Big Nanny Is Watching You

Seattle Weekly ^ | 1/18/06 | Philip Dawdy

[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.

[elkfersupper]

Does Free Republic seem to have the hiccups? Or is it just me.

Weird error messages, lots of double posts.

[oldtimer]

Der Oberfurhers of the smoker gestapos in Washington need to go pound sand.

These pious bstrds are typical rats who lover personal freedom when it comes to burning the US flag, and then want to tell us how to live our lives.

Barf

[RMDupree]

Yeah, lots of error messages lately. It's gotten worse tonight.

I have to hit the back button and refresh the thread whenever I run into the error message at the end of a post.

[Gabz]

Well, I do not believe that I have the right to smoke in anyone's property if they don't want me to do so. But I sure as hell have the right to light up in my own buildings, and anyone else's building who agrees with me, while drinking Mad Dog 20/20 AND schlitz if I feel like it!!!!

Bingo.

I did finish reading the whole thing, and while I don't agree with some of his side comments, on the whole he hit the nail pretty much on the head.

[teenyelliott]

testing, testing, is this mike on?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[SAJ]

Schlitz? Ah, fond memories of when that was actually a beer.

Go for the gusto, T.E. ... heh, heh, heh...

[metesky]

My gaydar is buzzing like mad...

[gakrak]

I don't smoke, but just looking at this guy makes me want to slap him. Amen.

[metesky]

I hate to do this to you guys, but this is too delicious to resist:

eleni121, they have your picture in the Seattle Weekly!

[SheLion]

Oh my goodness. hehe!

[Gabz]

That picture is just SOOOOOOOOOOOOO perfect!!!!

[elkfersupper]

Excellent!

I was going to post that, but already met my self-imposed one pic per thread limit.

[Mears]

metesky,you are baaaad !!!!!

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[Smokin' Joe]

Last fall, as smoking-ban advocates campaigned for I-901, the state Department of Health rolled out an aggressive $2.1 million campaign targeting smoking and smokers. The campaign includes television ads, bus placards, billboards, and a Web site.

Anyone want to bet the money for this came from the tobacco settlement?

Thanks for the warning, though, just one more place I'll never visit.

[Smokin' Joe]

How many time have we tried to tell the gnatzis, even on this forum, that food would be next? It is happening already.

First, they ban the commercials, then the warning label, and it escalates from there...

[The Foolkiller]

BWAhhhHHAAAaaaHHAAAHA!!!! Good one, metesky!

[elkfersupper]

Bump.

Back after a work sabbatical.