Free Republic

High up on my list of annoyances are references to the United States as a democracy and the suggestion that Iraq should become a democracy. The word "democracy" appears in neither of our founding documents – the Declaration of Independence nor the U.S. Constitution. Our nation's founders had disdain for democracy and majority rule. James Madison, in Federalist Paper No. 10, said in a pure democracy, "there is nothing to check the inducement to sacrifice the weaker party or the obnoxious individual." During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Edmund Randolph said that "in tracing these evils to their origin every man...

Answer To Last Month's "Full House For Disaster" Four Of A Kind: Foundations For An American Future March, 2006 Feature--Return Of The Gods Web Site SynopsisThe four foundation blocks for a Conservative American Future, one that returns to the wisdom of the Founders: Integrity, Identity, Responsibility & Respect. Last month we discussed a metaphorical "poker hand from Hell," reviewing a "full house" of egregious errors in addressing social goals and in understanding the causation for social phenomena. In a discussion of error in addressing societal goals, we described serious mistakes in assigning responsibility in the approach to Public School...

The senator who introduced legislation to prohibit smoking in most public, indoor spaces in Virginia requested another hearing for the bill yesterday after its defeat in a House subcommittee. But the two House of Delegates members who could most easily revive the measure said they will not do so. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, would have prohibited smoking in restaurants and other indoor places accessible to the public with few exceptions. It passed the Senate 21-18 but was unanimously rejected by a six-member House General Laws subcommittee Thursday night. Under rules adopted by the House...

A WOMAN in a wheelchair must go outside into the cold weather for a cigarette even though she is 93 - because smoking is banned in her nursing home. Gladys Gornall, known as Chris, of the Norwood Lodge Nursing Home in Nore Road, Portishead, took up smoking 10 years ago after her husband died. Daughter Joan Mock, 68, says it is the only thing she has left that keeps her happy. And she says she fears her mother is more likely to die from exposure to cold winter weather than from smoking. Mrs Mock said: "She's 93, she's in...

New Hampshire is one step closer to a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. The House Commerce Committee voted Wednesday to recommend the full House approve a ban. Current state law allows smoking in restaurants with fewer than 50 seats. Larger restaurants must have ventilation systems and a segregated non-smoking area. But supporters of the ban say that does not protect workers. If approved, New Hampshire would be the 12th state to institute a statewide ban. All the other five New England states have a statewide smoking ban.

Flirtations with smoking bans in Virginia and Maryland came to abrupt ends yesterday, as legislative panels in each state rejected bills that would have made restaurants and virtually all other public places smoke-free. In Virginia, a House of Delegates subcommittee unanimously rejected a bill that had won Senate approval despite the state's long-standing ties to the tobacco industry. In Maryland, a House committee chaired by a Baltimore delegate whose downtown district is dotted with bars and taverns turned back a similar proposal by a narrow margin. Health groups -- including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and...

Companies are charging smokers more money for health insurance CINCINNATI — Smokers already feeling pressure from increasing cigarette costs and workplace smoking bans are now feeling squeezed from another direction — health insurance premiums. A growing number of employers — private and public — are charging employees who use tobacco more money for their health insurance coverage. Employers hope that the higher charges will motivate more employees to stop smoking, resulting in improved health and lower health care costs for the companies and their workers. "With smokers costing companies about 25 percent more than nonsmokers in the area of health...

I wish Mr. Menconi’s crusade was merely a “stunt,” as Don Rogers put it. I believe it’s much worse than that.Mr. Menconi uses the tools of the propagandist and avoids any actual facts or real scientific proof of his claims. Rather than show actual risk, he wants to use “scary” made up relative risk numbers — a typical propagandist’s tool.Like so many in the anti-smoking industry, Mr. Menconi expects his readers to accept his claims prima-facie, without anyone actually questioning that his statements might be false.He doesn’t use any actual studies or evidence to prove his case. he merely makes...

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Hundreds of volunteers throughout the state will hit shopping malls and grocery stores Saturday at 9 a.m. as they kickoff efforts to gather nearly one million signatures needed to place an initiative on the November 2006 ballot that would provide critical funding to reduce smoking, keep emergency rooms open, fund health insurance for children and expand nursing education. "This initiative will save lives, by raising the tobacco tax and funding urgently needed community emergency and related health care services," said Paul Knepprath of the American Heart Association of California. "This is the broadest coalition that's ever come together to...

After a delay of several weeks, the General Assembly began moving this week on the Clean Air Act, which could ban smoking in bars, restaurants and all indoor public places.“It would immensely affect Ocean City, I think,” Delegate Bennett Bozman said. “I keep hearing different reports from people. The act slows down for a little while and then it picks back up bigger than ever.” Should the state of Maryland pass the act, it will be the 12th state to make such legislation law. Similar bills have been defeated in the General Assembly for the past three years. “To...

