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On prohibition of tobacco

by Whaleoil on November 17, 2011

Andrew Sullivan make a good point on talk about prohibition of tobacco:

Crazy talk. Can you imagine the costs of prohibition? Let alone the power of a government dedicated not to providing liberty but to extending life, regardless of liberty? I hate cigarettes, partly by growing up an asthmatic in a house where cigarette smoke hung always in the air. But I find the attempt to ban them, stigmatize them and ostracize smokers to be creepily authoritarian. Sure, keep them out of the public. But if you want to die young because you love tobacco, who on earth am I to tell you otherwise?

Hone Harawira demands such a prohibition. After the Exclusive Brethren smokers are the most vilified people in New Zealand society. Yet they contribute to this nation far more than non-smokers. I think smokers should have a “Gold Card” instead of pensioners.

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  • http://twitter.com/dirtyfilthy dirtyfilthy

    So you’d be pro marijuana legalization then? 

    • http://www.whaleoil.co.nz Whaleoil

      Yes.

  • Gazzaw

    How much would we have to expand the police force by? Helicopter sweeps to spot tobacco plantations? Searching premises for hydroponic tobacco plants? This is a country proven to have the perfect climate and conditions to cultivate commercial tobacco crops.

    It’s a nonsense. 

  • George

    I smoke, not heavily, but I enjoy it. I’ve had some of the funniest, smartest, most endearing conversations with fellow smokers outside of bars, resteraunts, office buildings, functions and work. huddled in winter, lounging face to the sun in summer. Leave me the fuck alone for gods sake. due to drinking, smoking, driving a car and working my arse off, i estimate my average tax rate to be around 55%. i pay for your dole bludgers Hone, so at least leave me the fuck alone to enjoy some of the precious few moments i find each day to stop and think about life in general. 

    • Gazzaw

      Good on yer George. I gave up years ago but you do what you like. You earn your money so you get to spend it on what you want. Fucking dole bludgers should be given food vouchers not cash tho.

  • Naylor

    HTFU and smoke em if you’ve got em.

  • Steve

    I quit after more than 45 years due to spine surgery. I don’t miss it, but to all of you smokers, keep it up. The Govt needs the TAX no matter which Party is in power. If everyone stops, I will have to pay more TAX by stealth through other means (ACC, GST, Rates+GST, Booze, Petrol, Water Rates+GST etc etc)

  • Samuel

    I don’t smoke, and don’t like smoke in cars, but passing a law against is simply facist.  Not surprising as Hitler was the first country leader to ban smoking in public places and later cars. 
    Banning smoking and passing laws is not the answer – education is. 

    “In Nazi Germany, for instance, abstinence from tobacco was a “national socialist duty” (Hitler gave a gold watch to associates who quit the habit, though this didn’t stop them lighting up in the Berlin bunker once they heard the Fuhrer had committed suicide).

    Armed with such senior sanction — loyally, Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler banned SS men from smoking, though not shooting, on duty, and Propaganda Minister Joseph Gobbels was obliged to hide his ciggie whenever he was filmed — anti-tobacco activists succeeded in banning smoking from government offices, civic transport, university campuses, rest homes, post offices, many restaurants and bars, hospital grounds and workplaces.

    Tobacco taxes were raised, unsupervised cigarette vending machines were banned, and there were calls for a ban on smoking while driving.

    Quoted from:
    http://constitutionalistnc.tripod.com/hitler-leftist/id1.html

  • Samuel

    Further to my earlier feedback, there are several things to take into account when calling for a law banning something.  Firstly, are there valid exceptions to the law which would make a mockery of it e.g.  Two young budding entrepreneurs close their first big deal and light up a cigar while sitting in a car on the side of the northern motorway or in their driveway. Is it still a crime if no-one is harmed against their will?  Be careful what you deem a crime.

    What about babies left with soiled nappies, or old age pensioners in rest homes with soiled beds?  Many people would agree with me that leaving both for a few hours is inhumane.  But what is the standard of when it becomes a crime?  7 minutes, 27 minutes, 59 minutes? Are we going to get Mr Pertwee and Mr Shicklegroover from the Ministry of NoPoo to invade old age homes and home nurseries with stop watches opening nappies at random to check for Karitane Yellow?

    There are many things in life that are not right.  But passing laws won’t fix them.  Shaming those that engage in distasteful activities might work better and still retain freedom to choose.  Next time you see someone smoking and passing on unwanted second hand smoke give them the thumbs down.  And the thumbs up to the two young guys who have closed their first deal.

    Lastly, the issue of projection.  Hitler was part Jew, and an ex smoker, and he despised both things.  His motivation for persecution of both Jews and smokers alike was an irrational inability to accept those things about himself, therefore had to destroy in the real world that which he could not reconcile in his inner world.