Where There's Smoke, There's Government Intrusion

Fox News ^ | Monday, August 04, 2008 | John R. Lott, Jr.

[richardb72]

This is still a free country, right? Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to more closely regulate the wages that firms pay workers and to more strictly regulate tobacco products by putting them under FDA supervision.

The Los Angeles City Council also approved a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in a 32-square-mile low-income area in the city; the poor, after all, have “above-average rates of obesity” and must be protected from themselves.

Perhaps the government may just want to ask people if they are poor before we let them enter certain restaurants.

Barack Obama promises a national ban on smoking in public places. Such micro-managing of people's behavior will likely only get worse, as anyone who has been to countries such as Sweden can attest.

When I visited Sweden in back in 1979, Swedes were worried that binge drinkers were damaging their health. But shouldn’t how much people drink in the privacy of their own home be their own business? Not to other Swedes, who worried that the government health care system meant they would have to pick up others’ medical costs.

I watched the television news in horror as police broke into homes and took people to detox centers after neighbors alerted the government to people who they felt were drinking too much. But they were equally outraged that people would do things to their bodies that would make others pay for their health care.

[the invisib1e hand]

This is still a free country, right?

I think that, by the time you get around to seriously asking this question, it's long past time to toss the tea into the bay.

[Gabz]

NANNY STATE PING!!!!!!!!!!

[GOP_Lady]

Here's a perfect example of FRs who support the NYC calorie law. Why am I not surprised that people want the government to do the work that they're supposed to do, even it it's minuscule? It's called “passing the buck.” I wonder what Ronald Reagan would think of the nanny state that we are becoming. God bless that great man's soul.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2055748/posts

[GOP_Lady]

Great article. Thanks so much, dear Gabz! :-)

[GOP_Lady]

Oh, but don’t regulate or checkout those supplements or diet products. Yeah, right.

[GOP_Lady]

From Fox News. Thanks so much for posting.

[GOP_Lady]

America loving, freedom loving, defeat the nanny-state libertarian Ping!

[KevinDavis]

It is not just the left who are nanny staters..

[Conspiracy Guy]

If you’ve ever seen Cool Hand Luke and remember the song “Plastic Jesus”. My rewrite will eventually add smoking eating and breathing

Obama

I’m ain’t scared of no Osama,
Long as I’ve got my own Obama,
Riding on the dashboard of my car.

He says he will save this nation,
All through proper tire inflation.
Add tune ups and I know he’ll take us far.

You sure need your own Obama,
Listen to his commie drama,
As he taxes all you make or save.

We don’t need domestic drilling,
All you need is to be willing,
Give up liberty and be his slave.

Go and get your own Obama,
He’s wiser than the Dalai Lama,
Leading us, to new hope and change.

If you don’t see his Marxist leaning,
Then your diaper must need cleaning.
As for me I’ll vote for John McCain.

[GOP_Lady]

You’ve got that right. I wish President Reagan were around to politely show those people (yes, even ours) the proper way to get things done.

[GOP_Lady]

Way too cool. Thanks! :-)

[Gabz]

Thanks for the heads up on that thread -— I just pinged the list to it.

[Gabz]

SUPER!!!!!!!!!

[GOP_Lady]

Cool. You'll be shocked how many FRs support this type of stuff when businesses have been doing it for years and have had it online for years as well. Shocking, just shocking, I tell you.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I am over posting my happy little song! thanks : )

[KevinDavis]

Yet they are the same people who complain that Government is “too” big.. Go figure..

[coolbreeze]

LOL...John Prine would be proud.

[sionnsar]

I watched the television news in horror as police broke into homes and took people to detox centers after neighbors alerted the government to people who they felt were drinking too much.

Dang! Gotta be real careful, next time I put $teak$ on the barbie...

[GOP_Lady]

I don’t think they know what they want.

[GOP_Lady]

May we have more serenading, please?

