I’m a non-smoker. Always have been, even though I grew up in an era where everyone, including my own parents, smoked. But this is beyond anything reasonable and points out, yet again, that health is really secondary to the activists agenda.
New York City to smokers: Butt out of our parks.Health Commissioner Thomas Farley announced yesterday he wants to ban smoking in public parks and city beaches as part of a plan to make New Yorkers healthier.
“We don’t think children, parents, when they’re standing at soccer games, should have to be breathing in smoke from the person next to them,” Farley said after unveiling the city’s 10-point plan alongside Mayor Bloomberg.
“We don’t think our children should have to be watching someone smoke.” [...]
The mayor said his anti-smoking agenda includes glaring, “with not a particularly nice look,” at smokers gathered outside buildings.
Oh, it is right and good that public schools teach grade schoolers how to put condoms on bananas, but catch sight of a person with a lit cigarette??!! AAAIIIEEEEEEEE!!!1!!1!
(h/t Walter Olson)
Comment by happyfeet on 9/19 @ 11:22 am #
Someone should walk up to Mayor For Life Bloomberg Chavez and kick him in his poncey nuts and then run away while someone else films it and youtubes the video of poor pathetic Mayor For Life Bloomberg Chavez lying helplessly on a New York sidewalk grabbing his nuts and moaning in pain.
That would be funny.
Comment by ccoffer on 9/19 @ 11:22 am #
Bigots.
Comment by Bob Reed on 9/19 @ 11:34 am #
When I lived in the People’s Republic of Maryland, a similar stunt was tried; the anti-tobacco forces declared jihad on second hand smoke, and attempted to ban smoking on the seaside boardwalk in Ocean City! I remember strolling down it’s 2.5 mile length one day, only to be stopped by petitioners taking signatures in support of the ban…
I listened to thier absurd arguments politely. But when the were finished and trying to roll the pen down the paper, I reminded them of a few inconvenient truths; that we were speaking about banning smoking outdoors!, and there was a near constant breeze at the seashore which immediately dispersed any smoke emitted, and that Maryland, having been among the larger of the tobacco producing states, had enjoyed much prosperity, jobs, and tax money from eeeeevoll tobacco over the years.
The volunteer looked at me with a non-plussed expression and that familiar, cult or drug induced, thousand yard stare; and evidently didn’t listen to a word I said. Because upon completeing my remarks, she immediately began to entreat me to sign it once again, upping the ante to the old stand by, “do it for the children“…
Needless to say, I didn’t sign it. But, as liberal as Maryland is, it can’t compare to the number of ultra-liberals in NYC. I regret admitting that I believe this measure will most certainly pass; they’ll do it for the children!
And along with the stifling tax rates it’ll be just another reason to leave NY; just like what’s going on in California…
Comment by Silver Whistle on 9/19 @ 11:36 am #
I’d like to see them put a condom on a cigarette.
Comment by McGehee on 9/19 @ 12:00 pm #
SW, I’ll bet that would make it hard to light.
Comment by sdferr on 9/19 @ 12:03 pm #
So free is our happy nation that some of our fellows can dedicate their lives to doing good like this, diminishing the freedoms we’ve taken for granted so long. By gosh by golly they’re swell for reminding us.
Comment by SBP on 9/19 @ 12:22 pm #
#5 Also smell funny when lit. Maybe like one of those French “cigarettes”.
Comment by Silver Whistle on 9/19 @ 12:28 pm #
No, chaps, you’re thinking of those French letters.
Comment by Alec Leamas on 9/19 @ 12:29 pm #
In Obamerica, the Tabacconist’s shop is second only to Ye Olde Gune Shoppe as a gathering place for those who wish to subvert our new Progg overlords.
You might want to take up smoking some dainty ladies’ cigarillos, Darleen.
Comment by Alec Leamas on 9/19 @ 12:33 pm #
I’ll just add that whenever those Commie fcuks start on the second-hand smoke, one should always nod politely in agreement, and then ask – passionately – what they propose to do about third hand smoke?
Comment by Silver Whistle on 9/19 @ 12:34 pm #
And those leaf-burning bastards. They should be hung. Gaia only knows what damage they do.
