The Nanny State - Omnipresent
The Nanny State has just become, if anything, more oppressive than ever. Long the dream of democrats everywhere to regulate every single aspect of peoples lives, Illinois joined the ranks of the truly feeble minded who surrender every single important decision to government bureaucrats:
- Public places in Illinois will soon be forced to go smoke-free.
In an historic move, a state-wide smoking ban was signed into law Monday. Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the legislation, surrounded by health care professionals, anti-smoking advocates and cancer survivors.
The new law goes into effect January 1, 2008 and prohibits smoking in all public buildings. Smoking will be allowed in private homes and cars, but that's about it for those looking to light up indoors. Smoking will be allowed outside, with some restrictions. There are two exceptions for businesses: retail tobacco shops and a limited number of hotel rooms.
Haven't these people ever heard of the free market? If you minimize governmental interference in businesses, balance is achieved with consumers. Non smokers can drive an entire market to cater to them, just as smokers can. Businesses will adapt or go under. Companies will be created that will invent entirely new ways of filtering the smoky air inside of bars or find environmentally friendly methods of getting the smell out of clothes. By removing market forces from the equation, innovation is stifled.
On the other hand, no more huddled masses outside of buildings, which was always a source of great amusement to us.
Who's going to enforce this anyway?
On the other hand, no more huddled masses outside of buildings, which was always a source of great amusement to us.
Who's going to enforce this anyway?
Labels: state politics
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
31 Comments:
I, for one, am glad to not have to deal with smokers while at a restaurant.
I will certainly enforce this one, even without a contract!!!
With the dissolution of the Bill of Rights browsing SCC will soon be considered illegal and subversive.
Unfortunately, the problem with many smokers is they think it's ok to do it wherever they want. How many time have you got into a squad car and it wreaks of smoke, not to mention all the ashes lying on the seat? Or how many times have you been stuck working with a salty jag-off who lights one up without asking if smoke bothers you?? I like to fart after eating my steak burrito, but I try not to do it when I'm in a car with someone else out of common courtesy
Wait a second...is it me or are the guys/girls who smoke in the squad cars usually the laziest/most useless coppers of the bunch??? just asking..
I SAW HIM ON T.V SAYING THAT THIS LAW WILL SAVE LIVES THANKS MOM BUT IF I WANT TO SMOKE I WILL IF I WANT TO DRINK I WILL IF YOU WANT TO LOOK OUT FOR ME YOU WILL RESIGN
Ah... Another bunch of 19/D calls. Thanks Dummy-crats.
Good, ban smoking, its just a drug addiction like heroin. You see those nicotine junkies smoking the nicotine dick everywhere. Lets ban smoking in uniform like other departments. Charge them more on their health insurance.
thank god for this ban. no longer will i have to deal with inhaling smoke or smelling like smoke at clubs or bars. as much as it is a choice for people to smoke, it's also a choice for people not to smoke. forcing people to succumb of the nasty smokers is not at all fair to people that don't smoke. the remedy or compromise is no smoking in public places.
the end. take your nanny state and shove it. fuck smokers
It's funny how once the free market thrived on creating a smoker's paradise in this country, from the Marlboro Man, the Philip Morris(s) people. Magazines, billboards and movies. Almost 50 years of slick glossy modes of creating users and buyers for this products. There wasn't one iconic hero that wasn't portrayed without a cigarette dangling from his/her lips. It was grown up to smoke, it was elegant to smoke, wounded soldiers laying on gurnees had cigarettes pushed into their mouth, hell cigarettes were stouted as post sexual aid, you couldn't even take a descent crap without a cigarette. So after 50 years of overt/covert (subliminal messages). But it was good for free marketing, remember when a person could even smoke on airplanes, any public places....
I for one can't wait until the city or the department create its anti smoking task force. I can see them now surrounding known places of where smokers might congregate making force entries, inventorying the offensive products, stuffing the back of wagons with the newly targeted scourges of society. What we need are more cameras to catch these henious breakers of the law, specially trained canines that will be able to detect people who have recently discarded or used a cigarette. what really will be news worthy is the first civilian who walk up to some one smoking and try to enforce this ban, and it results to something that wasn't anticipated. Save me a copy of that case report.
"There's nothing that complements a superb dining experience and being the recipient of lusty oral sex than a fine Cuban cigar."
Personally, smoke never bothered me. I guess it's because both my parents smoked as I grew up. However, I understand how smoke can really bother those who don't. Especially people with respiratory problems.
No one should have to put up with unwanted smoke. Any place that is open to the public, government buildings, businesses such as stores, shopping malls, etc, should be smoke free. I have no problem with that.
