They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
-Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)

As many of you are probably unaware, our government, the one that has in the past afforded so many of us the freedoms that we take for granted every day, is slowing and deliberately taking away that which our ancestors fought so vigorously for. Our Freedom.

The NSA is now allowed to listen in on our phone calls without probable cause and without a warrant. The phone companies are giving away our information like it was free. Supposedly we’re “cracking down” on illegal immigration but really, the immigrants, legal or otherwise, are the only ones that seem to understand and care about the freedoms and opportunities this very country affords each of us every single day. Don’t stand for it! Don’t let the government and corporate America tell you who you can talk to, what you can do with the very goods you buy and for God’s sake… don’t give up your privacy! To those that would say “if you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about”, please take a moment to understand that by giving up your privacy you are also giving up your freedom. Not just your freedom of speech but your freedom to be an individual.

Wow, I’m just not sure what to think about this. On one hand, I applaud the efforts of those looking out for our nations children. On the other, I’m not a big fan of laws that govern common sense. I have no doubt that the smoking of my parents and family members did some harm. I certainly would have liked it if they had not smoked at all let alone around me but would I call it abuse that they did? I don’t think so. Sure, when I was a child parents knew smoking was bad but probably not to the extent that they know today so I suppose ignorance was partly to blame for this. Today, with all of the information available about the effects of smoking and second hand smoke, I do think it is incredibly irresponsible for parents, grandparents and adults in general to smoke around their children or any child for that matter. Is it neglect or abuse though? Probably not. Irresponsible and incredibly selfish? Absolutely. Worth passing into law to make it illegal? Who the hell knows.

It appears that some in the soda industry may in fact have some common sense! I am actually impressed the the Coca-Cola and Pepsi Companies for taking a proactive and responsible role in the health and welfare of our nations youth.