Not all that long ago we had a small event in Boston change the course of history. Of course the event I am referring to is the Boston Tea Party. This is something that occurred as a result of government officials attempting to steal from citizens by forcing them to pay a tax on a piece of societies ideals of normalcy. This was such an important event that several very lengthy debates about taxation and representation occurred when our founding fathers framed the constitution and the bill of rights. How sad is it that we have swept our rights to the side and allow the government to control and profit from such absurdities today. The ridiculous taxes on cigarettes, the crazy taxes on a gallon of gasoline, the out right absurdity that Patterson is now attempting to pass the “fat tax”. What’s next taxes on the air we breath? Who’s side is Patterson on? A few months ago he championed the New York workers compensation “rocket docket” which effectively removes the rights an injured worker has to privacy and allows corporate insurance companies to violate rights to find ways to snake out of their responsibilities to the workers of New York. I am not represented, are you? Punishing citizens for their personal choices is against everything this great country was founded on! Isn’t it bad enough that the feds went into your bank account and stole money to give to irresponsible companies. Now they want to rob you again! This is absurd. If this bill passes I will be taking to the streets to stand up for my guaranteed rights! This is about so much more than a soda, this is about how far we will let the government extend their hands into places they don’t belong. I hope you will voice your opinions loudly on this issue whether yea or nay. Its not starting here but I certainly hope that it is ending here. Where would our governor be today had we ignored anti- discrimination laws yesterday, last week, last month, a decade ago? This is discrimination. Smokers are discriminated against, Indians are discriminated against, innocent law abiding citizens are discriminated against every day. It is time the government starts to fear us again instead of us being afraid of them.