But the marketplace should dictate restaurants and bars. If a manager of a restaurant or bar wants to allow smoking, let him decide. There is plenty of choice available for everyone. And if you're a restaurant or bar worker who doesn't like smoke, then go work at a place where it's not allowed.
Our country's economy was based in agriculture.....cotton and tobacco were the two biggies. The tobacco industry is deeply embedded in our economy. Farmers grow tobacco. Businesses large and small support the growers and processors. Entire communities are supported by the production of tobacco. Farming supplies, grocery stores, equipment suppliers, wholesalers, retailers....TAXES raised from the industry support so much it cannot be imagined. If you wiped out the tobacco industry today, it would cripple our economy for years to come, and would start a criminal enterprise that would make Prohibition look like the minor leagues.
It would be nice if people would chose not to smoke. They'd liver longer that's for sure. It would also be nice if people didn't drink to excess, if they would exercise regularly, eat properly, not drive too goddamn fast, stop swearing in public, quit wearing their pants around their balls, take the damn price tags off their baseball hats (and wear them bill forward, I love how on a sunny day the youth of our country are squinting in the sun while they have a hat on BACKWARDS that would shield the sunlight) hold the elevator open for people, use the express lane for 10 items........I could go on and on and on.
Our nanny state is going way too far. Look, they even banned smoking in casinos. I predict a big influx of people to the Indiana Casinos. The sad thing, this is all too real.
The next thing they should pass is a mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders, but with one exception. When you renew your motorcycle plates and license you sign a waiver to never accept public funds to pay for your care if you become a vegie due to a crash. No helmet, no medicaid. Change your own diaper, and feed yourself your own strained peas.
I hope the supervisors and inspectors start enforcing the "no smoking" in the squad cars. WTF!!! All these smokers think it's ok. I can't stand getting into a squad car that stinks like hell or the fucking ashes all over the seats/ doors. Just some nasty m'fers.
As to the new state smoking ban, I wish they would make even more stricter. How about smokers have to buy cars that the windows don't go down? I have to drive next to the asshole who thinks its great to smoke and blow the shit out the windows. Or flick the ashes/ cigarette butts out the window. If smoking is so great for you, just sit inside a closed up car and keep enjoying the smoke. Why do others have to?
yes I hate smokers!!!! Only for the fact that most smokers think they have a right to smoke any where they damn well please. But what about my right no to have to inhale the shit?
I WILL ENFORCE THIS, JUST LIKE THE NO TALKING ON CELL WHILE DRIVING MORE BULLSHIT CALLS! WHAT IS NEXT A BREATHING TAX? I HATE SMOKERS IN THE RESTAURANTS ALSO BUT WHEN WILL THEY STOP? THESE ELECTED ASSHOLES WILL JUST KEEP FUCKING US OVER MORE AND MORE AND JUST GRABBING MORE AND MORE OF "OUR"MONEY TO FILL THEIR BIG DEEP POCKETS!
SQUAD CAN I GET AN EVENT NUMBER FOR A SMOKING MISSION
Anonymous said...
thank god for this ban. no longer will i have to deal with inhaling smoke or smelling like smoke at clubs or bars. as much as it is a choice for people to smoke, it's also a choice for people not to smoke. forcing people to succumb of the nasty smokers is not at all fair to people that don't smoke. the remedy or compromise is no smoking in public places.
the end. take your nanny state and shove it. fuck smokers
7/24/2007 08:53:00 AM
Another mature response. Whether you smoke or not, I wouldn't think you would want our government telling us what we can and cannot do. This is the beginning of things that will affect all of us. I agree that you should be able to go to a bar/restaurant and not be bothered by smoke if you are a non-smoker. But a smoker should also have the option to go into a restaurant/bar and smoke if they chose. Let the restaurants themselves decide what they want to do. If I smoke I will patronize the places that allow me to smoke and if I don't I will patronize the places that do not allow smoking. But, I, for one, do not want our government telling me what I can do and where I can do it. Think about it people.....it our government.....have they made smart decisions for themselves and now you want them making decisions for us?
And to the person who said that a nicotine addiction it the same as a heroin addiction - think again. Nicotine DOES NOT alter your mind, thought processes or your reflexes as heroin does.
Let the government tell you that drinking anywhere in Illinois is against the law and watch the uproar!! This is not a Communist country where our government can tell us where and when we can do whatever.
I'll have to go up to the northside and pause for a smoke on the public way in front of the Gov's home.
But I'm sure I'll quickly learn that we don't live in a free society, when I am threatened with arrest even though I am not doing anything illegal.
I mean he would arrest his own father-in-law!
We no longer live in a free society, as in freedom! But live in a free society, as in what can I get for free? We are free as Americans..as in entitlement mentality!
