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Big Nanny Is Watching You
Seattle Weekly ^ | 1/18/06 | Philip Dawdy

Posted on 01/19/2006 5:59:53 PM PST by elkfersupper

A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Roger Valdez, director of tobacco prevention for Public Health– Seattle & King County. He is in charge of Seattle-area enforcement of the statewide smoking ban approved by voters in November. I call him the tobacco czar.

We were talking about how enforcement was working out, including the 25-foot rule. In the midst of our chat, Valdez said something remarkable.

"Americans think they have a lot of rights they really don't have. Smoking is one of those things where people think they have the right to smoke, but you don't." He used "you" in the plural. "You have no right to smoke. It's an addiction. It's something you should see a doctor about."

He went on to tell me that people have no right to smoke even in their private residences.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattleweekly.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: antismoking; libertarian; mrsgrundy; nannystate; pufflist; smoking
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To: DakotaRed
Perhaps if we all switched to pot, we would have a right then?

Last I heard, King County voted to make pot a minimal crime, the same time they voted down their Starbucks Tax.

He addresses this in the article, calling it "typical stoner logic". Good stuff.

21 posted on 01/19/2006 6:46:00 PM PST by Junior_G
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To: elkfersupper

These people are called progressive? Something is missing here.


22 posted on 01/19/2006 6:46:02 PM PST by TheLion
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To: appleharvey

Can I spit a brown glob on his shoe?


23 posted on 01/19/2006 6:48:06 PM PST by Dawggie
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To: appleharvey
Perhaps, but he reminds me of someone who used to be stuffed in a locker during my high school days.

You and I think alike.

When I first saw the photo, I must confess I was thinking "How can we intrude on this guy's life - ban the chess club? Or is it hacky-sack?"

24 posted on 01/19/2006 6:48:33 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: 45Auto

Yeah, I like how it's the conservatives supposedly trying to ban free speech. (cough) Tipper (cough).


25 posted on 01/19/2006 6:50:11 PM PST by wizardoz
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To: elkfersupper


It's not "progressive" it's subversive. That's all it aims to do.


26 posted on 01/19/2006 6:52:16 PM PST by LauraleeBraswell
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To: Gabz
Here is a thumbs-down to the Smokefree D.C. do-gooders and the D.C. Council,

...and here is my one finger salute to nico-nazis and DC in general. Like they have nothing more important to deal with than to screw smokers.

Not to change the subject but how is their utopian gun ban doing these days? Lets see now: gun bans and smoking bans that sounds like heaven to me and is definitely my destination if I relocate.......(/sarcasm)

27 posted on 01/19/2006 6:53:39 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I break for pikas, swerve for skunks and accelerate for possum......squirrels are on their own)
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To: caisson71
And this is where it should end.

It's moving into gear over here, too.

And it's not going to stop before I die, so I hope I die before it gets bad.

28 posted on 01/19/2006 6:54:07 PM PST by Psycho_Bunny (Base. All Yours = Mine.)
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To: elkfersupper

I was in Seattle last week. The "25 foot rule" has got to be the most ignored law on the books.


29 posted on 01/19/2006 6:58:20 PM PST by Doohickey (If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...I will choose freewill.)
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To: elkfersupper

I was in Seattle last week. The "25 foot rule" has got to be the most ignored law on the books.


30 posted on 01/19/2006 6:58:35 PM PST by Doohickey (If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...I will choose freewill.)
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To: elkfersupper

I was in Seattle last week. The "25 foot rule" has got to be the most ignored law on the books.


31 posted on 01/19/2006 6:58:40 PM PST by Doohickey (If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...I will choose freewill.)
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To: elkfersupper

I was in Seattle last week. The "25 foot rule" has got to be the most ignored law on the books.


32 posted on 01/19/2006 6:58:49 PM PST by Doohickey (If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...I will choose freewill.)
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To: elkfersupper

I was in Seattle last week. The "25 foot rule" has got to be the most ignored law on the books.


33 posted on 01/19/2006 6:59:13 PM PST by Doohickey (If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...I will choose freewill.)
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To: elkfersupper
Oh, I am angry. But I feel helpless against the socialist masses.

Sometimes, that makes me an activist. But sometimes, it just makes me tired.

34 posted on 01/19/2006 7:02:19 PM PST by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: elkfersupper
Oh, I am angry. But I feel helpless against the socialist masses.

Sometimes, that makes me an activist. But sometimes, it just makes me tired.

35 posted on 01/19/2006 7:02:38 PM PST by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: elkfersupper
Oh, I am angry. But I feel helpless against the socialist masses.

Sometimes, that makes me an activist. But sometimes, it just makes me tired.

36 posted on 01/19/2006 7:03:29 PM PST by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: elkfersupper
When I first saw the photo, I must confess I was thinking "How can we intrude on this guy's life - ban the chess club? Or is it hacky-sack?"

First thing I thought is: circle-jerk.

How many times do you think he's watched Brokeback Mountain?

And to make it worse...alone!

37 posted on 01/19/2006 7:04:47 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Doohickey
The "25 foot rule" has got to be the most ignored law on the books.

Ignoring the law breeds contempt for the law. Thus, laws likely to be ignored should not be passed; and if they are passed, they should be repealed at the first opportunity. Otherwise, we descend into anarchy.

38 posted on 01/19/2006 7:08:13 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: teenyelliott
Der Oberfurhers of the smoker gestophan have spoken!

Tell them to go pound sand!

Where is the shelion?

39 posted on 01/19/2006 7:11:21 PM PST by oldtimer
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To: teenyelliott
Der Oberfurhers of the smoker gestophan have spoken!

Tell them to go pound sand!

Where is the shelion?

40 posted on 01/19/2006 7:11:30 PM PST by oldtimer
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