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They're Coming After You
Worldnetdaily/Creators Syndicate, Inc. | 3-6-02 | Walter Williams

Posted on 03/06/2002 5:21:26 AM PST by farmall

They're coming after you

Posted: March 6, 2002 by: Walter Willaims

1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2002 Creators Syndicate, Inc.

Most Americans were pleased with the legislative attack on cigarette smokers, not to mention confiscatory tobacco taxes. We reveled in the Environmental Protection Agency's dishonest study concluding that second-hand smoke causes cancer. And, by the way, I'd like to hear whether the Food and Drug Administration would sanction pharmaceutical companies employing EPA's research methods to test drug safety – and if not, why not?

The real reason for the attack on smokers is that many people are offended by the tobacco odor. Unfortunately, in their quest to eliminate tobacco fumes, Americans are willing to trade away constitutional principles and rule of law.

Tyrants are never satisfied. They've lined up new victims. Surgeon General David Satcher has provided them with ammunition by describing obesity as America's No. 1 killer, costing 300,000 lives annually. As a result of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses, it's costing us billions upon billions of health dollars. That means, according to John Banzhaf of George Washington University School of Law and other tyrants, America's food industry is to blame and liable. New York University Professor Marion Nestle agrees, saying that the food industry "can't behave like cigarette companies. ... Yet there's a lot of people who benefit from people being fat and sick, and the whole setup is designed to make people eat more. So the response to the food industry should be very similar to what happened with the tobacco companies."

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is one of the Washington lobbies that wants to control what we eat. These tyrants not only propose taxes on what they deem as non-nutritious foods, they've also proposed a 5 percent tax on new television sets and video equipment, and a $65 tax on each new car or an extra penny per gallon of gas. You might ask why tax these items? CSPI Nazis see watching television and videos, and riding instead of walking, as contributing to obesity. And, as they see it, just as tobacco companies were responsible for people smoking, television manufacturers are responsible for people being couch potatoes, automobile companies are responsible for people riding instead of walking and the food industry is responsible for people eating too much.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has joined these tyrants. No reasonable person advocates drunk driving, but MADD has another agenda. It wishes to outlaw driving even after having one drink. It has successfully pushed Congress to lower the blood/alcohol level for a drunk-driving arrest to .08 percent. But its true agenda was revealed by Steve Simon, chairman of the Minnesota State DUI Task Force, when he said: "If .08 percent is good, .05 percent is better. That's where we're headed. It doesn't mean that we should get there all at once. But ultimately it should be .02 percent."

That's the way Nazis work – incrementally. If they had demanded Congress make the blood/alcohol .02, they wouldn't have gotten anything – not even .08 percent. I wouldn't be surprised if their ultimate agenda is alcohol prohibition.

The Center for Consumer Freedom keeps up-to-date information on these and other tyrants. You might say, "What's the fuss, Williams? These people will never get away with controlling what we eat and drink!" Think again. In the '60s, when the anti-smoking zealots were simply asking for smoking and non-smoking sections on airplanes, no one would have ever anticipated today's tobacco taxes, laws and regulations.

Most evil done in the world is done in the name of promoting this or that good. By turning away from rule of law and constitutional government, Americans are following in the footsteps of the decent Germans, who during the 1920s and '30s built the Trojan Horse that enabled Hitler to take over. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WorldNetDaily contributor Walter E. Williams is the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial
KEYWORDS: pufflist
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To: newgeezer
This is a restaurant in my neighborhood that I frequent every few months. I have NEVER seen anyone smoking there & was not aware it was allowed. The owner told me he would be very glad to see the law passed here against ALL smoking because that would "let him off the hook". Apparently he has trouble saying no to a couple of old clients who still smoke. He said he did say no to a guy who wanted to stoke up his pipe. The guy stalked off saying he would never return. Guess what? He has come back. ha ha
41 posted on 03/06/2002 8:06:46 AM PST by Ditter
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To: Ditter
The owner told me he would be very glad to see the law passed here against ALL smoking because that would "let him off the hook".

Rather than pass his own "no-smoking ordinance" to regulate what he feels is unwanted behavior on his own, private property, he wants his all-knowing, all-protecting, all-providing government to "let him off the hook."

If that's true, he's nothing but a pitiful, mealy-mouthed, spineless wimp (a.k.a. a Liberal).

42 posted on 03/06/2002 8:12:28 AM PST by newgeezer
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To: newgeezer
Hummmmmmmm I'm trying to remember the last time I was seated next to a table full of cats at a restaurant....................... Nope it never happened.
43 posted on 03/06/2002 8:13:05 AM PST by Ditter
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: Ditter
Hummmmmmmm I'm trying to remember the last time I was seated next to a table full of cats at a restaurant....................... Nope it never happened.

