Great commentary! And lots of good information. I think your choice of many words was exquisite: "blur into libertarianism"; and especially "indifferentism". I just want to say thanks.....I am very old and many times I feel sad about being very old. Now I am not sad anymore. I would not want to be what you refer to as a "millennial". Nor a "GenX" either. Although my generation made too many mistakes, and partook of too many wars, I believe it was so much better than what I now see coming down the pike.
As an avid proponent and user of e cigarettes, I thoroughly believe that this invention might be the best thing to come down the pike in years. I have kicked a few addictions over the years, but nicotine has been the most difficult. Sure, I have quit for a few years off and on, but some crisis has always come along for me to reluctantly purchase a pack. I personally know any number of people who have quit smoking w the help of this product, but equally important are the people, who I have acquainted, who have become vapors and completely switched to the E's.
The new regulations in various cities are simply idiotic. To ban e-cigarette use in the same manner as the regular stuff will encourage smokers to continue their smelly, deadly habits. Is this really what these municipalities want? It's entirely a knee jerk reaction without any thought whatsoever. Further more, as a rebellious child of the sixties, I take great pleasure wondering how it will ever be enforced? E- cigarettes can be smoked ever so discretely leaving no evidence. Retract these regulations.
As to inducing children to become addicted to nicotine, that's malarky as well. Kids smoke due to peer pressure and not much else. If a kid is going to smoke anyway, wouldn't parents, of which I am one, prefer them reluctantly to smoke e cigarettes? I agree there should be no advertising, but there should be no advertising for liquor of any type as well.
Ultimately, e cigarettes will be the death nell for regular tobacco.