[MBB1984]

That is simply not true. Several forces can make it harder to smoke cigarettes in addition to parents. Government or the manufacturer can make it more difficult for children to smoke cigarettes by raising the price of the product. If they chose, Government could even make it more difficult by outlawing the product altogether, such as the case with drugs.

I do think Government has a responsibility to protect its youth from a product that undeniably causes cancer and other health risks and provides no benefit to the user. That's why drugs are outlawed. Would you like the state to legalize drugs?

[elkfersupper]

I do think Government has a responsibility to protect its youth from a product that undeniably causes cancer and other health risks and provides no benefit to the user.

We're talking about cigarettes here. You just described Government itself. Government has obligations, not rights or responsibilities.

Would you like the state to legalize drugs?

Yes, but that's not the topic of this thread. This is a thread about raising taxes for spurious reasons, none of which were described in the article.

[elkfersupper]

Almost missed this.

Government has a responsibility to protect its youth.

This is the United States of America. Until recently, we didn't think of our children belonging to the government.

Reminds me of a certain European regime that was crushed for its dangerous actions and ideology in the mid-1940's.