Now I am not one of those people that subscribes to the belief that President Obama is the second coming, or that he is the best thing since sliced bread. Although I did vote for him, it was mainly because looking at the alternatives I thought it would be morally irreprehensible if I voted in any other way. But anyways that is neither here nor there.
All of my experience of the world outside of my bubble in the United States has been in Taiwan and Japan (England doesn’t count, I was only like 9 years old). From these two countries I have learned that we, in the US (the places I have been at least), are probably the most hardcore about limiting the sale of Tobacco and just making things difficult for the Tobacco industry in general.
Did you know that in Japan people can still smoke inside of restaurants? it is so dumb. The restaurants there have smoking and non smoking sections but there is no division between the sections. there might be a partial wall or something stupid, but nothing that keeps the smell or the toxic fumes from going into the smoking section. Here in Taipei there is no smoking allowed in public locations but there are WAY WAY WAY more smokers here than in the US.
But just because we are ahead of the game doesn’t mean that we should be dilly dallying. Oh Jeebus I just took a bite of this dessert that my girlfriend bought and it is what I would imagine a cheesy cardboard turd would taste like. If you have American taste buds do not buy Taiwanese desserts they have way less sugar than their US counterparts. ugh that was bad. Anyways where was I? oh yes dilly dallying! I think that some federal legislation is overdue and it has been for a while. But I just read that there has been some legislation in congress… uuuugggh my girlfriend bought more than one type and I just tried the second one oh jeebus this one is worse!… Oh yes there was legislation in congress that has been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate that will add some hurt to the world of tobacco companies. The best part is that President Obama has promised to sign it! Last year President Bush (ugh it hurts to type that) threatened to veto it.
The most important part of this bill is that the FDA will now be able to regulate what goes into cigarettes. Although they will not be able to totally ban nicotine ( the substance that makes cigarettes so addictive) they will be able to get rid of many other carcinogenic chemicals used in cigarettes. If you want more information on the bill you can get it here. The fact the Obama has promised to sign this makes me feel even better about my choice to vote for him.
Yes! finally something good out of congress. This is a step in the right direction, now only if they could do something about this healthcare nightmare in the US. I don’t know what I am going to do when I am in business school next year. Personally I want a national healthcare system like many of the countries in Europe and Canada. Jeez, if Canada can do it why can’t we? Who cares if crazy rich republicans say it is socialist. If socialism will give me good healthcare that won’t put me into bankruptcy then I am all for it!
More power to the people and not the healthcare corporations! Peace out ya’ll! I’m out, I’m out, I’m out, I’m out, I’m out, I’m OUT!
OMG so i’m reading this book by david sedaris and a part of it is how it was when the US started banning smoking everywhere and so he went to japan because it was still allowed most places. i like, JUST read that part today. crazy.
yeah you can smoke almost everywhere in Japan. but in Tokyo you are not allowed to smoke outside in the city. There are no smoking signs engraved in the sidewalks in certain places.
But of course it is not enforced very well at all. and the signs are not everywhere.