FDA Election season & e-cigs

[Gato del Jugo]

As early November is fast approaching, now is probably as good a time as any to let those running for election know that vaping *is* a deciding factor amongst voters!


Contacting them privately is good..

And contacting them publicly sheds that much more light to others, keeping it fresh in the minds of those heading to the polls..

Hey, maybe even their opposition will pick up on it & run with it..


Is your state's Attorney General up for election? If so, did they sign this nasty letter to the FDA as their e-cig comment this summer..?

http://cqrcengage.com/casaa/file/CjXLf6Jb3qb/AGs Comment to FDA.pdf

or..

http://cqrcengage.com/casaa/file/CjXLf6Jb3qb/AGsCommenttoFDA.pdf

Hopefully one of those links works..



Anyway, just an example posted at their Facebook page.. It's just a simple comment, sure, but every bit helps if there's enough of us making enough noise..

Too much? Too little? Some might not agree, but that's fine.. I felt it's just right in this case, while wording it carefully, IMO.. The way I see it is, how much are *they* respecting *you* as a vaper, by constantly trying to pull this kind of nonsense?

Others may want to take a slightly different approach, but as long as the spirit is there...


"Many of us have read your recent signed letter to the FDA regarding your recommended restrictions on e-cigarettes. You know, those marvels of technology that help get life-long smokers off dangerous combustible tobacco & finally kick the habit for good. However, by the sounds of it, one could perhaps argue that you & your cronies are conspiring to commit murder of tens of millions of current & future smokers by preventing fair access to just such a less-harmful alternative to combustible tobacco. Is that "addictive" cigarette-tax revenue (i.e., blood money) really that important to you, even at the expense of so many Americans' health & lives? Tsk, tsk. Nobody wants to vote for such a criminally-minded individual. Might want to keep that in mind. "



Get out there & make some noise!

 

[DC2]

From what I have seen, most representatives have some sort of "open house" when they return to their district offices.
This is when you should be there to talk to them in person, and in front of others.

 

[DrMA]

Agreed. I've never been a 1-issue voter, but this time around it might be the only way to ensure the desk murderers in DC don't kill us all and the other 44 million American smokers.

 

[Nate760]

I don't know what it would be like to be a one-issue voter, as I disagree with all major party candidates on at least 50% of everything.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

I'm registered independent and I'm typically not a one issue voter but as it happens the AG of my state, who signed the letter to the FDA, is running for governor. As I see it, her position on e-cigs defines the way she approaches issues (a) the FDA letter has so many flaws that have been debunked, she obviously did not do her research (b) create FUD and regulate as knee jerk reactions (c) go for the political gain by saying it's for the children. So, I suppose you could say I'll probably be a one issue voter this time around.

 

[roosterado]

I am Not a 1 Issue Voter also. The stark differences Between the incumbent Mn House Representative and her opponent are too glaring to consider only E-Cig. Now our AG did not sign the letter but had he that office is I would on the e-cig issue alone. Seniors,Mim wage,training for CPA's , Education Funding the list goes on how opposite they are on these issues That effect our growing elderly [ someday to be me]population.. People have different priority's as you approach 60. But I donate every month to several Electronic Cigarette Rights Org.s. I Respect anyone's right to vote how they choose. BYW The Genie is out of the Bottle as far as Electronic Cigarettes go. It would be like when 2 million people[maybe 3 million by the time the FDA Finalizes its rules] in the US had dial up internet over telephone lines and the FCC came out and said nope we don't like it Banned! How well would that have gone over? Yes the battle is still uphill, there could be major setbacks. But this Technology will prevail in the long run. We just need to Keep the Pressure on Them relentlessly! Politically,Scientifically, any Reasonable Advocacy Means that work to Vapers Advantage. Don't forget to Vote with Your wallet. I quit buying anything that has the AHA.s Good Heart Seal of Approval on it. Those companies Pay the AHA to use that! I will buy the store brand or bulk at the Community CO-OP. #tagsup and CASAA Rocks

 

[Jman8]

I don't know if I could vote for a national politician on the eCigs issue. Not opposed to it, but like Nate760 said, I disagree with all major party candidates on at least 50% of everything. And vaping is not a top 3 national concern for me. Plus the mere fact that national politicians will literally say anything to get elected and then don't have to be held to that or have so many outs as to why they were ineffective that it strikes me as foolish to think there will be a candidate that is just right for us on this issue.

On local level, I feel much differently and do think candidates that have pro-vaping policies (or at least not blatantly anti ones) are helpful to the cause.

And in general, for national politics, it is very obvious that there are number of US Democrats that make it a point to take pot shots at vaping whenever possible. It truly seems that at the level of Congress and POTUS, that Pubs are likely our best bet. Yet, if some bill came along that was ideal version of say fixing illegal immigration from Pub perspective and all they had to do was throw vapers under the bus, I'm pretty sure they'd throw vapers under the bus.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

Jman, I don't often agree your comments, but I am totally with you on the point that candidates will say anything to get elected and then engage in duck & cover to justify why they don't do anything close to what they promised. When I'm feeling very cynical (often) and see a political ad, I create my own version of what they're really saying. It's usually a 180 from what they're claiming. sigh.

