The Irony of Tolerance

Good words from G. L. Pease.  I am alive and well and hope to blog again.  Life has been busy, but I am still in need of a good rant now and again. :) 

The Irony of Tolerance

Well said!

Inside Every Liberal Is a Totalitarian Screaming to Get Out 

Bloomberg's Priorities Coming Home To Roost!

Mayhem in the city: 25 people shot in 48 hours 


It's been a while since my last post,but there never is a shortage of things to rant about. 

Bloomberg has been spending all his time fighting trans fats, salt, tobacco and big sodas.  All under the guise of saving lives.  Last time I checked, you could live for years with bad habits but a bullet tends to end life allot quicker.  Bloomberg has been going around trying to tell the citizens of New York City how to live, but he can't even provide basic protection from violence.  The people of New York City have only themselves to blame (the ones that vote for Bloomberg).  What a sad joke of a mayor.  End mild rant.  No pithy graphics this entry. Cheers!

Crazy Town!

After making a big move cross-country, I am back for some ranting fun.  Just a brief article this morning. Having just moved from the northwest after almost 17 years, it seems to just be getting crazier in that corner of our country.  Still, I do miss it.  

Bill proposed in Oregon would make cigarettes prescription-only drugs

No one has been able to explain to me how Washington and Oregon can be so anti-tobacco and yet support  legalizing pot.  

Good Morning.

Marijuana yes, pipe tobacco a felony to ship?

Washington state lights up as smoking marijuana becomes legal

This from the same people that have made it a felony to ship pipe tobacco into Washington State.

What a bunch of idiots. I repeat, what a bunch of idiots. Did I mention what a bunch of idiots?

You (anti-tobacco zealot) were warned and didn't listen...

If you belong to the anti-tobacco crowd and packing some extra pounds you should not be surprised what comes next.  Think of all the things that have been leveled against tobacco users under the guise of 'science' and get ready for your fat tax.  It's for your own good after all since you can't be trusted to take care of your own body.

Americans' Concerns About Obesity Soar, Surpass Smoking

Your favorite foods will be taxed if deemed unhealthy by the self appointed food police.  They will have all the scientific studies to back them up you can be sure.  If you are overweight get ready to pay more for your health insurance because of the 'burden' you are imposing on society.   

Still think national health care is a good idea?

When the government controls your health care they will control you.  It's for the good of society, after all; just ask Mayor Bloomberg.

Second Hand Smokescreen

California town set to ban smoking ANYWHERE outside... even in your own backyard
What utter crap! There are worse things out there that hurt our health than second hand smoke. I grew up with both parents smoking in the house and in the car. I didn't care for it but grew up in good health running track and cross country as well as swimming. Now at 41 years old I breathe just fine and enjoy an occasional pipe and/or cigar. I am so sick of this nanny state BS and the tyranny of hypochondriacs.

Hate to be a downer, but we will ALL die someday. From illness, from accidents and from old age. Relax and enjoy the time you have on this earth and keep some perspective for goodness sake.

For any council member that votes against this ban I will gladly remove from the above photo.

Feds burned by cigarette smuggling

"Yet every day, the failure to strongly combat the growing crime of contraband cigarette smuggling deprives governments of billions of dollars in tax revenues — siphoned off by terrorist and criminal organizations."

This has to be some kind of joke. Is Rep. King serious? He's crying about terrorist and criminal organizations siphoning off billions in tax revenue. Like no one predicted this very problem when tobacco taxes were raised. Lower the tobacco taxes to a reasonable level that individuals are willing to pay and government will get their revenue. Tax too high and you make normal law abiding citizens willing to go elsewhere to buy their tobacco.

The picture speaks for itself.

NYC sues 'roll-your-own' shops over taxes

"Thomas Farley ( New York City's health commissioner) also defended the city's high taxes on cigarettes, saying that studies had shown that they are pressuring people into quitting, or not taking up the habit, and thereby saving lives."

Pressuring people into quitting smoking is NOT the business of government - Federal, State or Local. The total nonsense about the 'burden' smokers impose can easily be countered with the high levels of tax dollars that are gouged from smokers to pay for whatever government programs progressives can dream up. Also spare me the 'saving lives' BS. How about all the lives that are lost due to all the criminals running loose in the streets. End rant.

