NZ researchers suggest 10-year end game for smoking

http://tobaccoreporter.com/home.php?id=498&art=3823

Ok, so this is a little research study done in New Zealand, but its intent and its message is very scary.  Put bluntly, this study has suggested that the NZ government start phasing out the amount of tobacco available for import (and thus, for sale) in gradually decreasing amounts, to be completely tobacco-free in 10 years.  Of course, quit smoking products from our buddies at Big Pharma would be available, as would the wonderful pharmacopoeia of drugs offered to help those struggling smokers break their addiction.  The goal would be to force those last, reluctant smokers to give up their butts.

Honestly, this frightens me.  This is, to put it bluntly, tobacco PROHIBITION.  The forcing of the "Moral Right's" views on the general populace.

What happened during the 20's when we in the US tried prohibition with alcohol?  Anybody?  Anybody?

Well, a few people stopped drinking.  But the majority started simply buying their booze on the black market.  And with that black market came the mobsters, and organized crime, and an absolute explosion of violence for them crimesters to KEEP their marketplace.  It was such a miserably failed experiment in the folly of trying to morally control man's vices that the amendment was repealed within a decade...the only amendment to the US Constitution to be repealed.

Might I quote here:  "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Do we really want to see a black market emerge in the cigarette arena?  Do we really want a revisit of the crime and violence?  Think on how much crime is generated already in this country over illegal drugs.  Care to triple that?  Quadruple it?  How much closer must we get to complete chaos in this country before those in charge realize that there are SOME people you simply can't force into doing your wishes?