A Letter to The Morning Call Regarding E-Cigarettes

By Caomhin

Recently I have begun using E-Cigarettes as a substitute for traditional cigarettes.  Ironic, then, that the week I start using the device, the FDA comes out guns blazing against them.  An article entitled, “e-Hazard to Your Health,” appeared in today’s Morning Call (Allentown, PA).  I decided to write the author a letter:

Dear Veronica,

After reading your article regarding E-Cigarettes in the Morning Call I decided to write to you to express my opinion on the matter.  I recently purchased an E-Cigarette (approximately one week ago) from another vendor.  I have read an article about the FDA’s concerns regarding the E-Cigarette and I would like to share with you some feedback from a user of this product.

I have noticed that as I have used the E-Cigarette more my consumption of traditional cigarettes has decreased by approximately 50%.  I notice that I take less drags from the E-Cigarette than I would from a normal cigarette when I experience a nicotine craving.  Physically, I have felt an improvement in my lung capacity and also have not felt as congested nor have I coughed in the morning as I have with traditional cigarettes.  I would consider this to be beneficial.

I am not qualified to make a scientific statement by any means, I can only relate how I physically feel.   I am quite aware that smoking any product is a risk to my health, but as a consumer free to choose and of my own free will, I have assumed this risk.  I am hoping that over time I will be able to fully switch over to the E-Cigarette, possibly as a means to quit (some manufacturers even offer no-nicotine cartridges which can then, I believe, be used cessation product if you choose to do so) but most definitely to reduce my consumption of cigarettes.

As I am sure you are aware, a cigarette addiction is difficult to deal with and indeed extremely hard to break.  The government has continually expressed sentiments that it would like to help people stop smoking, and I believe there are many who say that and truly wish to help.  However, as I’m sure you are aware there are a few developments that I wish you would have considered in your article, or that you may want to consider in a future article.

The first, is that in the legal case between Smoking Everywhere and the FDA, the lawsuit was filed back in April and key to the case being presented by Smoking Everywhere was the fact that the FDA had no authority to regulate tobacco.  That has subsequently changed as a result of legislation earlier this year.  Also included in that legislation was a massive tax increase on tobacco products in order to generate revenue for the Federal Government.  The use of E-Cigarettes, which are not subject to the federal taxes under the provisions of this law, results in a loss of revenue to the Government, which makes them biased in nature when deciding on this matter.  It is a fully informed consumer who should be allowed to make decisions and not be subject to decisions made by a party who stands to gain financially by impairing the competiveness of another entity.

I understand that cigarette smokers are not exactly sympathetic figures in our society.  Once again, however, I would like to remind people that nicotine is highly addictive.  I find it condescending then, that public figures express statements of sympathy to smokers, while raising the taxes on smokers, who  by the addictive nature of the products, are forced to pay these ever higher prices due to the nature of the addiction.  I am sure many are aware that these are also the tactics of narcotic drug dealers, who victimize those who have fallen victim to addiction.  I do not find honesty, then, in the statements of those who say they wish to help smokers quit using the products, knowing that the individuals are addicted to the products and will, of course, be forced into paying more and more money while at the same time providing no material services to helping people quit.  If this were the case, would it not make more sense that the most sizeable portion of the tobacco taxes go into services for smokers, to help them quit, to provide for their needs, rather than to be steered away from them?

I  would also like to make notice of highly disturbing article I had read in another Pennsylvania newspaper online.  I do not recall which newspaper this was, but it spoke of the budget crisis in Pennsylvania and with regard to those facing the impeding prospect of losing their unemployment benefits as the maximum time frame looms.  I can only imagine the hardships facing these families are facing, and I understand that in this economic environment this can happen to any of us.  I found it extremely disheartening and callous that a Pennsylvania official felt necessary to state that the Commonwealth will be hit hard if these people were to stop buying tobacco, alcohol, and lottery tickets resulting in an additional drop in revenue to the Treasury.

