Thursday, February 16, 2006
Return to blogging
Stubbed out!
The time for your pleasure is now severely limited, if you want to enjoy a fag with your pint, do it now, or consider quitting! The fact is (barring some unlikely rearguard action in the House of Lords) that smoking in "enclosed public spaces" such as pubs and clubs will be outlawed from next year, it seems that this is what the public wants, as represented by the House of Commons. There will be no exceptions, pubs that do not sell food will not be treated any differently from other pubs, private members clubs will not be considered any less "public" than any other bars, those who fail to "police" the new Act will be liable to fines of up to 2,500 pounds!
The government and our House of Commons knows what is best for us and all matters of choice are not included in the menu! It makes you wonder how long will it be before the sale of tobacco products is also outlawed to safeguard public health; smoking in the home should also be targeted for legislation, particularly if non smokers reside in the same building - why should their health be compromised? This government ought to act NOW! Why wait for the new Health Act to have beneficial effects, let's do it! Why should anyone be allowed to exercise personal choice and run the risk of ruining there own health, as well as becoming an increasing financial burdon on the National Health Service. Just think of the money that could be saved if we didn't have to treat so many people suffering from lung cancer, arterial sclerosis, heart diseases, bronchitis, emphasemia, and other chest ailments. Yes - let's do it!
Just think of the benefits to us all if the sale of tobacco products was made totally illegal, advertising would come to a sudden halt, as would sponsorship of sporting events too. No more Embassy World Snooker Championship, no more Embassy World Darts Championship (yay!), no more money from Phillip Morris for Ferrari, - that'll scupper their chances of another title for Schumacher! No more boring Benson and Hedges cricket! Oh yes, let's do it!
Why stop at tobacco? Alcohol is surely also affecting the nation's health as well, it's time to legislate, let's have total prohibition, we demand no less! Just look at the amount of people with liver disease, if alcohol hadn't been so readily available we could all have enjoyed many more years of footballing brilliance from George Best, and by George, George Brown might have become Prime Minister! The Lib-Dems could have had a leader to be proud of! Yes - let's do it!
Why stop there? Why not legislate against the petrol engine too? It produces tons of toxic material every day on streets and roads up and down the length and breadth of this unhealthy nation, engulfing us all in carbon monoxide, carginogens, lead substitutes, and other health threatening chemicals. Just think of how healthier we could all be if the petrol engine was outlawed, and there are grounds for believing that David Cameron's "green" Conservatives would support the government here. Yes - let's do it!
The supermarkets and the food industry ought not to be left alone either, they are responsible for half of the obesity of this nation. Think of the money that could be saved if the National Health Service didn't have to treat overweight patients with heart disease. Let's outlaw bread, sausages, pre-packed ready meals, salt, sugar, sweets, burgers, frozen chips, ice cream, pizzas, E's, additives, colourants, preservatives, sodium monophosphate and everything else that we eat. You know it makes sense. Yes - let's do it!
Let's do it quickly whilst the momentum is there, strike while the iron is hot - sorry.........what did you say?
What do you mean................we can't do it?
Oh... the money..........ah, tax revenues......the Treasury!
Worried?..... Why should we be?...... Our politicians know what's best for us!
The scenario above is not that fanciful is it? In this country of ours, the politicians that we elected are becoming more and more draconian, they are churning out legislation which is irreversibly changing the course of our lives, they are systematically removing so much individual choice and freedom. We will be banned from smoking in a pub, hospital grounds, near schools, in some designated public places. In some towns it will be an offence against local byelaws to drop a cigarette butt. We may not speak ill of certain religions but we may of others. We may not support or defend "freedom fighters" in foreign lands for fear of imprisonment here. We may not enter certain towns or cities in our cars without a hefty charge. We may not improve our homes without the fear of a massive rise in Council Tax (ergo "two jags" revaluation plans). We may not save for our retirement, or plan to give away our property in our wills, the government will take it's slice "for the people". We may not apply for a new passport without our biometric profile being added to the "big database". Oh yes - they've done it!
Big Brother is here, and it's not just a t.v. show!
I need to state that I am an ex-smoker, whose mother has died of cancer, I am not one of those self righteous types who forces it down the throat of others, smoking is not good for you, I know that. I also know that it is a terrible addiction to walk away from, trust me, I know. There is a lot of help and support out there for those wishing to give up - just see a chemist or your GP.
I also have a friend who is currently dying with cancer, neither he nor any member of his family has ever smoked. I had two dogs, both died of cancer, neither smoked.
It's your choice.
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Curly Born in 1956
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