Youth access to tobacco products over the internet has been the latest rallying call for anti-tobacco advocates. Of course, no responsible adult would want their children (or any youth) to purchase tobacco products from any source. The question in my mind is whether underage access over the internet is a serious problem or an exaggerated problem concocted by anti-tobacco advocates to pursue their tobacco elimination agenda. Although not enforced, shipping manufactured cigarettes across a state line (regardless of the buyer age) is currently a violation of Federal Law (the Jenkins Act). In addition to consumer health protection and awareness issues, my primary concerns are related to diminished individual rights, freedoms, liberties, and accountability for responsible citizens. As a former strategic planner in a large corporation, I learned that the only way to fulfill expectations and accomplish goals was to correctly identify the main problem (versus related problems). I also learned from experience that strategic, underlying assumptions for any successfully directed effort (in this case, "Youth Access" regulation) should recognize basic conditions of administrative and financial feasibility for all involved/affected parties (i.e., the Federal Government, State Governments, manufacturers, retailers and consumers). We are further disturbed by certain proposed measures from apparently incompetent, simple-minded government officials that are unconvincingly designed to eliminate underage youth access to tobacco products. (With damaging consequences beyond individual health issues).
Unquestionably, anyone could hire youth to lie and misrepresent their age over the internet in order to acquire tobacco products illegally. (This proves nothing other than manipulative research design). However, buying tobacco products over the internet for personal consumption usually requires a credit card, a relatively large minimum order, and a secure/private location for delivery (especially if COD). All underage individuals I have observed smoking over my lifetime obtained tobacco products from family, friends or local outlets (usually a pack at a time). Nevertheless, some youth may have their own credit cards and may deceitfully misrepresent themselves on the internet as an adult in order to illegally acquire tobacco products. I know that if I caught my children engaged in such dishonest and illegal activity that I would want to punish them. My response to my childrens misdeeds would not be to shut down the store that was victimized by my dishonest children. My children have access to the internet, but not the personal financial credit nor the character weakness (I hope) to pursue such unethical and illegal activity. (My wife and I have always discouraged our children from smoking so they would not possess the desire to purchase tobacco products to begin with). Where is the individual accountability for this dishonest and deceitful activity? Where is the parental supervision and responsibility for these mischievous unethical youth? Are incompetent, petulant, and vindictive elements in our government again punishing the masses because they lack the fortitude/capability to hold people accountable for their own behavior? Is personal accountability for individual actions, at the expense of the honest/responsible majority, again so easily dismissed? My concern is the ultimate cost to society when we destroy the characteristics that made our country great in the past. Can we be free without individual accountability?
Many of the proposed measures to eliminate youth access that we have reviewed would severely impinge on the rights, freedoms and liberties of the average/responsible American adult on the internet. (I understand that the ultimate objective of the anti-tobacco fanatics is to eliminate all tobacco sales). As our Country evaluates important issues related to homeland security, do we really require superfluous strong arm tactics that smell of fascist totalitarianism and socialist protectionism? Is now the time for our Country to behave in a manner that may be perceived as tyrannical and offensive to seventy-five million Americans who smoke responsibly? Some suggestions by these simple minded bureaucrats are so naive and devoid of common sense that I can not help but wonder if they have ever held a real job with practical life experiences (other than sucking the government teat). Have they ever had to produce anything with their labor? Have they ever had to produce enough to support employees and their families? What pathetic incompetent mind would conclude that requiring oppressive age verification techniques would resolve the theoretical problem of youth access? Certainly, dishonest and committed youth would submit fictitious age verification documents. We have even seen suggestions from grossly incompetent government buffoons who think harassing all customers with evening phone calls for age verification would be a solution. (As if anyone would want to miss attending their honest/responsible childrens evening activities or want to come in to work late at night to interrupt someones dinner with some insipid age verification question). How about the suggestion that all shipments post prominent labels identifying the package contents as tobacco? This would accomplish nothing other than cause massive product theft, shipment destruction by anti-tobacco fanatics, and harassment of honest/responsible tobacco consumers. How utterly dim-witted and lacking of real world experiences can these absurd people be? What will the average hard working, blue-collar American conclude about the government officials who suggest these ridiculous notions? Are these desperate actions unreasonable, irrational, and irresponsible? Or, could these shallow, inept efforts reveal a transparent desire to eliminate tobacco consumption for everyone? Are our supposed "leaders" destroying our children, citizens, businesses, communities, economy and country as an unintended consequence? Are these bungling and ineffectual (and un-American) government buffoons sowing the seeds of destruction of our American way of life? It is not just a health issue they are attacking; it is an issue of an individual rights and responsibilities.
When I sat down to write my opinion regarding the youth access to tobacco products issue, I initially hesitated to use emotionally charged, disparaging and ungentlemanly descriptions of government officials such as "incompetent buffoons." But the excessively heavy handed and impractical proposals some government representatives have spewed reflect a level of ineptitude that must be pilloried and denigrated in the court of public opinion. Could these apparently ineffectual and impractical (and yes incompetent) actions possibly reveal more of an agenda to punish tobacco consumers and retailers (and to eliminate all tobacco consumption) rather than to regulate youth access? We have considered numerous solutions to the potential risk of youth access to tobacco products over the internet and through the mail, and none are as onerous to individual rights and responsibilities reviewed above. I also have no doubt that some of our "leaders" may have good intentions as they attempt (through big brother government) to construct what in their minds is a utopian society. Nevertheless, from my perspective their actions are more like a rotting fish in the moonlight - they shine but still stink.