I would like to thank you for your work covering this story and presenting the opinions of both  sides in your discourse.  From a user of both the E-Cigarette and traditional cigarettes, I simply wanted to convey my thoughts on this matter.  I intend to keep using the E-Cigarette and to at some point use them as a complete substitute to traditional cigarettes while moving to ever lower doses of nicotine until I am not using nicotine at all.  It is not the manufacturer’s intention of these products for them to be used as a cessation device, however, I intend to try to use it as such.  Should I fail in stopping the use of nicotine all together, I believe this to be at least somewhat less dangerous than traditional cigarettes.  Should I succeed, then I will be extremely happy in having achieved this goal.  I will continue to strongly urge people who have not smoked to never do so, to remain tobacco free.  As for me, I am dedicated to trying to stop smoking altogether by using whatever means are available to me, an informed, educated consumer.

Has the Administration Gone Insane?

By Caomhin

I don’t think the Administration is stupid, or oblivious, so I’m starting to wonder just how far disconnected they are from reality.  The word insane comes to mind, but that’s rather harsh I suppose, however, this type of spin is pure desperation, and if it’s not, well then, the only thing it can reasonably be is craziness.  Have a better idea?  I’m all ears.  Allow me to introduce you to the new White House fairy tale as you anxiously await your unicorn to arrive:

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told The New York Times Obama intends to use the news conference as a “six-month report card,” to talk about “how we rescued the economy from the worst recession and the legislative agenda moving forward, including health care and energy legislation.

Really, they think they rescued the economy?  How, by blowing the deficit up to astronomical proportions, the fact that they’ve readily admitted that unemployment is going to keep growing, that both producer and consumer price indexes are already rising, housing prices keep falling, and so on?  That’s a RESUCE?  Seriously?  How far in the tank can the media be?  They can’t possibly spin this and have any shred of decency left.  On the plus side, we all know they’re full of it, so maybe the media will finally show it’s hand in full and the public will see just what it is they’re doing.  Think this is an isolated statement?  Nope.  Get ready for this to be their new re-occurring theme despite it being completely, and utterly, false:

“it is becoming increasingly clear that the economy is no longer on the brink of disaster.”

That according to Obama budget director Peter Orszag, who is incapable of producing budget numbers before Congress leaves for recess.  Also, he says that it’s consensus that private economists are saying that the US will have positive economic growth by the end of the year.  Yet almost all indicators I’ve seen and all reports I’ve seen equates to the possibility of a slight uptick in GDP and no reduction in unemployment until 2010.  Don’t think for a minute that they don’t know that everyone is going to get hit with a tax increase in 2010 unless they extend the Bush Tax Cuts.  The money that will be leaving the private sector will also harm the economy right about the time that it’s supposed to be recovering and we still have not yet figured out a way to pay the $787 billion Obama spent on his “Stimulus” alone.  He’s spent a great, great deal more than that already.  That’s not saving anything at all, let alone an entire economic system.

This is all about politics to them and that is unforgiveable.  These are people’s lives we’re talking about and all they can do is lie and say that they’ve “saved” the economy?  Are they on drugs?  This is beyond dishonest.  Obama even went on TV tonight to spew this garbage while telling you that because his policies on economics have went so well that you should trust your healthcare, your life, to be in his hands and the hands of the people who think that the economy is “fixed.”  This is the their new meme, that they’ve “fixed” the economy, that they’ve “saved” us.  This is our reality, Obama’s policies, in under six months, may have created a new natural unemployment rate that approaches 7% instead of what it has always been in the United States, 3.5%.  Unforgiveable.

Obama Quotes of the Day

By Caomhin

Quite literally too, and conveniently rolled into one small article by the Philly Examiner.  The first:

At a prime-time news conference marking six months in office, Obama said health care legislation was key to a strong economic recovery, and he added, “If we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit.”

