[OT]: smokers - was: [oclug]new kind of keyboard

[Brad Barnett]

On Thu, 23 Jan 2003 15:46:20 -0500
Raymond Wood <raywood at magma.ca> wrote:

> On Thu, Jan 23, 2003 at 03:16:30PM -0500, Michael P. Soulier remarked:
> 
> > On 23/01/03 Rod Giffin did speaketh:
> > > You do that too? :)  I've also been known to try to flick
> > > the ashes out of the CLOSED window of my car.  Ruined a tux
> > > that way once, and more than one winter jacket.
> 
> > Just don't toss your butt out the window. I'll hunt you down. 
> > 
> > Mike, with many pet peeves regarding smokers with lack of
> > consideration for others
> > -- 
> > Michael P. Soulier <msoulier at digitaltorque.ca>, GnuPG pub key:
> > 5BC8BE08
> 
> None of the following is personal, Mike, it just reminded me of
> some fond memories and I decided to share...
> 
> <whimsical rant>
> I don't know - it seems like the 'politically correct' (PC) have
> become the latest incarnation to embody the spirit (yes, a poor
> word in this case) of the Inquisition, or of McCarthy-ism.  It's
> getting to the point where it feels like nobody can feel
> comfortable doing dick anymore, without somebody being in your
> face about it.  What ever happened to live and let live?

Your Mexician experience is definitely important in this aspect.  

For example, let's look at health care, and the concept of "sin" tax.  The
reasoning behind extra taxation on booze and smokes is that you're going
to be causing issues for the rest of us.  You're more likely to get this
or that disease, due to the habit that you've undertaken.  (yes, I realise
this wasn't the initial reason behind these taxes, but it is the reason
given for sustaining them).

If this is the case, should people who take part in certain sports not be
taxed additionally?  Mountain climbing, parachuting, and such, obviously
carry a higher risk than walking down the street.  There are people that
go hiking for miles into the North, get injured and have to be lifted out.
 Why are the purchase of paraphenilia for these activities not taxed at a
higher rate?  Why are people who take part in these activities not taxes
somehow, since they are at higher risk?  

Why about driving?  Sure, there is a gas tax, but there has been talk of
making it illegal to smoke in public.  If this is the case, anything that
pollutes should also be made illegal in the city.  Driving a gas powered
car, operating a gas powered boat or even a model airplane.. illegal.

You can follow this tact along many roads.  What we need is equality of
law here.  Another fine example is recycling.

If someone doesn't like cigarette butts on the street then they should
also be upset when people who recycle, leave their blue box outside in the
wind... and all their papers liter the street.  I've seen it hundreds of
times, newspapers all over the road.. yet these people think they are
helping pollution!?

Equal justice for all is something we should aim for.  Furthermore, if
laws were equally appied, I think some of these retrictions would be
lifted.