I agree that people should be allowed to make their own choices with regard to smoking; however, they then should not be allowed to burden the healthcare system or sue cigarette manufacturers when they get cancer from smoking. I also don't think smokers have the right to force anyone else to inhale their second-hand smoke.

Again, we're on a very slippery slope here with the government interferring with citizens' ability to do what they want with their own body. This is very disconcerting to me. However, I also believe people will just find another way to get tobacco without having to pay the tax. What is this extra tax going toward any way? Does anyone know?

From your mouth to our ears. I hate to think it, but I'm afraid you may be correct. We may see things in this country we never thought possible. It's horrifying to me that we have placed people in authority who have only their own agenda in mind and are not listening to the people who put them in office. We are on a very slippery slope and our personal freedoms are at stake here. The writing is on the wall and a lot of us are running around with blinders, looking at everything with our rose-colored glasses. People, wake up!!! If it looks like a skunk and smells like a skunk, it is a skunk! AND, as along as that skunk is able to stay and spray, it will continue to stink!

Most excellent! Perhaps it will wake up those with "Obama feaver" to the realities of what lies ahead if he's allowed to continue to take us down his path of ruin. Socialism has NOT been successful any where, at any time!

I couldn't agree more with these 9 principles, especially number 9! It's WAY past time for the American people to stand up to the good old gang sitting in DC who think they're above the law and don't have to live within their means like the rest of us. They are in office to do as we say, NOT to further their own personal agenda. If the two conflict, then the will of the people MUST supercede the desire of the "appointee." If the "appointee" cannot/does not uphold the will of the people, then the people need to step up and remove the "appointee" from office. AND, any "appointee" not following the laws and paying their taxes, parking tickets, etc., as the rest of us are required to do, cannot remain in office and should be disqualified from holding office and immediately removed. This WILL include driving while intoxicated too...no exceptions!