No more social programs of any kind..they only breed laziness and contempt for REAL FREEDOM!
Answer: Open a retail tobacco shop that serves alcohol.
I would like a law that mandates that i receive a wakeup phone call to ensure that I am not late for rollcall.
Maybe we could have a law that forbids chewing gum on the publicway, I hate when I get gum on my shoes.
This is absolute nonsense,do you people want me to walk you to work too?
"I mean he would arrest his own father-in-law!"
Hey Assclown, Dick Mell is for Dick Mell ONLY. Never, ever, ever a friend of Police...
next: smoking wolfpacks
And the irony is they will they still sell cigarettes at these establishments.
Now can we please pass a bill against cracking your gum on the public way??? I find it soooooo irritating it severely affects my mental health.
To: 10:25 PM
Assclown? Who said anything about Dick Mell being a friend to the police..you stroke!
I was refering to what a stroke the governor is.
Remember the big spat he had with Mell. That got the U.S. Attorney looking into both of them.
I was implying that if I stood on the public way (sidewalk)in front of his home and enjoyed a smoke (as a subtle protest)he'd probably have me arrested for some B.S. (King Rod..get it?) Maybe they didn't teach you how to read between the lines when you were studying for your G.E.D.
Read the thread..it's about the nanny state and smoking rights (self determination,etc)
Now go to bed..and be sure to put out your cigarette so you don't hurt yourself!
Since we're banning things in Illinois, perhaps they will consider banning the following:
1) Fat ghetto heffers wearing belly shirts.
2) Fat chicks wearing belly shirts.
3) Politicians.
4) The reproduction of idiots.
5) Link to anyone capable of getting a job.....if you can't move from the waist down cause of that time you got shot, you can still answer a phone.
6) Storefront Reverends
7) Televising/media coverage of storefront reverends.
Well, you get the idea and no doubt more suggestions will come up.
thank god for this ban. no longer will i have to deal with inhaling smoke or smelling like smoke at clubs or bars. as much as it is a choice for people to smoke, it's also a choice for people not to smoke. forcing people to succumb of the nasty smokers is not at all fair to people that don't smoke. the remedy or compromise is no smoking in public places.
the end. take your nanny state and shove it. fuck smokers
"........whaaa!! whaaa!! Mommy, mommy!! Please make those bad smokers stop!!" Dear Tree Hugger; You've missed the point yet again. Like your liberal brothers and sisters, you seem to have confused an evening out with a constitutional right. Sorry, but YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO A CLUB OR BAR. If the smoke bothers you so much, why don't you just go somewhere else? The patrons of the places you visit would most likely appreciate it if you did. (Unless, of course, the fern plants won't get watered if you don't go) My prayer tonight will be that someone that you dearly care for works in one of those places, and that they will lose their job because of the immediate 30% drop in business these establishments will endure come January. Next time you're out with your loser friends, ask your server about smokers. They will tell you that they prefer to wait on the smoking sections because they are more crowded, and smokers are better tippers. Actually, they probably won't tell you that for fear of you and your yuppie friends will whip out a calculator to determine who owes what, and figure the tip down to the penny.
And to the person who said that a nicotine addiction it the same as a heroin addiction - think again. Nicotine DOES NOT alter your mind, thought processes or your reflexes as heroin does.
....Not sure about this one Sherlock.Ever deal with someone going through nicotine fits or withdrawl.By the way ask any former heroin user which habit is harder to break.I've known quite a few that kicked heroin,coke but can't quit the cigs.
Unusual survey: When was the last time you arrested someone that wasn't a smoker? I don't know why but it seems that about 99% of the street reats we deal with, all smoke. Just an observation.
But smoking is soooooooooooo sexy.
We get to roll up old leaves in a paper tube, put one end in our mouth and set fire to the other end.
Admit it, what could be more sophisticated that that?
Ever notice the more expensive cigars stink the most. Lets grab those cigars from those smokers and stick it in their eye.
Another example of politicians telling you what is best for you. Hey Gov! Can you wipe my ass too? I don't smoke but who the fuck am I to tell other people how to run their lives? Let the market place work it out!
Let a smart entrepeneur open his/her own smoke free high rise, office building, whatever...then the market forces will determine who stays in business and who doesn't!
All you fucking liberals, you wait! Drinking will be next!!! The governemnt, besides being corrupt, is full of hippocrites. If they hate smoking that much, then classifiy cigarettes as drugs and BAN them! What? Oh, it brings in a shitload of tax dollars to give to the dregs of society that don't contribute by paying taxes. OK. I get it.
Washington and Jefferson would be proud of this nation!
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