LOL, you're in the right place Hudobna. It may take a while to exorcise those few socialist demons acquired since birth but hang with us, you've the instincts of a freeper. :-}
It's not so easy and simple jwalsh07! Even when we had socialists and ex-communists running the country, I could smoke in a cafè.
Yes I am a smoker, I know it is bad, but I believe that should be my choice.
Now, also because of America's fixation for health, (America coughs and we sneeze) we now have RAUCHEN VERBOT. I'm not blaming the USA. Our own geniuses passed the law, but like all movements, good and bad, we looked to America for inspiration.
Now even if I go to a piano bar, no more blue-gray cloud over my cognac as I listen to Cole Porter music. I will die in perfect health.
I am for delegislation. I am fundamentally an anarchist for most things. Lawyers reason in such a way as to bring all things to their absurdly logical conclusion.
How can I win a debate? They are right, but they will inevitably invade a space of my life.
Eventually we will be perfect. I cannot smoke, I will have seatbelt, controlled car, rent controlled apartment, approved foods; I will not be able to tell an Indian to bury his hatchet (pun I don't understand not intended, unless it means something pretty obviously dirty); the food I eat will be measured for calories by law...
All good causes... How can I win a debate?
But what I fear is that the Cubans will be freer than us. They will have no constitutional rights, they will be politically oppressed, but each will have more personal human space directly around him. All formal human dignities denied, and that is bad, of course, but somehow freer in the many little things of life.
You know, nowadays when they build new roads, they measure what is called "Ecoligical Impact"... I wish they would do the same for our human souls (which also have a wild ecology) when they pass laws...
I guess that makes me a libertarian... I said something good about Socialists and ex-communists, something bad about America, and I even envied Cubans.
No, seriously what I'm saying is: I don't care if some minority doesn't want Christamas trees. Logically he might be right... There should be no favored religions... but we shouldn't be goverened only by the tyranny of logic... Follow human logic to the extreme and there is nothing but Nichilism. No one will celebrate, or celebrations will be like mayonnaise on white bread, bland. Happy Holidays? Happy Giving Trees?
Yes, perfectly fair and logical, lovely, but tasteless like a greenhouse tomato.
In the name of honoring diversity we kill it all.
They love to make laws. And we need laws, of course we do, but we too have a wild side. And when I read that NY Mayor Bloomberg (or something like that) will not even allow a smoke in the park... I don't like it. Also because our geniuses here will surely find inspiration.