fresh fruits and veggies or exercise equipment for a steal? I mean, I might be tempted to lose some weight if an apple only cost me a nickel or a Bow-Flex only cost me $15, or even $150, instead of $1500!

The gist of the matter seems like medical lobbying has more money in it these days than tobacco and so medical trumps tobacco. But, the government also knows that, while smokers might cut back at first in retaliation for a tax increase, most die hard smokers aren't gonna quit. That makes average-Joe-Marlboro-man an easy target for gathering money the government needs to further their causes. Plus, stress pushes folks to turn to their habits even more. The recession (aka depression) isn't gonna stop people from smoking and might even prompt them to smoke more. That's just more money in the governments back pocket.

I think all red-blooded smoking Americans should go to Washington and dump their cigarettes and other tobacco products in the Reflecting Pool on the Mall, much like the Boston Tea party revolutionists did, but I guess that would mean spending even more money to buy replacements so is it really worth it to fight back?

Americans, we should be very afraid when these things happen... whether we personally think smoking is a nasty habit or not. Big Brother is watching and taxing at his whim and our favorite nasty habit -- sweet tea, french fries, chocolate, Starbucks lattes, you name it -- could be the next thing on the list! 

In Christ,

Sallie