When I grew up my father taught me to study and work hard, and that I would be rewarded for my accomplishments and dedication. I now tell my children to study and work hard so they will have the skills to lead or leave our country if necessary. I do not believe that our Country as we know it will survive long on our current path (other than in our fond memories). Pity the youth for they know not what they have lost. ......and as one of my best friends Tom would say, "Now tell me what you really think."
Unquestionably, anyone could hire youth to lie and misrepresent their age over the internet in order to acquire tobacco products illegally. (This proves nothing other than manipulative research design). However, buying tobacco products over the internet for personal consumption usually requires a credit card, a relatively large minimum order, and a secure/private location for delivery (especially if COD). All underage individuals I have observed smoking over my lifetime obtained tobacco products from family, friends or local outlets (usually a pack at a time). Nevertheless, some youth may have their own credit cards and may deceitfully misrepresent themselves on the internet as an adult in order to illegally acquire tobacco products. I know that if I caught my children engaged in such dishonest and illegal activity that I would want to punish them. My response to my childrens misdeeds would not be to shut down the store that was victimized by my dishonest children. My children have access to the internet, but not the personal financial credit nor the character weakness (I hope) to pursue such unethical and illegal activity. (My wife and I have always discouraged our children from smoking so they would not possess the desire to purchase tobacco products to begin with). Where is the individual accountability for this dishonest and deceitful activity? Where is the parental supervision and responsibility for these mischievous unethical youth? Are incompetent, petulant, and vindictive elements in our government again punishing the masses because they lack the fortitude/capability to hold people accountable for their own behavior? Is personal accountability for individual actions, at the expense of the honest/responsible majority, again so easily dismissed? My concern is the ultimate cost to society when we destroy the characteristics that made our country great in the past. Can we be free without individual accountability?
Many of the proposed measures to eliminate youth access that we have reviewed would severely impinge on the rights, freedoms and liberties of the average/responsible American adult on the internet. (I understand that the ultimate objective of the anti-tobacco fanatics is to eliminate all tobacco sales). As our Country evaluates important issues related to homeland security, do we really require superfluous strong arm tactics that smell of fascist totalitarianism and socialist protectionism? Is now the time for our Country to behave in a manner that may be perceived as tyrannical and offensive to seventy-five million Americans who smoke responsibly? Some suggestions by these simple minded bureaucrats are so naive and devoid of common sense that I can not help but wonder if they have ever held a real job with practical life experiences (other than sucking the government teat). Have they ever had to produce anything with their labor? Have they ever had to produce enough to support employees and their families? What pathetic incompetent mind would conclude that requiring oppressive age verification techniques would resolve the theoretical problem of youth access? Certainly, dishonest and committed youth would submit fictitious age verification documents. We have even seen suggestions from grossly incompetent government buffoons who think harassing all customers with evening phone calls for age verification would be a solution. (As if anyone would want to miss attending their honest/responsible childrens evening activities or want to come in to work late at night to interrupt someones dinner with some insipid age verification question). How about the suggestion that all shipments post prominent labels identifying the package contents as tobacco? This would accomplish nothing other than cause massive product theft, shipment destruction by anti-tobacco fanatics, and harassment of honest/responsible tobacco consumers. How utterly dim-witted and lacking of real world experiences can these absurd people be? What will the average hard working, blue-collar American conclude about the government officials who suggest these ridiculous notions? Are these desperate actions unreasonable, irrational, and irresponsible? Or, could these shallow, inept efforts reveal a transparent desire to eliminate tobacco consumption for everyone? Are our supposed "leaders" destroying our children, citizens, businesses, communities, economy and country as an unintended consequence? Are these bungling and ineffectual (and un-American) government buffoons sowing the seeds of destruction of our American way of life? It is not just a health issue they are attacking; it is an issue of an individual rights and responsibilities.
When I sat down to write my opinion regarding the youth access to tobacco products issue, I initially hesitated to use emotionally charged, disparaging and ungentlemanly descriptions of government officials such as "incompetent buffoons." But the excessively heavy handed and impractical proposals some government representatives have spewed reflect a level of ineptitude that must be pilloried and denigrated in the court of public opinion. Could these apparently ineffectual and impractical (and yes incompetent) actions possibly reveal more of an agenda to punish tobacco consumers and retailers (and to eliminate all tobacco consumption) rather than to regulate youth access? We have considered numerous solutions to the potential risk of youth access to tobacco products over the internet and through the mail, and none are as onerous to individual rights and responsibilities reviewed above. I also have no doubt that some of our "leaders" may have good intentions as they attempt (through big brother government) to construct what in their minds is a utopian society. Nevertheless, from my perspective their actions are more like a rotting fish in the moonlight - they shine but still stink.
When I grew up my father taught me to study and work hard, and that I would be rewarded for my accomplishments and dedication. I now tell my children to study and work hard so they will have the skills to lead or leave our country if necessary. I do not believe that our Country as we know it will survive long on our current path (other than in our fond memories). Pity the youth for they know not what they have lost. ......and as one of my best friends Tom would say, "Now tell me what you really think."