Could all tobacco products soon be banned in Utah? At issue is the legislative bill currently being debated which would ban smoking in public places like bars and clubs. But ABC 4 News has learned that a substitute bill is being drafted - one which would ban tobacco products from the state. It's all part of the last minute wheeling and dealing before the final vote on the no-smoking bill. The substitute bill banning all tobacco products is expected to be introduced during the final debate over the no-smoking bill.

The Senate Local Government Committee has defeated a bill six-to-two that would have allowed South Dakota cities and counties to regulate smoking. The bill would have allowed local governments to set stricter standards than the state on tobacco use, distribution, marketing and sales. Senator Stan Adelstein of Rapid City says the bill should have gone to the full Senate for consideration and revision. Senator Mike Broderick of Canton says lawmakers spent more than enough time on the issue. The state government will remain the only government in South Dakota that can regulate tobacco.

RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Senate voted Monday to ban smoking in restaurants and virtually all other public places, an extraordinary sign of cultural change in a state that is home to the worldwide headquarters of Philip Morris and whose agricultural economy has been rooted in tobacco farming for almost 400 years. The bill is unlikely to survive review in the House of Delegates. Yet its passage on the floor of the Senate -- where smoking has never been formally banned and lawmakers lit up openly even until the late 1990s -- signaled mounting popular support for smoking restrictions....

Both sides of the debate to ban smoking in public are running out of time to gather necessary signatures for a citizen initiative vote in May. Advocacy groups can call a citizen initiative and put an ordinance or even a charter amendment on the ballot by getting the right number of signatures on a petition. The city charter said the number of signatures is 25 percent of the number of people who voted in the last regular citywide municipal election. Information from the Baytown City Clerk shows 3,056 votes were cast in the last regular election, so each group...

DENVER - The Colorado House on Friday approved a ban on smoking in indoor public places, exempting tobacco shops, casinos and a smoking lounge at Denver International Airport. House Bill 1175 would prohibit smoking in nearly all public indoor spaces in the state. It would dramatically change the smoking culture in Colorado Springs, where bars and restaurants are free to make their rules. The bill goes to the Colorado Senate. The smoking ban triggered one of the first extended floor debates in the House this session, a two-hour fight during which several amendments failed. Attempts to exclude Veterans of...

DENVER -- A Senate panel killed a proposal to cut off state health care to smokers on Wednesday, with some members worried that it could create more problems than it would solve. With the state being squeezed to spend more and more money on health care, Sen. Ron Teck, R-Grand Junction, said it's time for smokers to take responsibility for their actions and not rely on the state to pay for smoking-related illnesses. "I don't know if we can afford to be everything to everyone," he said. His proposal (Senate Bill 101) would have barred the state from spending...

A Senate panel killed a proposal to cut off state health care to smokers on Wednesday, with some members worried that it could create more problems than it would solve. With the state being squeezed to spend more and more money on health care, Sen. Ron Teck, R-Grand Junction, said it's time for smokers to take responsibility for their actions and not rely on the state to pay for smoking-related illnesses. "I don't know if we can afford to be everything to everyone," he said. His proposal (Senate Bill 101) would have barred the state from spending money to treat...

The first legal challenge of the state's new smoking ban may be brewing in a Southwestern-style eatery and tequila cantina in Bellingham.The Whatcom County Health Department is asking a court to fine Casa Que Pasa for allegedly allowing repeated violations of the statewide indoor smoking ban in its colorful bar where tequila shots range from $2.75 to $25 a piece. Casa Que Pasa prides itself on a laid-back and festive atmosphere. The kitchen specializes in big burritos, many vegetarian, and the walls are covered in artwork and murals. And the owner believes his patrons have a "right" to smoke,...

s the dispute over where people can smoke in Baytown heats up the opportunity for voters to decide on the issue in May is still uncertain. The original smoking ordinance, passed by city council in 1999, is still in place and the current dispute is whether to strengthen the ordinance so Baytown is 100 percent smoke free or let the ordinance remain how it is currently. Advocates from the SmokeFree Baytown Coalition said they want a stronger ordinance because second hand smoke is a public health risk. Their opponents, who have not released the name of their organization, said...

Strict new smoking ordinances - including one that would ban lighting up in all public spaces, such as restaurants - will be considered by the Beaumont City Council at its meeting Tuesday.  City Manager Kyle Hayes will present council members with two smoking ban drafts. One of those would apply to bars, restaurants, workplaces, bowling alleys and most other enclosed spaces accessible to the public. The other would exempt bars - defined as establishments which derive at least 70 percent of revenue from alcohol sales. This proposal also would allow smoking in restaurants if there is a walled-off smoking...