Congress is a mess, both sides of the aisle, and we do need to pay close attention here as the impact nationally is significant for much more than just ecigs. Sen. Markey, rabid anti e-cig and out there on many other issues, is unopposed for re-election on the dem. side. When I voted in the primary, I filled in a write-in candidate "none of the above". I knew it wasn't going to change anything, but I felt better. (LOL.. I had to look up how to spell Markey. I usually call him by a similarly sounding word that sums up what I think he spouts and I had a brain freeze on the right spelling!).

I'm not truly a one issue voter, ergo my points about how Martha Coakley approached and responded to the e-cig issue (not making an informed judgement and solve a problem with more regulation). These are not the traits of someone I'd want in office. There are other reasons not to vote for her. I also have issues with her opponent. As usual, it comes down to the lesser of 2 evils after taking all available information into consideration.

 

[Jman8]

As usual, it comes down to the lesser of 2 evils after taking all available information into consideration.

The lesser of two evils has never quite worked for me.

The lesser of three evils is to not vote at all. And I agree with what Carlin had to say about us, responsible folks, who don't vote.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

The lesser of two evils has never quite worked for me.

The lesser of three evils is to not vote at all. And I agree with what Carlin had to say about us, responsible folks, who don't vote.

Ha ha .. we're back to disagreeing. It's your right not to vote, but I see that as the worst of 3 evils. I prefer to make a choice between A and B in the final elections. Hope springs eternal that the candidate will act in a manner I agree with more often than not. I may not like either choice much and I could, as I did in the primary, fill in none of the above. If I don't vote at all, I can complain about the government, but I have to acknowledge that I haven't done anything to influence it. The lack of voter turn out reinforces the perception that the population is apathetic and doesn't care what our elected officials are up to. At least a none of the above vote gets counted as 'other'.

 

[Davey59]

People that don't believe the lessor of two evils is the best choice live in pure fantasy land. People that don't vote at all certainly make a statement all right but it is not the one they think. I equate it to ...... in the air like a dominated dog.
Other than where and how you spend your money voting is the only control and power over the government you actually have. To willfully give that up by non exercise is disgraceful.
The less people vote, the more all power is given to the government, It is the ONLY control you have.

The government is actually scared that the people in mass might actually vote someday. The winner of a popular majority vote in this country actually get such a small percentage of the people of legal voting age is sickening. Yet people still wonder how this great country got in this mess.

 

[Jman8]

Ha ha .. we're back to disagreeing. It's your right not to vote, but I see that as the worst of 3 evils. I prefer to make a choice between A and B in the final elections. Hope springs eternal that the candidate will act in a manner I agree with more often than not. I may not like either choice much and I could, as I did in the primary, fill in none of the above. If I don't vote at all, I can complain about the government, but I have to acknowledge that I haven't done anything to influence it. The lack of voter turn out reinforces the perception that the population is apathetic and doesn't care what our elected officials are up to. At least a none of the above vote gets counted as 'other'.

I agree with a none of the above vote, and does strike me as the most responsible vote to make at this time.

I also like being in the majority of the population that didn't vote for current leader (or last leader, or the 8 before that).

There are many reasons (like 15 that I've counted) why I am turned off to voting in national elections. I've stated two of them in this thread already. And to restate one of them, especially as it relates to this thread, I do not see voting as sufficient way to keep a politician accountable. A candidate could promise to be pro-ecigs and either be completely ineffective or worse, flip flop after being in office and become very vocal ANTZ supporter.

I also just don't see any national candidate in 2014, or even 2016 running on vaping issues. Like, it not even coming up except on a website where they may spend pages and pages mentioning where they stand on issues. But never in a commercial, or as a matter of public debate. So, I feel we are stuck with general principles of the candidate or party and thus far the party thing seems to offer around 80/20 clarity on who favors vaping rights and who are prone to ANTZ ideology.

 

[Kent C]

Best reason for vapers to vote:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-want-accurate-warnings-2.html#post14366699

 

[sixstring]

None of the above needs to be a choice on every ballot. When none of the above wins, all other candidates should be thrown out, and the election held again with new people until none of the above does not win.

 

[classwife]

None of the above needs to be a choice on every ballot. When none of the above wins, all other candidates should be thrown out, and the election held again with new people until none of the above does not win.

Wouldn't that be a hoot !

 

[Kent C]

None of the above needs to be a choice on every ballot. When none of the above wins, all other candidates should be thrown out, and the election held again with new people until none of the above does not win.

Or ... eliminate the office entirely.

 

[Davey59]

None of the above needs to be a choice on every ballot. When none of the above wins, all other candidates should be thrown out, and the election held again with new people until none of the above does not win.

Yes! now that would give people a viable option that actually would do and say something. No clapping icon so just picture a little yellow head clapping in this space.

 

[Robino1]

Yes! now that would give people a viable option that actually would do and say something. No clapping icon so just picture a little yellow head clapping in this space.

Here ya go!

And I agree

 

[Kent C]

Here ya go!

And I agree

sherv.net doesn't do hot links so well

 

[Robino1]

sherv.net doesn't do hot links so well

Since I am able to see what I am putting up there..... what are others seeing and what do I do to make it right?