COMMENTARY | On November 7, 2011 Judge Richard J. Leon blocked a law by the Obama administration that required graphic image warnings to be put on cigarette packs. His reason for this is, “it compels speech in violation of the First Amendment. In other words, it would force the tobacco companies into anti -smoking advocacy.
I have to say, I find this new attempt by the Obama administration to control very offensive. Yes, I am a smoker. I don’t smoke a lot; probably one pack for every three or four days. I know that smoking cigarettes is harmful to my health, and have known it since I first started smoking. I see the warning label on my pack of cigarettes every time I reach for a cigarette. I can read, I can understand what I read, and I don’t need or want to look at offensive images.
Outside of this latest attempt by the Obama administration to control people’s lives, I am astounded at what must be a colossal waste of time and money by our government just to get graphic images on cigarette packs.
In this country we have an alarming number of obese and overweight people, with one in three of our children considered overweight or obese. I can’t help but think that even a portion of the money the government is spending trying to force graphic pictures on cigarette packs, would be better spent helping those who can’t afford it, into gym memberships and Boys and Girls club memberships to increase their level of activity.
We have approximately 3 million homeless people in the United States, not to mention the millions of people out of work. If the government has so much time and money to spend, it would sure be appreciated in this area.
If the government wants to be in the people forcing business, why not force health insurance companies to cover their customers with assistance programs to help them quit smoking? The way it stands right now, health insurance companies do not cover any sort of smoking cessation program. I know; I tried.
My doctor gave me a prescription for medication to help ease the affects of nicotine withdrawal. The problem is, my insurance company doesn’t cover smoking cessation. My doctor informed me that no insurance company does. I had to pay close to $200, and that’s just for one month.I found $5 every three to four days much more affordable than $200 a pop.
In my opinion, smoking cessation help would be much more effective in helping people to quit smoking than graphic pictures on a cigarette pack