IT: 🚬 Biden moves to ban menthol cigarettes, and... Do you support mandatory vaccines for U.S. troops?

Thanks Glo, and welcome back!! And OMG, not only am I going to get my $600 back on my taxes that I missed last year, BUT I JUST GOT MY $1400 JUST NOW IN THE MAIL👍🤣😎🙃🤣. So many campaigns to start funding, and that AIN’T yours brady, cruz and cornyn.

Leslie, jimK, Bicycler, Andy, Ronald, Marie, Kodiwodi, and so many others, I am glad to see that the fight persists and you are still here to see good things get done - not just petty bickering and conspiracy theories about the “big lie” that never happened, except to the ignorant Repugnants... I did not mean to forget you, Larubia, nor NOHedges either. So many to name still...

Yes to mandatory vaccines for the military, schools, planes, and perhaps more...

The underground market is going to be weird when the pot bags are swapped out for menthol cigs.

I am making a GOOD SALARY FROM HOME $1200-$2500/WEEK, WHICH IS AMAZING, under a year back i was jobless in a horrible economy. i thank god every day i was blessed with these instructions and now it's my duty to pay it forward and share it with everyone, here is what i do….>>>> biglifeSTyles.com

I’ve decided to spend my time this morning detailing all of the benefits to cigarette smoking: That’s done. For those of you droning on about “rights”....Your “rights” end where my health & pocketbook begins.

Leslie: I once underwent hypnosis and it worked for five days. That was years ago. It did not work the second time I tried. Also, I tried nicotine gum and patches but could not use them because they made my heart race. So, the only help I could get was Chantix but it took a while until I got insurance that would pay for it. The Chantix was nice because you can take it and continue to smoke until you feel comfortable quitting. For me, it got to where taking a Chantix pill and smoking made me nauseous so I decided to give up the Chantix and the two cigarettes a day at the same time. I still am amazed that it worked and very happy!

A somewhat facetious response to the assertion of a complete and total lack of benefits of smoking. @larubia wrote: "I’ve decided to spend my time this morning detailing all of the benefits to cigarette smoking: * * * * * * "That’s done. For those of you droning on about “rights”....Your “rights” end where my health & pocketbook begins." https://www.causes.com/comments/1462205** To be fair. First, there will be a segment that will benefit economically. This has been so for literally hundreds of years. Think — Big Tobacco was the forerunner of drug cartels. Second, there are some obscure health benefits: 5 Health Benefits of Smoking 1 Smoking lowers the risk of knee replacement surgery. 2 Smoking reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease. 3 Smoking lowers the risk of obesity. 4 Smoking lowers the risk of death after some heart attacks. 5 Smoking helps the heart drug clopidogrel work better. https://www.livescience.com/15115-5-health-benefits-smoking-disease.html It sounds a bit like “correlation does not equal causation” arguments might apply. The article does include the following introduction: "Who says smoking cigarettes is so bad ... well, aside from the World Health Organization, Food, and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and every medical board and association on the face of the Earth? "But should smokers be fortunate enough to dodge all that cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and the like, they will be uniquely protected — for reasons unexplained by science — against a handful of diseases and afflictions. "Call it a silver lining in their otherwise blackened lungs. Although [long-term smoking](http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/smoking-winnable-public-health-battle-101018-0567/) is largely a ticket to early death, here are (gulp) five possible benefits from smoking. Breathe deep."

This is the most ridiculous thing that I've ever heard of. All the problems that we (US) has and he's worried about menthol cigarettes.

Idiot’s move. Get out of this let the locals of government take care of this. MRGO

Yes, anyone that works for the federal or state governments should be vaccinated. Schools used to require it to protect others and I do not know why that ceased. Many people think it is their right to not have vaccines but what about the rights of other people to be safe?

Vaccines should be given to all people in the military and students before they enter school unless their physician says they should be exempt because of a medical reason. Otherwise if you don’t like it, move .

Yes, all US military personnel should be required to take a COVID vaccine. John W. Hall, Colonel, US Army Retired

Leslie: Smoking cessation programs really did not help me. Everyone is different but people will not change their behavior until they truly WANT to change it. That includes kicking habits. There's a whole slew of "problems" people have but there's not much motivation out there to change them. As for me, I realized I could either buy a new car, or add to my wardrobe every month, or splurge on shoes -- or purses .... OH, wow that is where I got my motivation -- either stinky smokes or nice things! Everyone is different but I think the answer is to find that "reason" to stop. That might take counseling to pinpoint it. And other people can help too. They just come right out like Larubia did and say that she is not putting up with it around her! As for the government, the only way they can help is to raise state taxes. All I can say is it worked for me and I am hoping to help others kick such a senseless, filthy and expensive habit! Also, cigarette companies need to help the people they deliberately got addicted to cigarettes.

Last time I looked the military was an authoritative rule and not a democracy. Having been the human guinea pig on anti-nerve agents and all 6 series of anthrax shots and many other shots forced to take with no say so about it. It’s a do it or get out society. Now that I’m retired I will decide if and when I will take the COVID vaccine. As far as the menthol cigarettes goes I quit cold turkey 15 years ago and saw a comment about the black market having a field day with it if Biden does ban them and flavored vapes which I agree. If you ban something or restrict it the individuals that want them will find a way. Kinda like gun control, if you want one there is always a way to get your hands on one just ask the major metropolitan cities that can’t curb gun violence but the Democrats are denial about that one.

I don’t care if they ban all cigarettes, especially if they don’t make pot legal. I’m sure tobacco has cause many more health issues than pot has caused. I’m against the government mandating vaccines. But, the military has mandated vaccines from as long as I remember. I don’t see the difference here.

It’s mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers to protect the public so why would our troops be any different. More people vaccinated stops the virus mutations.

Smoking is not a “right.” Neither is endangering the lives of others by not taking a vaccine! Get a clue!!!

Other people work a full day, week, etc. so why not Congress? They get their medical insurance, perks like haircuts and gym facilities and they sure don’t work a 40 hr week. They take off on trips on the citizens dime. They are definitely overpaid for the little that they do or that they accomplish.

There s no doubt that smoking anything impacts your health There is also no doubt that we all pay for smokers when they get sick so just ban them already! Americans will do anything to make a buck, even at the expense of others.