[GOP_Lady]

No steaks on Barbies — global warming, don't you know.

[KevinDavis]

Here is my philosophy:

I don't like porn, but I don't think it should not be banned (except child porn)

I don't like to drink munch, but I don't want alcoholic to be banned..

I like to eat fatty foods to a point, but I don't think the Government should be telling us what to eat.

I don't smoke, but I believe smokers have the same right.

I like to watch certain programs, if I don't like something I change the channel..

It is called the Mind your own business philosophy.. Sounds like neat party name: MYOB Party.. To stop the nanny statism..

[GOP_Lady]

What would you think if someone started a thread about Ronald Reagan and the nanny state? I’m trying to come up with a catchy and fun title for it though.

[GOP_Lady]

And it works 100% of the time when applied. Imagine that. I’m shocked I tell you.

[Gabz]

It would be interesting to say the least :)

[coolbreeze]

How about “It Doesn’t Take A Village To Raise A Cowboy”

[Conspiracy Guy]

: )

[GOP_Lady]

That very much has possibilities!

[Conspiracy Guy]

God rest his soul.

[GOP_Lady]

How about, “Mr. and Mrs. Americans, Tear Down this Nanny-State Wall.”?

[GOP_Lady]

Or ...

“The Nanny State — The New Evil Empire.”?

[GOP_Lady]

Or ...

“The Nanny State — The New Evil Empire.”?

[Conspiracy Guy]

Let me work on a few ideas.

I have to get some sleep now.

Later

[GOP_Lady]

Good night to you and yours.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Me is in Atlanta, mine is in Alabama. But we’re strong and we’ll catch you later.

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.

[bamahead]

Me is in Atlanta, mine is in Alabama.

Hey...me too! I've been an exile 10 years this month! Where in Bama?

[Eric Blair 2084]

Fascists always begin by targeting an unpopular and persecuted minority while other citizens say "Good, I didn't like those people anyway."; They had no idea that they were next. When you give government the power to go after something you hate, you also give them the power to go after something that you love.

When they came for the drinkers during Prohibition, I did not speak out, as I was not a drinker.

When they came for the employees of the oldest profession in the world, I did not speak out, as I had no interest in purchasing sex.

When they came for the purveyors of what was deemed to be "obscene" or "offensive", I did not speak out, as I was not a fan of entertainers like Lenny Bruce or Howard Stern.

When they came to ban the female mammary gland from TV, I did not speak out, because Brian Boitano told me not to.

When they came for the marijuana smokers, I did not speak out, as I was not a marijuana smoker.

When they came for the steroid users, I did not speak out, as I was not a steroid user.

When they came for the _______ (insert nominally objectionable behavior here), I did not speak out as I was not a _________ (fill in the blank).

When they came for the fireworks buyer, I did not speak out, as I just sat on my lawn chair and watched the State sponsored 4th of July event

When they came for the pornographers, I did not speak out, as I was not a pornographer.

When they came for the people who don't wear seatbelts, I did not speak out, as I always wore my seatbelt.

When they came for the gun owners, I did not speak out, as I was not a gun owner.

When they came for the gamblers, I did not speak out, as I was not a gambler.

When they came for the "polluters", I did not speak out as I was not a polluter.

When they came for the SUV drivers, I did not speak out, as I did not drive an SUV.

When they came for the cigarette smokers, I did not speak out, as I was not a smoker.

When they came for the overweight and the obese, I did not speak out, as I was not overweight or obese.

When they came for the drinkers (again), I did not speak out, as I was not a drinker.

Then they came for me...and there was nobody left to speak out.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[IIntense]

Re: Ronald Reagan and the nanny state:

" We're the United States, not the United Takes."

[Free Descendant]

How far off is the all out “War on Tobacco”(tm)?

[Conspiracy Guy]

Pinson. I am only in ATL for 2 weeks, Thank God.

[elkfersupper]

How far off is the all out “War on Tobacco”(tm)?

Already lost.