Maryland's new Fascist ads

TV ad ^ | 10/03/2002 | Ralph Davis

[AnalogReigns]

The sun is shinning, a lovely day in the park, happy children are playing a soccer game while their doting parents and families are looking on. Suddenly everything stops dead and everyone stares, shocked, I say SHOCKED... was it a gun-shot? a nuclear explosion? a pair of homosexuals messing around? NO!!! A man standing alone (gasp!) was trying to light up a cigarette!!!! HORRORS!!!! The foolish looking man puts down the lighter in defeat, and the female (soccer mom?) narrator ernestly tells us how to be a part in stopping smoking in Maryland's parks.

Except for an occasional cigar, I'm not a smoker. I find cigarette smoke annoying and offensive, and always ask to sit in the non-smoking section of a restarant. Smokers are also some of the worst litterers I've ever seen. The notion however that anyone has a right to tell me what legal thing to do in a public outdoor (OUTDOOR)(for the hard of hearing) place I find much more annoying and offensive than the most discourteous smoker.

To my way of thinking such nanny-statism borders on real fascism. What's next the rationing (or banning) of potato chips?

Looking on their website http://www.smokingstopshere.com it appears that ad was targeted at soccer moms who don't want anyone to be even seen smoking in front of their little darlings... (of course since kids are everywhere, such logic would seek to ban any outdoor smoking, not just in parks...)

Anyone else have the same reaction to this innanely targeted ad as I do? When do they start wearing brown-shirts and saluting?

Thank God I live in Virginia, the Old Dominion!

[gcruse]

The sun is shinning...
  ...and you're worried about homosexuals?
I'd be more worried about the shinning.

[Mo1]

"Does She Scare You?"

"Then Vote The Rats Out!!"

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[AAABEST]

Maryland smoke Nazis just symptomatic of the larger problem. We now live in a land of soiled ignorant mini-van drivers who haven't a damn clue about anything except the directions to the soccer field.

We're in the process of losing states one by one, you're witnessing the slow destruction of a once great nation, one drip at a time.

Sadly, I'm getting to the point where I wish it would crash already, instead of just watching this slow water torture.

[AnalogReigns]

I was still proofreading the thing when the "post" button got hit early. Easy to do unfortunately.

[gcruse]

 
Sadly, I'm getting to the point where I wish it would
crash already, instead of just watching this slow water torture.

Fear not. You'll always be first in our
phone books, if not in our hearts.  ;)

[Tomalak]

Disgusting. Even sadder, in its way, was that the author had to deny he smoked very often, as though smokers themselves have no right to an opinion in the matter.

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[AnalogReigns]

The post is about anti-smoking fascists, not homosexuals in parks. I threw that in since as recently reported here as perverted trysts are a terrible problem in parks--yet here's an organization more concerned with adult smoking in open air.

The irony is inescapeable.

[AnalogReigns]

Smokers have every right to an opinion, however I thought my opinion on the fascist attitude was strengthened when I make clear I too, like many non-smokers, find smoke (most of the time) offensive.

Attempts to regulate free behavior should be offensive to any lover of liberty though, be they a smoker or not.

[KS Flyover]

Thanks for posting this.

From the socialist training manual of the Maryland lifestyle nannies:

"Soccer" shows how to take action against smoking in public places where children are present. It forcefully dramatizes the Maryland-Smoking Stops Here empowerment philosophy about standing up and saying, "No! Not in my face and not in front of my kids."

---

About the Movement

Maryland—Smoking Stops Here is a partnership between the state and its citizens that will result in specific, meaningful steps towards a smoke-free Maryland.

The movement has three primary objectives:

1. To reduce cigarette smoking among middle and high school students and young adults.

2. To increase the number of adults who strongly agree that second-hand smoke is harmful to children.

3. To increase the number of smoke-free households where children and middle- and high-school students live.

What's this movement all about?

Maryland—Smoking Stops Here is about getting people to stand up and say, "No! Not in my car. Not in my home. And definitely not in my face and in front of my kids."

It's about treating smokers not as villains, but as victims of an industry that markets an addiction.

It's about changing the social norm to one in which Marylanders overwhelmingly adopt and encourage a smoke-free lifestyle.

At the center of Maryland—Smoking Stops Here is this Web site, where you can find or gain access to every conceivable tool to make your family, your community—and, ultimately, all of Maryland—completely smoke-free.

So Who's Paying for This?

Although Maryland—Smoking Stops Here is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, for the benefit of Maryland citizens, cigarette manufacturers are footing the bill. Here's why:

Maryland was among many states that filed suit against America's tobacco companies, seeking reimbursement for the massive costs incurred by smoking-related diseases such as cancer. The court ordered the tobacco companies to pay $53 billion in damages, which were split among the various states party to the lawsuit.

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[KoestlersRedFiat]

I live in Maryland, and I too saw this ad. You're right, it does have an undercurrent of fascism in it.

But that's Maryland, a state where politicians hold a press conference announcing a new anti-tobacco initiative, while kids are buying heroin a few blocks away.

[Eala]

2.To increase the number of adults who strongly agree that second-hand smoke is harmful to children.

This has a nice totalitarian ring to it. "Strongly agree"?

[dakine]

What a loser state....will elect KKT in Nov...

[cinFLA]

MOst do not realize but tobacco is a major crop in MD/

[iceskater]

Thank God I live in Virginia, the Old Dominion!

I don't think you're that safe in Virginia. Look who got elected governor here. If it weren't for the budget mess, we'd be heading down that same road.

[apillar]

Somebody should redo this commercial like this:

The sun is shinning, a lovely day in the park, happy children are playing a soccer game while their doting parents and families are looking on. Suddenly everything stops dead and everyone stares, A man standing alone is trying to light up a cigarette! All of a sudden the crowd burst into applause and cheers. A women walks up and shakes the mans hand and says, "Think you sir! It's smokers like you that pay the cigarette taxes that provide us with beautiful parks like this one."

[Gabz]

Although Maryland—Smoking Stops Here is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, for the benefit of Maryland citizens, cigarette manufacturers are footing the bill. Here's why:

Maryland was among many states that filed suit against America's tobacco companies, seeking reimbursement for the massive costs incurred by smoking-related diseases such as cancer. The court ordered the tobacco companies to pay $53 billion in damages, which were split among the various states party to the lawsuit.

BS - SMOKERS and ONLY smokers are footing the bill - NOT the tobacco companies.

part of the sweetheart deal of the Master Settlement Extortion , I mean Agreement was that the TC's could add 45cents to each pack of cigarettes to cover the costs. the TC's are not paying ONE penny.

[SheLion]

Thanks for the ping, KS!!

[Chuckster]

So Who's Paying for This?

Yes, the really "Kool" thing about all this is that the smokers themselves are footing the bill by indirectly paying for the settlements.

Now, after lunch, is a good time for that La Perla Habana "Black Pearl" toro in my humidor.

[Max McGarrity]

LOL. BTTT