I don't know where you are, but my state has had referendums on smoking before. As I recall, the smokers lost. And democratic principles still apply in a republic. If we elected representatives who pledged to ban smoking, smokers would be screwed.

Also, I see Godwin's law strikes again. Ah Hitler, is no issue too innocent for your brutality?

The purpose of a FEDERALIST Republic is to protect the rights of the people against the government, which, if popularly elected, represents the majority of the people. It is my every right to smoke, and you have no say in whether or not I can. And no, no issue is too innocent for Hitler. I'm merely showing where that kind of logic leads to.

__________________
.

"It is extremely difficult for our contemporaries to conceive of the conditions of free banking because they take government interference with banking for granted and as necessary"

-- Ludwig von Mises

Regardless of what you think the purpose of our government is, if the majority of congress wants to ban smoking, they can. I have a say in whether or not you can smoke by voting for congressmen that are against smoking.

So by voting for Congress members who are pro-Hitler we can have a say in whether or not the Jews live or die? (I just had to use Godwin's law again, it drives home the point).

__________________
.

"It is extremely difficult for our contemporaries to conceive of the conditions of free banking because they take government interference with banking for granted and as necessary"

-- Ludwig von Mises

Do you not understand the legal process? Congress can write any law they want, if it gets past the president and supreme court it becomes an enforcable law. If congress says kill all jews and the president says kill all jews and the supreme court finds it doesn't violate the constitution, we have ourselves a new Hitler. If you think that could happen then yes, I could have a say in killing jews. But as I'm sure you realize, killing jews is nothing like banning smoking, so I don't see your point, as Hitlertastic as it may have been.

I understand the legal process better than most, and I know the reasoning behind the federalist system. You are correct when you say this probably won't happen, but that is because we have the three branches of government, separation of powers, and checks and balances. It is fallible however. The president can increasing do whatever he (or she, God forbid) wants to do, the supreme court is forgetting what the Constitution means, and Congress will do anything for another penny. We have to be wary about taking away people's right to smoke because it can lead to more rights being taken away. I do not think that anything like the holocaust could EVER happen in our system, but that is ONLY because Americans are not like that. We could however, have a system where there is no freedom but everybody is happy with it (social security, welfare, government benefits, socialism), but I think freedom is the MOST important thing, and that we cannot sacrifice it for a bunch of economic benefits that would be unlikely to last.

__________________
.

"It is extremely difficult for our contemporaries to conceive of the conditions of free banking because they take government interference with banking for granted and as necessary"

-- Ludwig von Mises

I haven't heard very many people calling for the "banning" of cigarettes.

Yeah most people dont want smoking indoors or with children in the car (which is smart) and things like that. But I dont think the average person really gives a crap if someone smokes in their front yard.

__________________
"The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments"

--George Washington

"Never spend your money before you have earned it."

--Thomas Jefferson

"One man with courage is a majority."

--Thomas Jefferson

Marlboro - It's a mans world out there so for smokes i know what to do.

You're right. I need to rephrase my statement.

Few Americans are actually calling for a ban on smoking, but the average American won't do anything to stop one.

I have found that most Americans in my area show little more than disdain towards smokers.

__________________
WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

"You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

I'm rather sexually attracted to smokers. It turns me on that something about them the mass pigs of society reject.


This is the same society that allows prostitution and abortion, what the hell would they know about right and wrong?


So I applaud smokers. And believe they should go further in proving their rights and correct status by stealing ciggerates.


Outrageous prices brought about by idiot social engineering. If they want to play that game then fine, we'll just take the (*)(*)(*)(*) ciggerates.