Now is the Time To Act! I am Serious! **updated**

[malyden]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...spectator.html

Dragging Us Down.

A couple of snippets to give you the feel:

Perhaps most amazingly, the HHS Secretary's decision whether or not to ban the "modified risk" product from the marketplace is not to be based on whether or not the product actually provides a reduced risk or other benefit to the individual smoker. Individual well-being is not important to the ninnying nannies on Capitol Hill. The decision must be made to "benefit the health of the population as a whole, taking into account the impact on both users and nonusers of tobacco products."

...

And the FDA is at it again with news last month the agency will seek to regulate or ban "electronic cigarettes." These are tobacco-free devices that allow for the inhalation of a nicotine vapor.

...

It seems much of the impetus behind this and similar legislation is not individual or public health per se, but rather a postmodern puritanism ...

(I hope that falls under fair use. Mods, feel free to edit if you think I've quoted too much.)

A quotation which seems relevant:

Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.- H. L. Mencken

[Vapor Pete]

If the suppliers really think that the government is going to let you be self regulated for a product that is made in another counrty and has never been properly tested THEN YOU ARE ALL KIDDING YOURSELVES, In the time we live in and all the self/non regulation that has caused the global meltdown of many industries.
another plan is needed.

I think what Lacey is refering to (correct me if Im wrong Lacey) is that if the FDA were to give, say, a five year timeline, in which the proper testing could be done, and the proper findings submitted, that would allow for another thing to happen at the same time: during that five year period, a USA based business could be started (removing the stigma around "Made in unregulated China). We would then have a USA based PERSONAL VAPORIZER manufacturer that has internal safety and quality control oversight, and not dependant on overseas importation. PV's I feel could be a self regulated business.
I am not sure of which self/non regulation you are speaking of that has caused "global melt-down" of any industries? Other than our own Government, who cannot be trusted to self regulate their own spendatures, thus contributing to the melt down of its own citizens. Maybe thats what you are talking about. In which case, all the more reason for them to keep thier grubby hands out of my smoking alternatives!
I believe industries such as weight lose products, vitamin suppliments, general nutrition suppliments, herbal alternatives, etc are unregulated industries. They are not experiencing global melt-down, they are billion dollar a year industries, doing alot of good for alot of people, with a tiny disclaimer required by the FDA.
My best,
-VP

[Tone]

I was referring to a perception by people and the statement of Self regulation. As for being self regulated wouldn't that leave suppliers open for things like future health problems, quality issues..etc. If you are self regulated then you are taking it upon yourself all if any health damage these thing might or might now have on consumers, which could also lead to lawsuits to said self regulated industry.

[fatman]

Here's some addresses for the members of the Senate Health Committee. Some are from state election board candidate registrations, others are from various sources. And, of course, some addresses may have changed, so if the person is from your state, it might be best to double check the address.

Thanks very much for posting this, it will be helpful. You are recommending sending these by certified mail, is that right?

[LaceyUnderall]

I hear you Terraphon as I asked many times only to be told that they were working with Counsel and it was not something that we (meaning us consumers) would be privy to???????????--Sun

Sun - Sorry... had to go to bed last night it was 2:30 and couldn't stay awake for one more minute.

We are working with council and we will be presenting a statement today with further details.

I have noted all of the concerns in this thread and they will be addressed in the official statement.

[gnsmith]

As a consumer, you can count on me to do my part. I have already started dictating a letter. and to all of our suppliers. GIVE THEM HECK!!!!! remind them what free enterprise is all about. Our government is supposed to be for the people not themselves or personal interest.

[MonkeyMonk]

Here's some addresses for the members of the Senate Health Committee. Some are from state election board candidate registrations, others are from various sources. And, of course, some addresses may have changed, so if the person is from your state, it might be best to double check the address.


Senate Health Committee:

Democrats by Rank

Edward Kennedy (MA)

56 Roland Street
Boston, MA 02129

Christopher Dodd (CT)

PO Box 51882
Washington, DC 20091

Tom Harkin (IA)

528 N. 43rd St.
Cumming, IA 50061

Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)

Brown's Wharf
1629 Thames St. Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231

Jeff Bingaman (NM)

5555 Montgomery NE, Suite 8
Albuquerque NM 87109

Patty Murray (WA)

PO Box 3662
Seattle, WA 98124

Jack Reed (RI)

1000 Chapel View Boulevard, Suite 290
Cranston, RI 02920

Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)

72 Killarney Drive
Burlington, VT 05402

Sherrod Brown (OH)

2625 E. Erie Ave.
Lorain, Ohio 44052

Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)

PO BOX 25311
PITTSBURGH, PA 15220

Kay Hagan (NC)

PO BOX 29103
GREENSBORO, NC 27429

Jeff Merkley (OR)

Residence:
1351 SE 114th Ave
Portland, Oregon 97216

Mailing Address:
PO Box 29136
Portland, Oregon 97296

Republicans by Rank

Michael B. Enzi (WY)

431 Circle Dr.
Gillette, WY 82716

Judd Gregg (NH)

1234 Ocean Blvd
Rye, NH 03870

Lamar Alexander (TN)

1453 West Millers Cove Rd.
Walland, TN 37886

Richard Burr (NC)

POB 5928
WINSTON SALEM, NC 27113

Johnny Isakson (GA)

One Overton Park
3625 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 970
Atlanta, GA 30339

John McCain (AZ)

P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215

Orrin G. Hatch (UT)

445 East 4500 South, #275
Salt Lake City, UT 84107

Lisa Murkowski (AK)

7510 L. Street, Suite 550
Anchorage, AK 99501

also:
PO Box 100847
Anchorage, AK 99510

Dr. Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK)

5408 Rolling Oaks Dr.
Muskogee, OK 74401

Pat Roberts (KS)

2309 Fairway Drive, Apt. B
Dodge City, KS 67801

OutWest, Thank you so very much for the list of addresses. This will be of great assistance.

[OutWest]

Thanks very much for posting this, it will be helpful. You are recommending sending these by certified mail, is that right?

Welcome. Thanks goes to Lacey for the original senator list. And yeah, she was recommending sending via certified mail.

I dug up the adresses because I figured that there's a better chance of them actually being read if sent to their home address, etc. That's what I'm going to do with my letter, mail it to senator's home address.

I would recommend that people double check the address. A couple of them I double checked through anywho.com and state election board candidate registration lists, but I havent made it all the way through the list yet.

[katink]

Sun - Sorry... had to go to bed last night it was 2:30 and couldn't stay awake for one more minute.

We are working with council and we will be presenting a statement today with further details.

I have noted all of the concerns in this thread and they will be addressed in the official statement.

Thank you for the coming statement, Lacey/Joanna!

And whatever: lets not take that government adagium out of their hands by allready doing that ourselves right here and now... that adagium they are so fond of: 'DIVIDE AND CONQUER' !

[gnsmith]

To all the consumers, I to am a consumer and want to know all the details. I also handle PR and understand that time is of the essence. And there is probably going to be a lot of things that need to happen that we probably are not going agree with. so arguing between ourselves would only slow things down. The suppliers will have a better voice in Washington then we will as consumers. Step one is to put a halt or slow down on anything FDA is trying to get in place as far as banning. If the FDA succeeds in cutting off supplies we have lost the war. So as consumers we need to back the suppliers so we can try and keep the supplies moving as we fight this war. After we slow things down with the FDA trying to cut off for supplies, then as consumers it will be our job to keep the suppliers in check. Remember without consumers there is no suppliers.