The Red Brick Times

EEEEEK!! The draconian anti-smoking ban passed in the last election is finally being enforced. All Ohio bars (including my dearly beloved Maple Inn) have banned smoking. Private clubs (Amvets, etc.) who challenged the law as having language so vague that it shouldn't apply to them had their case rejected. No smoking there either. Congratulations health Nazis! Welcome back speakeasies! We all know what happened when, for the greater good, alcohol was banned entirely right? In one fell swoop a whole new criminal class was created.

Let's see, we've had a war on drugs for almost thirty years now. That's turned out well, can't buy drugs anymore. The war on terror has eliminated all terrorism. Now we got us a war on tobacco! This is sure to turn out equally as well.

No, no. I'm not trying to defend smoking per se, but damn, was there no possibility of a middle ground? Is enacting another law sure to be flouted a good idea? Immigration laws mean nothing and everyone knows it. Drug laws have made private prisons the hottest industry of the day (do you know that America has a higher percentage of its population behind bars than the old USSR, or any country, ever did?). Now this. A society needs a set of rules to be able to function in a decent and civilized manner but when rule after rule is so obviously unenforceable (and sometimes laughably ignored, i.e. tax laws by corporations and the wealthy) then the whole house of cards is likely to come tumbling down.

I never thought I'd live to see the day the Berlin Wall would fall. And I never never thought I'd see the USSR disintegrate. Is our government now so bloated, corrupt and separated from real American life that it too should be dissolved? I think so.

Posted 9:34 AM by whatley (3) comments

       Comments:

And furthermore, anyone who disagrees with me is illiterate scum. How illiterate? I thought you'd never ask.

# posted by  whatley : May 05, 2007 11:56 AM
 
It has become a struggle just to stay out of sight within the mass of dysfunctionality that passes for "normal". Drive huge vehicles, be overweight, follow venal leaders thoughtlessly, have huge TVs and ugly furniture, keep your lawn the same length as everyone else, collect advertising relics, know that everyone is out to get you, pay huge interest on credit cards, owe everyone, be fired from your job, pursue good intentions with bad results, be dissatisfied. That about wraps it up. Oh yes - don't complain about the regime or the Patriot Act will come and get you. As the priest advised the decorator who cheated his customers: "Repaint. Repaint and thin no more."

# posted by  Andy : May 08, 2007 6:36 AM
 
If the Irish and the French can live no smoking laws the U.S. will have no problems. Having smoked for years I never minded smoke in bars, even after I quit (it was part of my bargain not to be one of those self-righteous ex-smokers i.e. the over zealous convert)and was sure that all would break loose when they banned smoking in public buildings here, but . . . nothing. Everybody hunches against the wind outside then goes back in to finish drinking. Be Happy! Don't Worry!

# posted by  A. O. : May 09, 2007 12:47 AM
 
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