Posted on 01/08/2005 9:20:21 AM PST by SheLion
I am surprised Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson didn’t refer to the smokers as swine in a pig sty. Isn’t that, after all one of the one of the first images that comes to mind when think of a pen? Before I am offended by “da mayor” I would have to be offended by the reference to the term smoking pens. In a city and state that was founded by a group of people so seriously reviled for their own beliefs in years past, you would think they would be among the first to take a “live and let live” attitude about the behavior and choices of others. Clearly the past lessons learned about intolerance by the Mormons must now have been forgotten.
Only 88 airports nationwide is hardly a mandate to make one’s own airport smoke free. Furthermore if these “smoking kiosks” are eliminated it will only cause people to find other places to smoke. Delta Airlines is correct in standing behind the rights of the smokers. Perhaps they have taken note that incidence of “air rage” only became prevalent AFTER smoking was banned on aircraft. It should also be noted that since the ban, they no longer use fresh air to ventilate the planes; instead, they just run the air through a filtrations system which in an enclosed environment further exacerbates the problem.
Mayor Anderson’s pompous arrogance in stating that the ban will help smokers to “break the habit” is outrageous. It is not his job to be neither a social engineer nor the arbiter of personal choices. I do know however, that as long as Salt Lake City and Utah continue down this Draconian path of heavy handed intolerance, I will avoid their state in very way possible. I will not travel to it, I will not travel thru it, and I will not support my company scheduling a convention there.
BANS ARE BAD! Read it again, BANS ARE BAD! Banning blacks from white facilities---BAD! Banning books---BAD! Banning Beer---Bad! If the people of Utah agree that these bans are bad, then they must also agree that banning smoking is also BAD! I would certainly hope at this juncture they are starting to realize that any action, that would favor a smoking ban of any type, will only create far more harm than good. IN all fairness I should note their may be one kind of good ban. That of course would be banning Mayor Anderson from further political office at the next election.
IMHO, the otherwise unemployable found a mother lode to be exploited just by doing the math. Smokers are outnumbered, the tobacco settlement disgorged huge amounts of cash aided by the unproductive members of society and it's off and running. Maynard G. Krebbs has found a paying job, with no heavy lifting, and all he has to do is pester smokers.
The indoctrination in the public "education" system didn't hurt their cause either.
The weak are in ascendancy.
As you say, it is irrelevant whether or not I post a comment directly to you so.
You whined about a post I made to you, without including me in on the whine.
That's the difference.
I am baffled too.
It wasn't the "Clinton" years, it wasn't the Reagan years, it wasn't anybody's years. I suspect it is an increasing societal intolerance of anything that offends anybody with today's smokers being the target of choice. During the Clinton years, after the tobacco industry was successfully dealt with by the lawyers and government, they turned their sights on the firearms industry. Fortunately, thru the efforts of the firearms lobbies and their memberships, they were able to convince their respective senators and congressmen that support of anti-gun legislation would mean the end of their political careers.
However, those same individuals and organizations which I so vociferously supported in their efforts to preserve our 2nd Amendment rights, have shown their true colors. Specifically, they support what is important to themselves while conveniently turning a blind eye to issues which do not affect them directly.
The carefully planned propaganda machines created by the lawyers and various government agencies have successfully created the new Hitler era "Jew"........the reviled SMOKER!
Make no mistake about it, as I said in a previous post, the propagandists have successfully identified a target, convinced the populace that that target would do them harm, successfully stigmatized that target, implemented legislation against that target via taxes and ultimately will use the force of law to imprison them...........
Now I like her even better!!!!!!
We smokers are a tough bunch----we hang in until the very last puff is smoked!
I truly believe I was born in the wrong time and place. I would have much preferred the era where men were hard working and honorable, women were women and people pretty much minded their own damn business. The era where your primary concern was someone trying to steal your horse and you had the right to shoot him on the spot.............
If I ever get to Texas, I'll look you up and you can tell me some stories about life on the rigs........ Take Care
I might not have lived as long, but I would have been a helluva lot happier.
That would be a joy for me, HT!
When you head this way, let me know, and I'll make arrangements to meet you.
LOL!
Ain't it the truth!!
Reminds me of a story:
A man I worked for offshore several years ago quit smoking.
He came out to the rig one day about six months after he quit, and he was sitting in my office when I lit a cigarette. He started coughing and hacking and his eyes watered and his nose ran. I apologized to him and put it out.
He said, "You know, I never had any allergies until I quit smoking. Now I'm eat up with allergies! I can't even mow the damn grass without a respirator! I always went to the bars and smoked and drank and shot pool; now I can't even go in one without nearly dying."
I said, "Do you reckon it's worth it?"
He said, "I'm beginning to have my doubts!"
I haven't seen him in years so I don't know if he's still off the cigarettes or not, but, to me, it wouldn't be worth it.
You've got that right----I get one bad cold about every 18 months and that's it,and I'm as old as dirt! LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.