The latest attack on our everyday lives from the "good ideas club" comes in the form of putting an end (ban) to the displaying cigarettes in shops. The smoking Nazi's have had their way and managed to get all smokers out in the cold, but that's not enough. They don't care about second hand smoke, all they care about is a total ban on cigarettes, and inch by inch they are getting their way. It also looks likely that the anti-smoking lobby will push for a ban on vending machines in pubs and restaurants.
Of course the government have announced that they will have a public consultation to gauge public opinion on these issues. If this is anything like their other consultations with the public, you can guarantee that they will waste a massive amount of money by ignoring anything the public had to say. This governments' consultations are just a smokescreen to push through any policy they like, they don't give a monkey's what we think.
12 comments:
Can't agree Steve.
This is one of those topics that gets wrapped up in faux libertarian outrage when it's actually basic common sense. It's a filthy anti-social habit and should be treated as such - the idea that it has aything to do with liberty is nonsense.
Ideologically anyone who resists government action on smoking should urging government action to legalise all drugs. They don't because they aren't their drugs of choice.
It would never work politically but the case for banning it completely is reasonably sound..
This idea was thought up by ASH Scotland in their Manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections in may 2007. See link below.
http://www.ashscotland.org.uk/ash/5303.11.848.html
Are the unelected zealots of ASH now running the country.
Anon,
There's a difference: smoking is supposed to be legal. What's next, Chocolate under the counter to stop us getting fat?
Anonymouse,
"It's a filthy anti-social habit" what about other 'filthy habits'? I would far rather tread on someone's discarded cigarette end than someone's discarded chewing gum. Are you to ban chewing gum also ?
'Filthy' smoke in a closed space is a an indicator of poor ventilation, banning smoking on planes has lowered to air change rate, lowered filtration standards and increased airborne pathogens.
I would rather watch someone smoke than pick his nose and eat it....
Legalise Cannabis Now !
But donr allow it to be displayed anywhere.
I told you - 'faux libertarian outrage'.
Any arguments that start "what about" or "what's next" are redundant - they're simply not the point and using them demonstrates how intellectually bankrupt those doing so are. Nobody is banning chocolate...
Cigarettes are still legal yes - that's an unfortunate hurdle those of us with enough intelligence not to smoke have to clear. But clear it we will - and removing them from sight is a welcome first step....
'faux libertarian outrage'
something wrong with English words anonymous ? are you ignorant of the word false or are you just pretentious.
The people expressing their contrary views, which you would no doubt call 'unacceptable', have at least the courtesy to give their names.
I'm afraid we will decide what is nonsense, I for one have no need for you to choose for me.
Great idea shoving ciggie's behind the counter, and make them more "I want them" because they have been banned,watched red dawn on the telly spouting rubbish,she would do better getting her moustache shaved off.
This is becoming a bit weird. Smoking licenses were a disgraceful attempt to control people's behaviour and I do not understand why smoking should be subject to these kind of rules when alcohol is ignored.
I love the total hypocracy of the government's position. It abhors smoking and wants people to stop the 'filthy' habit. At the same time, however, it makes an awfull lot of money from smoking and it doesn't want to kill the goose laying so many golden eggs. So what does it do? It comes up with these stupid ideas to cloak something that is perfectly legal and that it is (in reality) in favour of, in a veneer of illegality.
If they had the moral courage and sense of outrage that they publicly spout, they would ban tobacco totally, now, and take the taxation hit as the price of intellectual honesty.
Fat chance, of course.
I am not, and never have been, a smoker.
Nanny, Nanny, Nanny.
This government gets more like Mary Poppins every day.
As one of the legion of asthmatics, smoking is one of my key triggers, anything to reduce smoking is very welcome. I would also note that it is often asserted that reducing smoking is the single thing that people can do to improve his health. Totally agree that it is a filthy despicable habit, having lost many family members to smoking induced illness after smoking for most of their lives. Having seen this, I fully acknowledge that smoking is more addictive than heroin, many of these people knew cigarettes were killing them, wanted to kick the habit, but could not.
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