Senate OKs tobacco regulation bill

[dgriffin]

Senate OKs tobacco regulation bill


Reporting from Washington -- Capping a half-century battle with the tobacco industry, the Senate today overwhelmingly approved legislation that would give the federal government far-reaching powers to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of cigarettes.

The legislation, which was approved 79 to 17, would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate ingredients in tobacco products and ban the marketing of "light" cigarettes. In a bid to deter new smokers -- especially among children -- the bill imposes strict new limits on full-color advertising for cigarettes and requires packs to carry larger warning labels.

The bill is expected to be passed unchanged by the House and sent to President Obama for his signature as early as next week.

www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-tobacco12-2009jun12,0,7112552.story


It isn't the first time this week I wished I knew how to spell the plural of Dufus, but I'd use that word to describe our "leaders." Without entering into the debate regarding the government limiting lawful activities, I'd like to say that prohibiting tobacco companies from labeling their cigarettes "light" or using color ads (b+w and 2 color are OK), sounds like the feeblest way imaginable to take the stick to smoking. Reminds me of the New York State Legislature and their inane bills. This stuff is straight from the back of the horse. (Thank you, William Least Heat Moon.)

[gski]

They've done everything but ban them. Why? Cause they're making money off them with the taxes they collect and too many other politicians have states that grow tobacco. You are correct, another "inane" bill. More government restrictions.

Who knows, Clippers Corner could be next! Let's hope not!

[clarencebunsen]

Plurals of words ending in -us: depends on the origin of the word. If it is a Latin root (stimulus, alumnus, cactus) the plural is -i (stumuli, alumni, cacti).

For Greek derived words the plural is sometimes the same as the singular and sometimes -uses. Sometimes you have to look it up. I think some Greek words may have been Latinized before they were Anglicized, but I'm not a forensic linguist.

So perhaps the plural of dufus is dufi or dufuses or dufus. Is the feminine dufae?

[clarencebunsen]

I overlooked the obvious. the plural of dufus is NY State Senate.

[dgriffin]

Correct on your second try!

[Clipper]

Larger warning labels? What the hell is the object of that? Is it for the visually impaired, but not yet blind? I would wager that most who buy cigarettes already know the hazards of smoking, and the label will have no effect on sales or on the number of people smoking. DUH!

I caught only part of a news comment this morning that said something about the legislation containing some special language pertaining to menthol cigarettes because " a high percentage of blacks smoke menthol cigarettes". Hey, maybe a high percentage of oriental people smoke rasberry flavored cigarettes, I don't know, but is that not about the stupidest thing you have ever heard? Uh, is it not the tobacco that kills? I don't know of anyone that has gotten lung cancer from menthol. They usually are suspected to have gotten it from tar and nicotine aren't they?

Any dumbass that wants to kill themselves with cigarette smoke is not going to be deterred by advertising, or by who regulates the industry. I stupidly puffed away for over 40 years, but didn't stop because of advertising or regulation. I stopped because I could not climb a set of stairs and breathe when I got to he top. Hell, the President of the United States smokes. When he leaves office (in 2012 I hope) the whole damn white house will have to be painted and aired out, along with Air Force One and all the limos, or else they will smell like the bottom of an ashtray when the new president moves in.

Who was the last president that anyone can remember that smoked? I can't think of any that I remember seeing with a butt in their mouth. Clinton had cigars in his office, but we ALL know what he used THOSE for, haha. Damn sure don't want to wrap your lips around one of Billy's cigars, LOL.

The only way to regulate tobacco in a fashion that will eliminate the health hazards of smoking is to ban it completely and make it illegal to smoke or possess tobacco or cigarettes, and we won't see that in OUR lifetime.

I just shake my head. We now will have to fund more folks for the food and drug administration, so that they might be able to accomplish their new added duties of "regulating" the cigarette industry. Just another way for agencies and government to justify adding, instead of subtracting government jobs and funding.