Is The Tobaccapocalypse Coming?

[admin]

Maybe. I don't know, but there sure is a lot of craziness out there that reminds me a little bit of Prohibition. Fred Brown explores some of the insanity in proposed coming legislation in his latest column.
Check it out -

Of Mencken and Tobacco Zombies

 

[mso489]

Thanks Fred. I keep hoping that the relatively small numbers in pipe smoking will sap the enthusiasm for legislation and regulation, but maybe that's wishful thinking. Cigars became a luxury item and cigar buffs strutted high-end products and celebrity fans. Pipers as a group are pretty quiet, and a significant cohort are "mature." But hell hath no fury like people inspired by righteousness in the name of public health. One trait we lack right now, inside and out of government, is a sense of balance. It is disliked, scorned, even loathed. Too bad.

 

[jiujitsubowl]

Agreed mso. More hate is spread then education. The little that is provided as "education" is in reality "education branded hate." I wont stand here and say its healthy, because clearly pipe smoking isnt (except in stress release). But it is sure alot easier on my body then processed foods.......just saying.

 

[kcghost]

It is just a matter of time before they all tobacco smoking. It will be sooner rather than later.

 

[davet]

Inmates are running the asylum. They have "safe injection sites" so addicts can shoot up but I can't smoke tobacco on a walking trail or within a Provincial Park. It makes no sense to me, I was born many decades to late.

 

[mrenglish]

You know when things are bad for us pipe smokers when they are restricting pipe tobacco more and more but a certain green plant is being unrestricted in a lot of places and is gaining momentum daily for complete decriminalization.

 

[admin]

Thanks guys!
Can you please copy / paste your comments onto the article as well?

 

[mso489]

Ref the booker post on the St. Louis business (Cigar factory and lounge), the owner should try to grandfather in his business, as should other smoking related businesses. Instituting a ban is one thing. Closing long-standing businesses is a second choice, and one that might not fly if properly presented to the city. It wouldn't reverse the ban, but it might boost his business if he is one of the remaining few. Which might help since he may not be able to sell the business as it is.

 

[seacaptain]

They can have my pipe when they pry it from my cold dead hands. :puffpipe:

 

[pylorns]

I just got back from IPCPR and sat in on the talk with the PAC group they have fighting and lobbying in the name of premium tobacco and it's a big unknown for sure, but one thing is for certain they are fighting legislature in every state but can use everyones help.

 

[huntertrw]

"Thanks guys!
"Can you please copy / paste your comments onto the article as well?"
Kevin, here you go:
To paraphrase Shakespeare in “Henry VI, Part Two,” first thing we do, let’s pull the plug on the unelected and unaccountable Food and Drug Administration, then certain members of Congress, then a majority of the Supreme Court, and then…

 

[warren]

seacaptain: Not sure who "they" are. But, we have members who I am sure will find your crypt, dig up the coffin and do just that if it's a Dunhill or some other collectable.

 

[huntertrw]

"Thanks guys!
"Can you please copy / paste your comments onto the article as well?"
Kevin, here you go:
“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…”

 

[warren]

Some states tried that dissolution stuff many years ago. Didn't work. That was also about the time that the states and the electorate decided that big government trumped individual or state's rights. Income tax, government control of transportation, more power ceded to the Executive, and etc. pretty much all stemmed from that wee dust up back in the 1800's.
Edit: You're quick. I tumbled on to that too late.

 

[huntertrw]

Warren:
Kevin's post above states, in part, "Can you please copy / paste your comments onto the article as well?" The key words there are "...as well..." meaning in both places.

 

[plugugly]

The war on tobacco isn’t morality, it’s MONEY. Many who have to pay the medical bills (Blue Cross, Aetna and I-Don’t-Care-Whoever)gets nada from tobacco tax. So they look on tobacco as a controllable cost. Outlaw the behavior. Eliminate the cost. Government has a cost/benefit to look at. They DO get tax money. All those other players?

They got lobbyists.

They buy Congressmen.

Buy the Congressman;

by-by tobacco.
Plugugly

 

[huntertrw]

"Some states tried that dissolution stuff many years ago."
Dissolution is not what I have in mind, but, rather, change.

 

[tobyducote]

It won't be long before they start getting even more aggressive with guns too...

 

[Chasing Embers]

Man, if they do ban tobacco completely, it will make prohibition look like Disneyland. 8O

 

[warren]

One of the biggest problems with politicians is that once purchased they don't stay purchased. Very fickle type of human they are. Their loyalty is more "rented" than bought. Yet they are stunned when the electorate sometimes won't stay bought.
The electorate seems very happy with ceding individual rights to the government as long as the moneys keep flowing. I really believe the public, in general, does not like decision making and would rather leave such to the government. It's sooooo much easier! Such makes it easier for those that can adapt to a fluid economic situation to stay ahead of increases in the cost of living well.
huntertrw: I doubt seriously that neither you or I will embrace any of the change that's coming down the pike. Individual rights and responsibilities are, sadly of the past not the future. I am a bit thankful that I will not be around to see the end result of our selling our birthrights so cheaply.