(Resisting the initial urge to reply in like fashion...) Why do we have to limit the discussion to restaurants?

45 posted on 03/06/2002 8:15:08 AM PST by newgeezer
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To: EricOKC
Are you really so dense that you dont get his?

I think he's in the process of answering that conclusively, whether he realizes it or not. ;-)

46 posted on 03/06/2002 8:16:16 AM PST by newgeezer
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To: Wolfie
The only thing the tobacco settlement did was make a bunch of greedy trial lawyers very rich at the potential expense of our civil liberties. You had a bunch of do-gooders who wanted to punish "big tobacco". The tobacco settlement merely opened the door for more of this sort of thing to happen to other products that people take a dislike to. The dangers of tobacco have been known for over 50 years. I have an extremely difficult time feeling sorry for people who willingly engage in an activity (such as smoking) and harm themselves. They expect someone else to pick up the expense for their lack of personal responsibility.
I have raced cars, fly airplanes, shoot firearms, ride motorcycles, play basketball and engage in other activities that could potentially harm me. Never, in my wildest dreams, do I expect Harley-Davidson, Beechcraft, or anyone else to pay for my lack of responsibility! I do everything I possibly can to minimize my personal risks. I choose to engage in these activities for my personal enjoyment. Many people feel the same way about eating junk food, or smoking. Bottom line, you engage in the activity, you accept the risk!
Walter Williams is right on the money, as usual.
47 posted on 03/06/2002 8:35:16 AM PST by wjcsux
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To: Just another Joe
We told them so!

And we've been telling them for years - but no one wanted to listen to us.

48 posted on 03/06/2002 8:36:11 AM PST by Gabz
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To: Ditter
have you eaten at a chinese buffet??
49 posted on 03/06/2002 8:36:23 AM PST by farmall
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To: newgeezer
You want to ban cats from private homes? You really are radical.
50 posted on 03/06/2002 8:38:00 AM PST by Ditter
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To: wjcsux
We don't disagree, except for Williams' assertion of the genesis of the movement.
51 posted on 03/06/2002 8:38:05 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: farmall
LOL No I haven't because the MSG is airborne in thoes places are the calories airborne too?
52 posted on 03/06/2002 8:40:35 AM PST by Ditter
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To: Phantom Lord
Ever think that Rush could be one of THEM!!!!!???? (Cue the Psycho music.)
53 posted on 03/06/2002 8:42:28 AM PST by hollywood
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To: Ditter
they must be airborne cause i gain weight just driving by those places.

uh-oh maybe i should be walking or running rather than driving.

but i don't like cat so i don't eat there.

54 posted on 03/06/2002 8:45:47 AM PST by farmall
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To: Ditter
You want to ban cats from private homes? You really are radical.

You read that in my comments to you, and you presume to call anyone else "dense"?

With your last few posts here, you're building a sizable lead for Clymer Of The Week. Congratulations, and keep up the good work!

55 posted on 03/06/2002 8:46:25 AM PST by newgeezer
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To: farmall
but i don't like cat so i don't eat there.

Just switch from Chinese to Korean.
There's a lot more to a dog.

56 posted on 03/06/2002 8:46:50 AM PST by Just another Joe
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To: Ditter
You have a problem. It is your problem, and it is the fault of no one else that you have it, and probably not even your fault. You share this problem with a small percentage of people in the US. It is your responsibility to manage it; that responsibility belongs to one one else, at no time, under any circumstances. Though there may be a number who sympathize and cooperate, they do so according to their choice.

To advocate the brutal and nondiscriminating force of law to protect you in your frailty by limiting the liberty of millions of of those no similarly afflicted is the very root and reason of tyranny.

Deal with your problem like a responsible adult.

57 posted on 03/06/2002 8:51:31 AM PST by William Terrell
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To: Ditter; all

I'm coming after you... And I'll keep coming back until the FReepathon reaches its goal.
Take all the time you want, FReepers. I love seeing my face on your threads!

Two, four, six, eight!
Do you appreciate --
Free Republic?

The longer the FReepathon lasts, the longer you'll see me! Oh the horror! Donate now. Do it 'for the children.'

Have a Heart! Do Your Part!

58 posted on 03/06/2002 8:51:54 AM PST by Jen
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To: newgeezer
I have to agree 100%. I don't like smoking, either. I DO NOT have the right to tell others what to do, or force the heavy hand of government on them because I don't like what they are doing.
Many restaraunts had "non-smoking" sections. I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke, and I was never bothered. Now, we have Big Brother forcing a businesses to have a 100% "smoke free" environment. If these so called good citizens are so concerned, they don't have to do business with these establishments. I do, however believe smoking should be prohibited in such obvious places as stores, doctors offices and theatres.
59 posted on 03/06/2002 8:52:42 AM PST by wjcsux
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Comment #60 Removed by Moderator


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