This morning's paper triggered this post topic. There were three items that struck me as controversial.

In the headlines was an article entitled, "Texting while driving ban a possibility" (not well worded, but you get the message). We all know the dangers. Now we need a law.

Front page: "Last call for alcohol energy drinks?" The drinks in question are caffeinated alcoholic beverages. They may be pulled from store shelves. I think the FDA is ruling this week that caffeine is an unsafe food addditive to alcoholic drinks. It's already been banned in four states. (As an aside, couldn't the FDA really go crazy and ban hundreds of other "bad food additives for us"?)

Then, as a followup to the "Cigarettes kill" packaging, there was a tongue-in-cheek Richard Cohen column about putting the faces of the manufacturers' presidents on the package, instead. Of course, the whole idea is to dissuade people from smoking (which isn't going to work, in my opinion).

It is at this point that I reiterate my mantra: People are Stupid. Here we go again. How many times has the government been forced to pass a law to "make" us do or do not do something for "our own good"? Seat belts come to mind. Now it's texting, drinking, and smoking.

We know all three are bad for us, but we can't force ourselves to stop or quit. Big bad government has to step in. Little wonder so many Republicans (and others) rail against "socialism". It's not the governments fault we're so damn stupid. Those people that text, drink, and smoke aren't going to be happy--more laws to prevent them from being individualistic. I understand their plight, but I say to hell with them. Let them go kill themselves. It will help the gene pool.

Next up? Gun control. And you know what will hit the fan. It has before, and will again. Pictures of death on a cigarette package is nothing compared to the outrage gun control legislation will produce. In my lifetime?

********************************************************************
One more thing. Have you been watching ABC (Diane Sawyer) evening news this week? Great reports on China. More on this later.