Cigarette tax to control behavior of minority is unconstitutional

The applause meter for the federal government tripling the excise tax on a package of cigarettes is off the chart in many circles as its two-fold intent – funding children’s health care and slaying the evil tobacco dragon – is hard not to like. Smokers, or one in five Americans, are now social pariahs – ranking with big oil, SUV drivers, global warming skeptics, Wall Street Bankers, the wealthy 1 percent and former President Bush as resident malignancies by the enlightened majority.