Smoke Another Day

National Post ^ | 11/21/2002 | Patricia Pearson

[weikel]

the Department of Role Model Development in the Hollywood Ministry of Socialist Realism!

ROTFLMAO. In the old Bonds he was a chain smoker.

[Max McGarrity]

If this was posted previously, I missed it. I have a comment and a question: So many journalists and other media types recognize the War on Smokers for the farce it is--from Robert Levy to Rush Limbaugh--WHY is the anti-smoker juggernaut picking up steam? WHY is junk science still king? WHY won't smokers and other freedom-loving Americans get off their butts and fight back? WHAT will it take to light a fire under them?

[SheLion]

Some other things James Bond does, I've noticed, include speeding, drinking, drag-racing, casually shooting people dead, engaging in premarital and unprotected sex and unrealistically travelling all over the world in unwrinkled suits. But these dangerous and irresponsible behaviours do not appear to have elicited any comment from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the gun-control lobby, Planned Parenthood, the automobile insurance industry or even the Christian Right. Nor have I heard a peep out of Britain's intelligence service, MI6. No one there is protesting that real spies have a fraction as much fun as James Bond and aren't remotely as good-looking as Pierce Brosnan.

I have wondered about this for a long time. What about all the "other sins." No one cares. All they are concerned about is OH MY GAWD THEY CAN'T SMOKE. It's totally mind-boggling.

[SheLion]

I heard that Pierce wimped out on this one, when the anti's collared him for smoking. He said "Well, I thought it was appropriate since we were filming in Cuba." ugh!

[SheLion]

WHY is junk science still king? WHY won't smokers and other freedom-loving Americans get off their butts and fight back? WHAT will it take to light a fire under them?

I guess American's are lazy. Unless the issue really hits home, they just throw everything into the lap of the Government to take care of. And we all know that is not the answer. Government has too much control over us now.

55 million of us. Where are we??!!

[Judith Anne]

I follow the smoking rules at my workplace. I do my job. I don't have any problem refraining from smoking where it's prohibited.

But I am one of those 55 million paying exhorbitant taxes for a legal habit.

And I'm angry.

And I VOTE.

[SheLion]

Judith Anne! I vote too! But, I have found out that most of them will tell us anything to get our vote. Once in office, they stick it to us. They want to be "apart of their group" in the state house, and here we sit.

I'm not sure what the answer is. It's not good.

[nothingnew]

WHY won't smokers and other freedom-loving Americans get off their butts and fight back?

I don't sit on my butts...I smoke them......he heh heh....

I would guess Max,that a bunch of smokers need to hit the non-smoking areas in numbers and fire one up...will all be arrested?...possibly, not likely. The thing is, until we use the same tactics that the left uses, we will lose inch by inch.

"SMOKE-IN" anyone???

FMCDH

[Just another Joe]

Moreover, if it is health that concerns the anti-smoking lobby, and not just their singular obsession with the tobacco industry, then they must logically demand that fictional characters in movies refrain from everything from drinking gin to engaging in madcap car chases. Fat characters who enjoy their burgers must be banned as bad role models, and so too must thin characters eating too little, and sleep-deprived characters who refuse to get rest.

This is the logic implicit in the anti-smoking lobby's demand, and where it gets them eventually is to socialist realism, where utopian ideals are propagandized and human realities concealed.

This says it as well as anything I've seen.
I can't understand why others can't see it as well.

[nothingnew]

...where utopian ideals are propagandized and human realities concealed.

I agree. Very well said.

FMCDH

[Judith Anne]

A bunch of us in Missouri, in addition to defeating the Widder Carnahan and electing Jim Talent, soundly threw out a cigarette tax hike of 55 cents per pack.

I tell all politicians, restaurant managers and owners, and civil servants that I PAY TAXES, I SMOKE, AND I VOTE.

Sooner or later, they'll get the message if they want their job.

I think we should each remember to tell every official running for election that wants our money and our vote exactly how we feel. 55 million is not chump change.

Of course, we'll have to stop acting like apologetic weenies, and defend our rights, too....

[Gabz]

I SMOKE, AND I VOTE.

That is one of the bumper stickers on my vehicle - I've been getting more and more horn honks and thumbs up about it in recent months!!!!!!!!1

[Judith Anne]

Good for you!

Honestly, I'm sick of being characterized as an addict, I'm sick of having strangers try to "help" me, I'm sick of being told I'm harming someone by my legal habit--and I'm TOTALLY sick of being taxed to death to support social engineering and to prop up state tax revenues!

[Just another Joe]

Well, a fellow Missourian.
I put out newsletters and flyers to help keep that tax from passing.
Between printing, copying, time, and gas I probably spent in excess of $1,000 of my own money.

[Judith Anne]

Your efforts paid off, Joe! That's wonderful of you...

The hospital where I work gingerly mentioned the tax hike and wanted us to vote for it--I pointed out that the taxes collected seldom go where the politicians say they will...and that I didn't think another tax was needed. This was in a staff meeting. Several told me later they were afraid to speak up, but were glad I did.

I'm sick of people being afraid of speaking their minds...

How about a bumper sticker that says, "55 MILLION VOTERS SMOKE"?

[Great Dane]

Says it all, and much better than I ever could.

[Great Dane]

And where might one ask......... is minion.

[Just another Joe]

I'm sick of people being afraid of speaking their minds...

Never was a problem with me. I learned early on that if you don't speak up you het ignored. ( I was a small child.) ;^)

[Great Dane]

I'm sick of people being afraid of speaking their minds...

Doesn't sound like the good old US of A..... does it.