Comment by sdferr on 9/19 @ 12:36 pm #
Here’s a thought from Irving Kristol, written in conclusion of his 1960 review of F.A. Hayek’s The Constitution of Liberty:
Comment by TaiChiWawa on 9/19 @ 12:51 pm #
It’s freedom, don’t you know. Freedom from tobacco, trans-fats, firearms, carbon, offensive speech, wealth, religious belief, personal responsibility, …
Comment by Silver Whistle on 9/19 @ 12:53 pm #
Well spin my nipple nuts and send me to Alaska. I thought neocons were all about the liberty thing:
I’ll have to do a spot of reading on this heresy. Nice of Mr Kristol to tip his hat to the last Whig, but was this appreciation of libery a gradual evolution among neocons?
Comment by ccoffer on 9/19 @ 12:55 pm #
Methane is the real problem. Every time I know someone hasn’t eaten Beano®, and has instead decided to destroy the Blessed Uncreated Earth with their irresponsible ass-gas, I beat their face out the back of their head with a tire iron…because I’m a good person who loves his mother.
Selah
Comment by Carin on 9/19 @ 12:57 pm #
Fuck them. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I was watching a soccer game (five kids play soccer) and someone lit up a smoke next to me.
These people have become unhinged from reality. I honestly don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about.
Comment by sdferr on 9/19 @ 12:58 pm #
SW, here’s a link to the links that may begin provide the historical fodder that’ll answer your question on the evolution of neocons.
Comment by Silver Whistle on 9/19 @ 1:03 pm #
Thanks sdferr, looks like I have some homework to do. Meanwhile, enjoy the important news this weekend.
Comment by McGehee on 9/19 @ 1:07 pm #
Was Kristol a neocon in 1960? I thought neoconnism was invented on 9/12/2001 when GWBushitler decided Saddam Hussein personally flew all three jets into American buildings.
At least, that’s the way I kept hearing it from the anti-neocon Judenhassers.
Comment by geoffb on 9/19 @ 1:07 pm #
Seems to me that losing liberties is not doing something “for the children” but doing something “to the children” both born and yet to be.
Comment by sdferr on 9/19 @ 1:12 pm #
Ah, sorry SW, haven’t got time to take in Ozzie’s travails, gotta rush off for smokes.
McGehee, I read somewhere yesterday that the term was invented by Michael Harrington round ‘70-something, so no, there really weren’t any recognized neocons in the ’60’s.
Comment by pdbuttons on 9/19 @ 1:42 pm #
ten yr oldtatum oneal smoked in paper moon and look at how she turned ou..
nevermind
Comment by Joe on 9/19 @ 2:01 pm #
Make no mistake, this is also about revenue gathering. I can almost get the beach part, if it was geared to people not leaving butts in the sand. But parks?
Bloomberg hates smoking and his staff wants to generate revenue. Win Win from that perspective.
Comment by Darleen on 9/19 @ 2:30 pm #
You might want to take up smoking some dainty ladies’ cigarillos, Darleen
Alec, if they’re serving drinks, I’ll hang out in that Tobacco Shop. I just wish more men would take up pipe smoking…that smells wonderful!
Comment by pdbuttons on 9/19 @ 2:37 pm #
my tobacconist {19 Beale st/ quincy Mass.)[Dot’s Smokeshop)
said my elbow patches were too new..i’ve been shut- off!
guess i’ll git my fiddle and corn-cob out
all funny aside/ i agree/ on that sweet smell
Comment by guinsPen on 9/19 @ 3:13 pm #
Patches, I’m depending on you, son,
To run get me a pack of Luckies.
Comment by pdbuttons on 9/19 @ 3:31 pm #
i disagree/ patches was to unborn or young by the time tedmo was smoking the finest tobbacky deee-livered by the finest tobbacky
girls in these 57 heinz states [ha-throw ur medals/jr.senator/ wind surf lurch)
but i always get my thang lit…
now in hell i’m thinking of quiting my evil ways..
funny…idin’t?
Comment by Barbula on 9/19 @ 4:22 pm #
Down here in Mississippi I can smoke my cigar in the clubhouse of my Golfclub – and not a few of the other drinking establishments around town.
It would take meathooks and a tractor to drag me back North of Tennessee.
Comment by Republican on Acid on 9/19 @ 4:32 pm #
Darleen, you can’t make babies with cigarettes!
I haven’t smoked for 9 months. Probably the smartest thing I have ever done in my life. Still, I am always sickened by a government or people expecting the government to force “health” upon its citizens. It’s retarded, and of course, FOR THE CHILDREN.
First axiom of political responsibility is to NEVER trust any politician that claims they are doing ANYTHING, “FOR THE CHILDREN.”
Comment by Jeffersonian on 9/19 @ 7:44 pm #
Has anyone else noticed that the drop in the number and percentage of people smoking in the US has corresponsed with health care costs skyrocketing? I thought it was supposed to reduce them, but if doesn’t seem to be helping.
