For some reason, I missed this one last week. The AP reports that Rep. Paul Smith, D-Rome (GA) is pushing for a state wide ban on smoking in your vehicle when there is a young child present. In its current form, it only covers cars where a child is strapped into a child seat. (Will the law of unintended consequences yield a lower usage of car seats?)

To me, the really scary part is that Smith says, "We've got to start somewhere." What does that mean? Does he plan to extend the ban to your home? You bet he does.

Anti-smoking laws originally started with separate smoking sections in airplanes. Over time, they have evolved into not only a ban on airplanes, but a ban in many towns, restaurants, clubs, and work places. Soon you won't be allowed to smoke in your car, and eventually your house. Every year, we get closer to a prohibition of tobacco. Now it is even starting to spread to fatty foods and other pleasures.

Anyone who remembers history knows that prohibition doesn't work. In fact, prohibition spreads crime and takes the government regulation that is so coveted by liberals, completely out of the equation. With prohibition comes the black market, which will open up cigarettes to anyone with the money to buy them. Ironically, prohibition will undo the smoking age limit that anti-smokers pushed so hard to get passed.

Will they ever learn? Probably not.