Country Class vs. Ruling Class

Just when you thought Mayor Bloomberg couldn't be more of a wannabe tyrant.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg: 'Government’s Highest Duty' Is to Push 'Healthy' Foods

The movie Dodgeball comes to mind.

America's Ruling Class -- And the Perils of Revolution

Clowns of the Senate to Impose De facto Tobacco Prohibition?

Just when you though the war on tobacco and freedom couldn't get too much worse or at least not this fast...I present:

S. 1403-- Saving Lives by Lowering Tobacco Use Act

SEC. 3. TOBACCO TAX INCREASE AND PARITY.

(a) Short Title- This section may be cited as the ‘Saving Lives by Lowering Tobacco Use Act’.

(b) Increase in Excise Tax on Small Cigars and Cigarettes-

(1) SMALL CIGARS- Section 5701(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘$50.33’ and inserting ‘$100.50’.

(2) CIGARETTES- Section 5701(b) of such Code is amended--

(A) by striking ‘$50.33’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘$100.50’, and

(B) by striking ‘$105.69’ in paragraph (2) and inserting ‘$211.04’.

(c) Tax Parity for Pipe Tobacco and Roll-Your-Own Tobacco-

(1) PIPE TOBACCO- Section 5701(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘$2.8311 cents’ and inserting ‘$49.55’.

(2) ROLL-YOUR-OWN TOBACCO- Section 5701(g) of such Code is amended by striking ‘$24.78’ and inserting ‘$49.55’.

Tobacco increases work capacity

Science is conclusive: Tobacco increases work capacity

Roll-your-own-tobacco machines = Freedom

The title "Roll-your-own-tobacco machines stir health concerns" is a crock. The real concern here is the lost tax revenue for State and Federal government.

Can a Little Lawsuit Shut Down a Big Tobacco Racket?

Here's hoping that a lawsuit filed in federal court against the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement—otherwise known as the Tobacco Deal—is taken seriously.

Jonathan Rauch...The Atlantic Monthly, 2011-07-11

Bloomberg: No Chairs in NYC public places!*

Armed with a new study that equates cigarette smoking to sitting in a chair, Major Bloomberg has declared that all chairs in public spaces will be banned and new city taxes levied on chairs and sofas.

* Disclaimer: This 'news item' is a parody.

Sitting Vs. Smoking!

HealthWatch: Sitting Vs. Smoking

Does this mean that new studies will involve the dangers of second hand sitting. Will there be a tax on all chairs and sofas to cover the cost to society?

I love a good rant!

The smoking stormtroopers are here.

From The SmokersClub Forum...

Another Goose Stepping Politician

Illinois lawmaker says raising obese kids should cost parents at tax time

Bigger brains that I warned over and over that when the tobacco taxes dried up politicians would find new and better ways of getting more of our money to control more of our lives.

The face of the latest tax Nazi....and a portly at that.

Senator Shane Cultra (R)

No logic to comments...

Original link went bad, but thanks to The Smoker's Club Forum I found a new link commenting on this issue.

WA lawmakers may ease state's strict smoking ban

When I first read this article there was a comment (now removed) lamenting about the danger to the health of employees from secondhand smoke. Having been a resident of Washington State for over 15 years I can remember life before the 2005 smoking ban. There were some great cigar bars to include The Spar in Olympia. Unfortunately after the smoking ban all these great places either closed up shop or went out of business. I am sure the former employees were thrilled that they no longer had to breath in secondhand smoke.

The exception for cigar bars and tobacconists is just common sense, HOWEVER; paying for the 'privilege' is crap. As for the employee's health - most likely, an employee of a cigar bar or tobacco shop is a smoker of some form of tobacco.

Yes, 'elitist' legislatures were known to frequent The Spar with it's private humidor cabinets and live Jazz music, BUT also average guys like yours truly would go there with an old high school friend for an ale and cigar. Some comments in referring to cigars smokers make it out to be a rich man's pass time. I beg to differ. The Spar had all backgrounds mingling together. Yes, it is hypocritical to allow cigar smoking but not cigarette, but that doesn't mean that cigar smokers should be caricatured as 'fat cats' or elitist.

Being primarily a pipe smoker now, I look forward to having more options for places where my fellow pipe smokers can gather for a pint, a pipe and politics.

Illegal smokes a threat - RCMP

Here's a thought...stop taxing cigarettes at tyrannical levels and you solve the problem. Sorry Mounties, you won't get sympathy for a problem caused by runaway nanny state hosers.