Comment by SDN on 9/19 @ 8:53 pm #
Jeffersonian, one of the dirty little secrets of the tobacco lawsuits is that the statistics showed that whatever smokers cost in extra health care was more than made up for by the health care, pension and Social Security savings when they died early. The tobacco companies made the conscious decision not to use this as a defense to the charge that they owed money for the health damage they caused, because they understood the whole argument that “killing old farts early is the surest way to save money on health care” was a PR nightmare. Obama has since turned this into a law of nature.
Moron.
Comment by SDN on 9/19 @ 8:54 pm #
That moron was for O!, not you.
Comment by SDN on 9/19 @ 8:55 pm #
Maybe I should have spelled it mO!ron for clarity…
Comment by Ron on 9/19 @ 10:06 pm #
Speaking of tobacco… you know Betsy McCaughey, don’t you? She’s the right wing hack who propagated a purposely misleading article in The New Republic that was used to torpedo the Clinton health plan, and more recently the author of the “death panels” lie.
McCaughey’s lies were later debunked in a 1995 post-mortem in The Atlantic, and The New Republic recanted the piece in 2006. But what has not been reported until now is that McCaughey’s writing was influenced by Phillip Morris, the world’s largest tobacco company, as part of a secret campaign to scuttle Clinton’s health care reform. (The measure would have been funded by a huge increase in tobacco taxes.) In an internal company memo from March 1994, the tobacco giant detailed its strategy to derail Hillarycare through an alliance with conservative think tanks, front groups and media outlets.
Comment by Darleen on 9/19 @ 11:32 pm #
Ron
“Death panels” is not a lie.
Comment by Pawn on 9/20 @ 5:53 am #
I remember when the Russians first showed up at the Kennedy Space Center to work on the Space Station. They smoked like fiends and were totally freaked out that they had to go outside the building to light up. Their general comment was, “What kind of free country is America?”
Comment by Mark A. Flacy on 9/20 @ 7:52 pm #
ROTFLMAO!
You fuckers are as dim as a .0005 watt bulb.
Here’s a hint: if you expect to make money off of taxing the use of an item, you should make it very convenient to use.
Comment by Squid on 9/21 @ 10:06 am #
I keep clicking on the sources Ron linked, but none of the links are working.
I guess Ron’s Internet must be broken.
Comment by Ken Hill on 9/28 @ 1:45 pm #
This letter, from a non-smoker, refers to all anti-smoking legislations.
*An open letter that was emailed to all (103) Ontario, Canada, government MPP’s in early May, 2008. No replies! This non-response reflects government without a sense of responsibility or a foundation for their actions!
Betrayal, Anti-Smoking Message is Like Fascism that Preys Upon Our Children
We must not look within ourselves. We may discover what we are becoming!
Moral judgement is the mirror, mirror, on the wall image, always lurking in our mind, like an alter-conscience, prepared to reveal the frightening truth, in our soul, such as the undeserved vengefulness, at any cost, wielded against smokers. Even betrayal, of the next generation, becomes palatable within self-betrayal.
This remorseless mental/emotional preying upon, our precious children, recklessly poisons their mind and spirit, under the government’s pernicious slogan “health and safety.”
By supporting anti-smoking, we endorse and promote Fascism, an historically proven scurvy upon humanity!
The inevitable shame, of our past actions, can still be averted, by rescinding this government agenda!
The most”dangerous smoke” comes not from cigarettes, instead from the government smoke screen to obscure from view, that the real issue is Capitalism and science versus Fascism and politicized environmentalism, not ‘health and safety.’
Science and politicized environmentalism are colliding worlds, science being the height of pursuing truth, politicized environmentalism the depth of distorting truth. Anti-smoking is part of politicized environmentalism and the attempted foundation of Fascism!
Do we therefore side with Capitalism, science, Second World War troops and our allies– honour; or do we side with Fascism, politicized environmentalism, our enemies of the Second World War– disgrace? Thus far we blindly follow our enemies and disgrace!
From the mouth of Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, “It doesn’t matter what is true; it only matters what people believe is true…..You are what the media define you to be. Greenpeace became a myth and a myth-generating machine.” We deserve truth, not half-truths and propaganda!
For any high ranking government official that lack this critical knowledge, they are in their office under false pretenses. They are unprepared to govern. Their present course of anti-smoking legislations is the proof of that statement.
