Smoking has become a hot-button issue of late. Cities like New York and states like Ohio have made it illegal to do a legal activity on privately-owned property, under the pretext of doing it “for the greater good.”

Now, the House of Representatives joins these “smoke free” locations:

A new rule banning the sale of tobacco products on House of Representatives grounds has got Capitol Hill smokers — we hate to say it — smoking mad.

“The health nannies’ arbitrary ban on a legal and heavily taxed product bodes ill for the future marketing of Mountain Dew and MoonPies,” said Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter, an infuriated Republican, and smoker, from Michigan.

“This is silly ‘feel good’ crap by a bunch of do-gooders,” barked a high-level Democratic staffer (also a smoker). “We should be worried about the housing crisis, the unemployment rate and the national debt instead of making staffers walk four blocks to buy a pack of smokes.”

[...]

To some, the new ban carries a whiff of hypocrisy. “If we are really worried about people’s health, why are we still selling triple espressos, double bacon cheeseburgers and ice cream?” asked Hayden Rogers, chief of staff for Rep. Heath Shuler, a Democrat who hails from the tobacco state of North Carolina. “We all make serious decisions every day with real consequences, yet adults on the Hill are not allowed to decide for themselves whether or not to buy tobacco.”

Even if you are a non-smoker, even if you are happy about the smoking bans, you should still sit up and take notice. The government has no business telling private citizens how to live their life. The government has no business telling business owners what legal activity they should allow in their establishments.

New York City has already made trans fats illegal. How long before the “we know what’s best for you” politicians come after your coffee, your porterhouse, and your potato chips?

Use The Mailbox to write your lawmakers at all levels. Tell them that such encroachment upon our liberties is unacceptable.

Full article here: Lamakers, staff pan smoke-free Congress