[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Whether you call it “social engineering”, “social marketing” or just plain “health-Nazism” — the focus of anti-smoking campaigns has been to “denormalize” smoking.

The part of that campaign that bothers me the most is the attack on “second-hand” smoking. It bothers me, because it's all based on lies and exaggeration. The strategy was to scare people about the “dangers” of second-hand smoke; so that they would support bans on smoking indoors. It's worked so well that they're even banning smoking outdoors (in parks, near government buildings, etc.) The smoke-fascists know full-well that second-hand smoke isn't harmful. The real intent is to turn all smokers into social lepers — and that's working too. It's scary how easily public opinion can be molded.

(BTW, I don't smoke & except for smoking a pipe for a while in college, and the odd cigar — I never have.)

[Eric Blair 2084]

You’re smart. You get it. Most people don’t.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I also wonder if the number of smokers has actually declined or just the amount of people who admit that they do.