I get your point J Soshae, but I see it a little differently. I'm as libertarian as you can find and any govt infringement on my rights gets my hackle up. But I'm not sure rights are at stake here. I remember back in the early 70s trying to get my dad to quit cigarettes because of the health risks presented in anti smoking PSAs. I'm not sure that cigarette smokers lost their rights since then. If you are thinking of limitations on public smoking, that ship sailed a long time ago. In fact, there were many times in the past I've sat in outdoor bars or resturants surrounded by cigarette smokers and been forbidden to smoke a pipe or cigar. The only difference after over 30 years is that the cigarette smokers are gone. If you are thinking about increased taxes, well that ship sailed as well, especially with cigars. I do think taxes in general are an infringement on rights, but that is a bigger issue than tobacco. The way I see it, the only thing that can happen from here on out is an increase in price from increased taxes. That is inevitable as the govt sees it as a source of revenue and there is not a large enough number of smokers to make it a political issue of importance. So we will be paying the high prices the rest of the world pays in a handful of years. Will tobacco ever be illegal? Maybe. But as long as people are willing to pay $8+ for a $1 pack of cigarettes the loss of tax revenue would be too great.
Its just my opinion, but I don't see a threat in this sort of story. We do need to keep lobbying against tax increases and vote for tobacco friendly politicians. But we are far too late to correct public opinion.
Mike.