Says the man who has sent the deficit to way past anywhere Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin ever set foot.  Remind yourself of this picture illustrating the deficits under Bush v. the deficits under Obama:

This is, of course, under Obama’s assumptions that unemployment wouldn’t hit 9% and it currently stands at 9.5% and promises to rise above 10%.  Net effect, the deficit is already going to GROW because his assumptions were so far off.  He overestimated revenue greatly.  He also neglects the fact that the CBO says his healthcare bill will increase the deficit by over $230 billion in the early years before ballooning in later years.  Unbelievable.  I wonder what he was offering the CBO head in that highly unusual meeting he called for after that report was published.  You may also notice that he’s pushing so hard for more spending and yet, he cannot bring himself to release the budget numbers.  Gee….I wonder why.

Say, while we’re talking about the economy and as we move toward what is now universally accepted and inevitable 10% unemployment, Obama’s claiming that…he saved the economy “from the brink”:

“As a result of the action we took in those first weeks, we have been able to pull our economy back from the brink,” he said.

When you know that the unemployment rate is going to keep raising, that the housing market is still lowering, that the stock market is stagnant, consumer confidence is down, wholesale prices and consumer prices are inching upward as we move toward higher inflation rates, one gets the sense that he has no clue what he’s talking about.  In fact, the new liberal meme is going to be that Obama saved the economy and they’re going to pick and choose just a few economic indicators to try and sell the public on this nonsense.  That’s all well and fine and very much needed, but we haven’t even leveled out unemployment and it’s going to keep rising over the next few months at least.  So go tell that to people who are losing their jobs, their houses, who can’t afford to feed their families, or can barely make ends meet Obama.  Despite all this you think people should trust you with another trillioin or so dollars to experiment with our health treatment?  Has more than 30 days passed since you took office when you didn’t roll out another $500+ billion program?  Stop the madness.

Don’t Let Obama Get Away with Stimulus Lies

By Caomhin

I mentioned before that Hot Air was all over this but this needs to repeated. The Obama Administration is now lying through it’s teeth in order to say that the “Stimulus” Bill was actually a “Stabilization” bill and the media is letting them slide on this. Here’s the article:

“This legislation was designed to cushion the downturn,” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. “That’s why we have always talked about this as one function of economic recovery.”

When pressed about the change in terminology, Gibbs said he was not trying to temper expectations after the fact. “I can probably find 15 or 20 occasions when I said this in the lead up,” Gibbs said, explaining that he had always defined the AARA as part of a “multi-legged stool.”

Total lie and they know it.  Now, on the same day he’s spinning this garbage, Joe Biden is out there saying that the “stimulus” is working.  They can’t even get their own stories straight.  They put us into a level of crushing debt with nothing to show for it and they know it.  At no time in my life has the economy ever been so bad and worse yet we’ve reached a level of debt that is nearly impossible to repay and Obama wants more and more and yet none of his programs are working.  Not even the “small” $50 Billion dollar ones. Don’t buy into his spin and under no circumstances should we allow the media to do this for him.  In fact, if you see the terminology change to provide flank to the White House, turn off that channel immediately, don’t visit their website and don’t visit their sponsors.  These tough economic times demand us to spend our dollars very wisely. Here’s some videos to remind you of what Obama’s pork laden, unicorn promising, ill conceived, debt exploding plan was:

Here’s some basic math for you Obama: spending $787 Billion you don’t have is by it’s very definition creating a deficit.  You do know we have to pay that back right?  But I’m sure we’ll be OK with your 10% unemployment rate you’ve pinned on us.  The market would have led us to recovery, you’ve lead us straight into an economic tornado.

Obamanomics in Pictures

By Caomhin

Just thought I’d put up a couple of pictures and just a little bit of text to illustrate where our economic future is heading under Obama.  The first picture is from the Heritage Foundation, a graph that compares the deficits under President Bush and Obama:

Just show that to a Liberal next time they screech about President Bush.  Keep in mind this graph is old and the deficit is set to surge much, much higher in the face of growing unemployment, which the current Administration said would be much lower than where it currently stands if they were allowed their gigantic Porkfest.  Result: Epic Fail, one we and our children will be paying for year and years to come.  Second point to keep in mind here, this does not account for the ginormous deficit expansion that will result if the Healthcare bill is allowed to go forward.  This is disastrous.  The same facts apply to the following graph from the non-partisan CBO.  By the way, they also blasted the Democrat’s Healthcare Proposal.

