Well, when you get right down to it, the 'government' isn't doing it at all. We are doing it to ourselves, based on who we elect to public office. Lawmakers don't come up with this stuff in a vacuum: they listen to a lot of people. Constituants, lobbyists, special interest groups, corporations, and so forth. They are passing these laws because there is widespread support for them in many areas. However, there have been several instances of laws here in Utah that faced vigorous push back on the part of voters when they were initially proposed, and the legislators who initially sponsored the bills dropped them like a hot rock once they figured out that, no, the people in my district really don't want that boneheaded idea made into law.

When it comes to anti-smoking legislation, you are barking up the wrong tree, because there is a VERY strong anti-smoking sentiment in society at large. That is democracy, bub, and in this case, you are swimming against the current.

To the everlasting glory of the infantry...

Owain ab Arawn
KGB Supreme Knight
King's High Council