Be afraid, be very afraid. Just because we've won a few battles doesn't mean that the FDA and BP have surrendered. I'm feeling that they've just changed strategy. We see it every time a proposed ban get started on local or state levels. They know there are many ways to skin a cat and just because they've apparently lost in the court of law doesn't mean they've given up the battle.
I think they are trying to weigh their options right now, and are regrouping. More and more they are finding their battles of public opinion going against them because, generally, I find that MOST people aren't anti-smoking. They either don't like cigarette smoke, or they care about a loved one who smokes and has a nasty cough or some other problems caused by smoking. To them, an ecigarette is fine, they don't mind that their loved ones are using them, or that someone sitting at the bar next to them is using one.
So they go in there armed with all this "evidence" against ecigs, and people are by and large, "So? If it doesn't hurt us, and doesn't stink, who cares?" In the case of Pierce County recently, we had a large number of never-smokers standing up and saying, "No, these are fine... Worry about actual health risks!" They are SO used to having public opinion 100% behind them, or at least not opposing them, that they aren't sure how to handle this.
What were the final results of the MSNBC poll? About as liberal a media as you can get and it was like 70% of people said ecigs should be allowed on planes?
Don't get me wrong, I don't think they've considered this war over, and nor should we... but at this point, they need to create a new strategy. The same ol' stuff they've been saying for years, they know, isn't going to work here.
And my hubby still sits here (11y so far) passing numbers to BP less an organ his heart needs to survive why???? MY god!
