Everyone should remember the REAL Nazis were also anti-smoking...
Posted on 04/02/2011 10:33:28 PM PDT by libertarian27
The American Lung Assoc. gives Santee a failing grade for tobacco control, the Mayor responds.
I am writing in response to the American Lung Association's (ALA) March 4 letter (see the letter in the media box) regarding Santee's overall grade of "F" in their annual State of Tobacco Control Report Card.
They may see it as a grade of "F" from their perspective, as our being graded a failure; I see this grade of "F" from our perspective as being the highest grade for "FREEDOM" we could earn. In Santee we believe in life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our City Council thinks long and hard before we restrict or take away one's freedom. If a smoker wants to blast their lungs out on cigarettes, that's their choice. If someone wants to light up in a park or public are, that's fine, if someone else complains, I expect the smoker to move away or put the thing out. We do allow smoking in public places, restaurants have the freedom to pick or choose having patio smoking, their FREEDOM of choice.
Youths that buy tobacco products are in violation of current law (Santee enforces tobacco and booze laws aggressively, Shoulder Tap program, etc.). We enforce the laws now and don't need a new tax on merchants to extort money from them, that's why we don't raise taxes in Santee, especially sales tax.
Multi-unit housing is private property. The property owners have the FREEDOM to set the smoking policy as they see fit. If renters don't like the policy, they move out or not rent in the first place. If it would give an owner competitive advantage, maybe they would have no-smoking units. The ALA is asking me to endorse having 75 percent of rental units as non-smoking by law. I would never pass a law either way! My bottom line in we don't need municipal government to play Nanny.
Freedom of choice means a lot to Santee. If a smoker is rude or uncaring, I expect the person taking offense, to communicate with the rude one, and the rude one to once again move on or put it out. You may have all the laws in the world; ultimately it boils down to human interaction.
It would be very easy for me as mayor to be politically correct (most are) at worse or ignore ALA at best- not my style though. The above reasons are why I take great pride in our "F" for FREEDOM score. I have the FREEDOM to disagree with them. Unless I am voted out of office, or the majority of the Santee City Council votes to take away another dwindling FREEDOM by cracking down on smokers, I will always stand tall for less government intrusion in our lives.
Respectfully submitted,
Randy Voepel
Mayor, The Freedom loving City of Santee
See the ALS letter this is in response to in the media box.
I like this guy!
Smoking bans are the tip of the iceberg - then comes food bans and carbon emissions, etc.
'first they came for the smokers.......'
Holey crap, freedom in Kalifornia? I don’t believe this report for a second.
Everyone should remember the REAL Nazis were also anti-smoking...
YES
And these smoking laws and regulations have nothing to do with smoking~never did!
It's all about control of the masses - once the smoker thing is done - they'll fiddle with the masses....
I'll see your BMI and raise you a Prius....
I grew up in El Cajon, next to Santee. This is completely consistent with the Santee I remember in the 1970s, which I don’t think was incorporated back then. It had a few horse owners and some country music, modest incomes and motorcycles. And smokers. And a little donut shop I used to go to on Mission Gorge Rd. Hmmmm, getting hungry.....
Believe it or not I had some great times in Santee when I was stationed in San Diego in the early 80's. I had a friend who owned a home on Mission Gorge Rd. It was a paradise then as I recall. You're exceptionally lucky that it remains the same.
They are Christian Coalition members pushing their morality on the populace.
Kudos to this Mayor!!! I just wish there were more like him willing to tell the PCers to stuff it where the Sun don’t shine!
Voepel is someone who ‘gets it’ about nanny politics and isn’t afraid to say so
“I must point out that my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.”
Winston Churchill
Smoking bans are the template from which every forelock tugging “regulation” follows, imo.
Yes we will sell you tobacco and tax you for it however you may not use it.
Not much freedom in being a slave to cigarettes.
Not much freedom in being a slave to the Government
What's your point?
Ping
Tea Party Mayor Rocks
(he gets it!)
See:toilets.paints,cold medicines,toys,firearms,knives,protective vests,lawn sprinkling,light bulbs,windows,insulation,gas mileage of car,seat belts,health insurance,fire insurance,water source,electricity source,child discipline(spanking),etc., ad nauseum.
Note: no regulation applies if you are an illegal immigrant and many will be unenforced if you are one of Eric Holder's "people" or muslim.
F the ALA.
Nanny State PING!
My Mom kicked the smoking habit. She proved she wasn’t a “slave” to cigarettes.
Now bugger off.
It never ceases to amaze me.. how such “Staunch” Conservatives can turn in to WHINING LIBERALS with the mention of ONE WORD ...
TOBACCO!
Thanks for the ping!
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