Notice the enormous spike in in 2009?  The graph represents the expansion of debt under CURRENT law, so any and all spending proposals the Dems are set to unleash will push this monstrosity higher, and even more rapidly.  This mindless spend, spend, spend philosophy has already put a crushing burden on our backs and it truly is mindboggling just how much money Obama and his allies on the Left have spent is just 6 months.  They’re already talking about ANOTHER STIMULUS.  Oh yea, that’s right, for those of you who are Orwell fans, you’ll be pleased to know that Obama never said his horrific kickback spending plan was a Stimulus, but merely a stabilizer.  Hot Air’s all over this one.    You can see where this is all going.  It’s bad enough most of our elected officials have no concept of economics; they apparently have no concept of basic mathematics or ethics either.

Yep, Democrats’ Health Bill Will Outlaw Private Insurance

By Caomhin

Extremely important article today in IBDeditorials.com titled, “It’s not an Option.”  I suggest, in the strongest of terms reading the entire article and after reading the first paragraph, I’m sure you will:

It didn’t take long to run into an “uh-oh” moment when reading the House’s “health care for all Americans” bill. Right there on Page 16 is a provision making individual private medical insurance illegal.

How’s that for a teaser?  Read the whole thing, OK, now I’m pretty much begging you to and this is one you should probably send in emails to your friends and family and encourage them to send it around as well.  Once again we’re seeing Liberals lie and spit in our face as they try to ensure Government take over of the healthcare industry and initiate rationing which will result in lower quality care, higher mortality rates, loss of freedom, higher unemployment rates, and higher deficits.  Under no means can we allow this bill to pass.

Barbara Boxer’s New Title, Racist

By Caomhin

Awesome video where Barbara Boxer gets exposed. Mr. Harry Alford did a wonderful job showing restraint in his exchange with Boxer.  If I were him, I am certain my reaction would have been a bit more harsh, so kudos Mr. Alford for calling Boxer out and for showing restraint in doing so.

The follow up interview is here.  Mr. Alford is absolutely correct in his arguments concerning energy debate and with his call for an apology from Boxer, especially his call for an apology from Boxer, but sadly I fear he probably won’t get either, but at least this man stood up for all Americans today and he should be commended for that to the highest degree.

Pretty Much Everything We Said Liberals Believed About Healthcare

By Caomhin

Read the whole thing.  Read it from start to finish and come to terms, and quickly that this piece, “Why We Must Ration Health Care,” is not satire, but is truly how this man feels and is precisely how many, many liberals on Capital Hill feel about this issue and the public in general.  It is downright embarrassing, and I believe immoral, that people can view human life in this way.  Here’s a sampling from page 4:

The death of a teenager is a greater tragedy than the death of an 85-year-old, and this should be reflected in our priorities. We can accommodate that difference by calculating the number of life-years saved, rather than simply the number of lives saved. If a teenager can be expected to live another 70 years, saving her life counts as a gain of 70 life-years, whereas if a person of 85 can be expected to live another 5 years, then saving the 85-year-old will count as a gain of only 5 life-years. That suggests that saving one teenager is equivalent to saving 14 85-year-olds.

If you can save a life you save that person’s life.  Case closed.  It’s never “too expensive” to try and save a life and the only regret you can have in dealing with tragedy is that you didn’t do enough for that person.  If you saw a person dying in front of you, does their age, gender, race, religion, etc., matter to you AT ALL?  For a healthcare plan to be pushed that will look at you as nothing more than a statistic to be measured in a mathematic formal is beyond reproach and that alone should disqualify this bill from being considered.  The government answers to us, they draw their power from us, and the sheer contempt they have for human life, your life, my life, and all human life in general is devoid of all moral substance.  All human life is sacred.  It is not something that should be assigned to a random number table or applied to a logarithm to test hypotheses or to save money.

