Massachusetts Generational Smoking Ban

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:::cough cough::: This is Massachusetts. Look at the voting history of the state. You can't say voting doesn't work. If someone is a right wing smoker there, and they don't want to move, then I find it very hard to feel sorry for them.

It's like a right winger in California, complaining about taxes... get the fuck outa there. What the hell would someone be afraid of, cheaper housing costs and less crime, WTF?
 

Infantry23

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 8, 2020
882
2,527
44
Smithsburg, Maryland
I live in Maryland, which is a batshit crazy, left-leaning state (solely due to the middle portion of the state) so I don't have room to talk about MA, but I'm sick of politicians that are regulating personal freedoms behind the guise of "health." I have a lot more I could say, but I won't because I don't want to venture down the political road and get banned.

However, if "health" was the real reason, we'd be seeing all kinds of other bans, especially technology bans for kids who sit on their ass all day on phones and video games.
 

lupy1234

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 3, 2023
160
477
Hanover, PA
I live in Maryland, which is a batshit crazy, left-leaning state (solely due to the middle portion of the state) so I don't have room to talk about MA, but I'm sick of politicians that are regulating personal freedoms behind the guise of "health." I have a lot more I could say, but I won't because I don't want to venture down the political road and get banned.

However, if "health" was the real reason, we'd be seeing all kinds of other bans, especially technology bans for kids who sit on their ass all day on phones and video games.
I grew up in Frederick and was surprised how that county voted.
 

Infantry23

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 8, 2020
882
2,527
44
Smithsburg, Maryland
Yeah, it's been moving westward for at least the past 20 years. There's an interesting dynamic happening between the mayor of Frederick (D) and the County Sheriff (R). There's effectively an impasse in the county and the resolution is TBD.
 

litup

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 16, 2015
787
2,418
Sacramento, CA
:::cough cough::: This is Massachusetts. Look at the voting history of the state. You can't say voting doesn't work. If someone is a right wing smoker there, and they don't want to move, then I find it very hard to feel sorry for them.

It's like a right winger in California, complaining about taxes... get the fuck outa there. What the hell would someone be afraid of, cheaper housing costs and less crime, WTF?
Speaking only for myself . . . I've got five years left before my pension kicks in so I'm stuck here until then.
 

EMP27

Lurker
Oct 15, 2023
10
14
The problem is, if this catches on it could eventually come to every state. I believe they've tried it in other countries like New Zealand and England but it didn't pass.
We all know smoking isn't healthy but that's a choice we make, not government.
Imagine if they said that everyone born after 2007 could no longer buy junk food. It's just hypocritical and draconian.
 
The words that let me know that this isn't really going to happen are "Some lawmakers want..." "They are hoping to persuade their colleagues..." "A handful of lawmakers..." that means maybe 5 people.

This isn't even written up into a bill yet. And, their own party is not in agreeing with it in principle. it is clearly just an article exploring an idea.

It's a little early to let your blood pressure flair up.
 

litup

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 16, 2015
787
2,418
Sacramento, CA
I agree. There's a certain amount of political posturing taking place here. They can bandy about the idea and get some social credit for being "tough on tobacco" while not actually doing anything. Many politicians think that tobacco is an easy way to score points but in some instances, being too tough on tobacco could be akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face.

In California, they passed Prop 56 several years ago. Prop 56 signicantly raised taxes on tobacco and the stated goal was to use those dollars to help fund the state's Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program. Unfortunately for lawmakers, the higher taxes on tobacco resulted in lower consumption and guess what? Prop 56 revenues no longer cover enough of the state's Medi-Cal program. They are now digging into the General Fund and increasing taxes on health plans to cover the growing deficit (which means higher health care premiums for everyone).
 
Dec 6, 2019
5,174
23,774
Dixieland
I'll just say that they're telling you what they want to do, you should believe them.

Maybe not today... Maybe not tomorrow... But they're telling you what they'll do.

Ah hell, they're just exploring ideas... Haha

It's like if somebody has a map of the bank in a notebook labled "Bank robbery Plans"... They're probably harmless, just exploring ideas.
 
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TriedPiper

Might Stick Around
Oct 23, 2024
99
100
Western NY
To quote the article, "If the bill is approved, young people not old enough to legally purchase nicotine and tobacco would never be lawfully able to purchase them in Massachusetts, thereby creating no more new users."

What a great idea! Maybe we can ban illicit drugs for minors. That way, when they are older, they will not be able to lawfully purchase narcotics...oh wait...never mind.

And while we're at it, let us outlaw ALL dangerous activities, after all we are only protecting people from themselves. Let us simply ban everything bad and then the world will be a better place. [sarc]