The reformers are hard at work. One of the measures just approved by the
California State Senate will raise the age for buying tobacco products to 21. There’s no denying that tobacco is a harmful
substance, and it’s equally true that as persons age they’re less likely to begin
the smoking habit. If these were the
only factors, the rule might make sense, but as with most well-meaning but
overbearing edicts, human nature is ignored.
Why a sixteen-year-old smokes can mostly be
explained in sociological terms. As a
two-pack-a-day teenage smoker, I still recall the need that my cigarette
filled. It provided me with the
confidence, sophistication and maturity which I otherwise lacked. It never concerned me that every package I
purchased was in violation of some law.
Likewise, no amount of lecturing or horror stories would have caused me
to swear off. Only when my psyche no
longer needed what my weed provided, would I end the habit. Luckily, that time arrived. With a bit of revelation I came to terms with
reality shortly after turning nineteen.
I needed neither counseling nor a phasing out period. I quit cold turkey.
When it comes to abiding by oppressive
regulations, I doubt young people today are much different than we were. Most certainly, increasing the age at which
cigarettes may be purchased from 18 to 21 will not induce a twenty-year-old
addict to stop smoking. What it more
likely will do is simply reinforce the anti-law-abiding attitude that more and
more afflicts our society. It has been
said, and rightly so, that the enactment of unenforceable laws do little more
than increase the number of lawbreakers.
A final thought: I don’t fault our state legislators
for enacting inane legislation. In most
cases they’re merely responding to the demands of an inane constituency. This, of course, explains why the statute
books are filled with the many senseless laws with which we’re plagued.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
In addition to this Straight Talk by
Al Jacobs, I’m now generating a monthly Financial
Newsletter. It normally appears the first of each month and may
be viewed on my website. Click onto http://www.onthemoneytrail.net/
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