Welcome to New Jersey Mr. President

By: Riss

President Obama is coming to campaign for Governor Corzine today at 3:15pm at the PNC Bank Arts Center. I came across the article by the Star Ledger.  This section of the article really disturbed me: The cost: Corzine’s campaign will rent the arts center and reimburse White House expenses for the rally. Corzine reimbursed $15,000 for Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to his primary night rally.

Does this smell fishy to anyone? If you are from NJ you know that Corzine is allegedly loaded, so I am wondering why he would need to reimburse the White House for this event.  My opinion, he won’t be. This event is most likely being paid for by our taxes.  There will probably never be a way to prove it,  but it’s really got me all fired up right now.

I am sick and tired of the slime that comes out of Jon Corzine’s pores.  It’s scary living in a state like New Jersey…there is an overabundance of Liberals who would wipe Corzine’s ass if given the chance.  I hate to go down this road but it’s mainly the inner cities that have me concerned for the November election.  He continues to bury our state with debt and just keeps handing out money to people mainly in the inner cities who don’t really understand that the handouts just keep them poor.  They don’t understand that these handouts keep the government in control of their lives…it’s sad and a damn shame for all of us who want to succeed and live the American Dream legitimately without a handout!  These handouts are destroying my hope to prosper because more and more of my money is going to handouts.  Maybe it’s not completely the handout recipients faults, New Jersey is losing companies left and right due to the high tax implications they face for being in the state.  No matter whose fault it is…something has got to give.  Come November, Corzine has got to go.  I just hope that the people of New Jersey realize this and also realize that it’s going to take awhile for our next Governor to clean up this taxation disaster.

“If they want to give you the sun, the moon and the stars, it’s going to cost you something.  Whether it be your loss of freedom or your loss of your hard earned dollars.”  We have to stand up for our Country and bring back the mentality of the American Dream, handout free!

Check out this video the Chris Christie posted today…I love it!

 

If you are reading this and live in or know folks in NJ, please pass this video on!  Thanks and God Bless.

Flickr Tags: President Obama,Jon Corzine,Chris Christie,Star Ledger,taxes,American Dream,hand outs

Extend the Bush Tax Cuts

By Caomhin

One thing that seems to be forgotten right now among the many, many, many, horrible bills that the Democrats are producing right now is the issue of President Bush’s tax cut’s expiring.  You’ve heard so often how the tax cuts are for the ‘wealthy’ and have no impact on people outside of the top tax brackets.  It’s complete bull and Democrats know it.  However, I have not seen a chart that fully illustrates what the tax cuts, set to expire in 2010 (i.e. our taxes are going up in 2010 absent their renewal) do for earners in every income bracket.  I’ve decided to make one and post it here:

Income Range	Tax % with Cut	Tax % without Cut	Net % Increase
0-8025	10	15	33
8025-26250	15	15	0
26250-32550	15	28	87
32550-63550	25	28	12
63550-78850	25	31	24
78850-132600	28	31	10.7
132600-164550	28	36	28.6
164550-288350	33	36	9.1
288350-357700	33	39.6	20
35700+	35	39.6	13.1

As you can see, everyone will face a tax increase in 2010 unless the tax cuts are expired save for the 8025-26250 tax bracket.  The income earners between 26250-32550 will face a gigantic increase in their taxes, far more significant than every other bracket which will be greatly impacted as well.  The Liberals, for some reason, have been effective in spreading the lie that the Bush tax cuts were only for the wealthy, whereas you can plainly see that the greatest beneficiaries of the tax cuts were people earning under 164500 per year.  Also keep in mind that the top tax bracket will actually jump to 44.6% of their total income on just the Federal Tax Level if the healthcare bill passes.  Imagine all that money leaving the private sector all at once at the tail end of a recession coupled with PorkFest 2009 running out.  What do you think will happen to the market?