In the words of Psychotherapist Nathaniel Branden, “I was acutely conscious of the pressure to ‘adapt’ and to absorb the values of the ‘tribe’—family, community and culture. It seemed to me that what was asked was the surrender of my judgement and also my conviction that my life and what I made of it was of the highest possible value. I saw my contemporaries surrendering and losing their fire. Why was growing up equated with giving up?”
Philosopher/Novelist Ayn Rand wrote, “If some demagogue were to offer us, as a guiding creed, the following tenets: that statistics should be substituted for truth, vote-counting for principles, numbers for rights, and public polls for morality–that pragmatic, range-of-the-moment expediency should be the criterion of a country’s interests, and that the number of its adherents should be the criterion of an idea’s truth or falsehood–that any desire of any nature whatsoever should be accepted as a valid claim, provided it is held by a sufficient number of people–that a majority may do anything it pleases to a minority–in short, gang rule and mob rule–if a demagogue were to offer it, he would not get very far. Yet all of it is contained in–and camouflaged by–the notion of ‘Government by Consensus.”
‘Rule by Consensus,’ (Rule by health care pressure group) is todays’ anti-ideology in government. Appeasement of these power-lusting, health care pressure groups is of higher priority than our children and all other tax payers, voters, and citizens. The permeating emotion from ‘Rule by Consensus’ is demoralizing, debilitating fear instead of an optimistic view of the future.
Note this recent example, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said he wouldn’t entertain a ban (smoking in cars with children) because it amounts to “too much intrusion into people’s private lives.” The logical interpretation of this statement is that the entire anti-smoking movement eliminates smoker’s individual rights, and has always been an intrusion into a smoker’s family dynamic. Now, the Ontario government is prepared, in predictable flip-flop fashion, to enact such a ban.
In ignobility, many people have misaligned themself with politicized environmentalism, despite the fact that 1930’s, 1940’s, Germany used “politicized ecology and public health” to base its rationalizations. Are we predisposed to mistakenly mirror the historic footsteps of self-loathing mass destruction? No! Everyone has an individual mind and conscience, above party politics. Be true to them, follow your courage (truth) and dethrone your fear (fallacy). Rescind this government’s shameful anti-smoking agenda.
References:
Paul Watson – Environmental Overkill, (Whatever happened to common sense) – book
Psychotherapist Nathaniel Branden, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem – book
Ayn Rand – Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal – book
Comment by Ken Hill on 9/28 @ 1:52 pm #
Government Will Make Smokers, Children, Families, Sick
Government’s that foster anti-smoking policies lead the real health epidemic, government interference. They are not using science as their competent guide into the future. Instead they use the deep festering envy of politicized environmentalists (those unable to compete on a level playing field) to revisit remnants of the dark ages. The profound statement of philosopher/novelist Ayn Rand echoes the truth that smothers us, “Today, we live in the age of envy.”
I am a life-long non-smoker, who has lost the four most precious people in my life. Cancer was the effect, a consequence, but not the cause. Yet, I will not help to propagandize health into dictatorial policy through anti-smoking. I do not wish to repeat the 1930’s, 1940’s. Do you?
Exactly how can our government “create a healthier society for all” when they betray the smoker’s sense of trust, demoralize their self-confidence, disrupt their employer-employee relationships, upheave their family life, and undermind their efficacy by alienating them from their own human nature?
This destructive mind/body dichotomy will subject smoker’s to long-term emotional and mental disorders, thus leading to serious physical ailments. In reality, our government is making them sick.
A particularily foreboding feature of the mind/body dichotomy is the government’s suffocating negative influence while aggressively restricting young people from making their own decisions. Government aggression will severely jeopardize each young person’s struggle to form a necessary sense of self-confidence. This fragile process is usually a traumatic experience, especially when that negative influence is hidden under the misconception of government benevolence.
In reality, our government lacks the knowledge of the trigger mechanism that sets off most cancers or most other major diseases to then become a critical danger for human beings. It is not smoking, nor second-hand smoke. Then why does government pathetically use smoker’s as their scapegoat, perhaps they require an example in order to intimidate other industries?
Chicken Littleism is no longer a silly joke. It is now a snarling threat. Stamp out politicized environmentalism, not smokers.
Comment by His_wife83 on 10/22 @ 9:20 am #
The basic purpose, scope and principles of the document remain unchanged. ,
Comment by Loy16 on 10/23 @ 6:59 am #
What we hope to stress, therefore, is that talents and ideas are not a matter of age, but a matter of motivation and opportunity. ,