Very true. Most of these posts turn into 'I hate the goverment' and it probably turns off 1/2 the people that might otherwise offer support. I think it helps the overall cause if it's kept as apolitical as possible. If possible.
A hostile or confrontational attitude, whether that be toward government, the pharmaceutical industry or the
tobacco industry, does no good. Government may ultimately decide our fate. Open aggravation of the pharmaceutical industry could cause them to dig in and attempt to go for bounty on their own part and they have an established relationship with the FDA. While association with the tobacco industry may bring unwanted attention to us, they none-the-less may offer improvements. We needn't embrace them, but hostility helps us none. They are and will continue to be players in the larger scheme of things, if not in the United States, world-wide for certain. A 'known evil,' and established may be more comfortable in some ways than a new and unknown murky industry associated by some commonality of product.
I still don't understand what you want to the juice suppliers to do or how that what would be enforced.
In the best of worlds, matters would stay as they are now...free commerce and no direct regulation. It seems to be the predominant mindset among many participants in ECF that taxation is inevitable. I think alternatives can be considered.
For government to become involved in regulation and taxation, there must be health, welfare and safety concerns...at least to justify intervention. If the e-nicotine industry gets serious about avoiding government control, they must take action. Obviously such action needs to be focused upon the health, welfare and safety concerns of nicotine.
The industry needs to identify the concerns of supply, distribution and quality control among others. A positive approach that assures authority, 'We understand your concerns and here's what we can do,' will more likely be better received than hostility.
Among the things that can be done by the industry are
oversight of the supply and distribution process of e-nicotine
Standards regarding qualities of e-juice
Standards for preparation of e-juice
Safety guidelines for home-mixers and end users
No doubt this list could be expanded.
If the industry will take the lead in this rather than wringing our hands, fretting and commiserating about the terrible taxes and regulations that will be laid upon us, some of the fears expressed on these matters may not materialize.
Rather than hurling epitaphs at "the antis," and attempting to counter every word that might not be in our favor, our leadership needs to develop a positive and pro-active relationship with authority, define the concerns least they be defined for us and offer solutions least they be dictated to us.
Self-regulation from within an industry is not necessarily a panacea and it is not without costs. However, self-regulation may be the only thing we have to offer.
