by Betty Johnson

Created on: March 27, 2011

What we have going on in the United States at the present time, is an out and out WAR against smokers. It's a well-known fact that Americans have always smoked in public, for hundreds of years. Patients were offered ashtrays in hospitals, waiting rooms held ashtrays for the convenience of smokers. Doctors would light up during a conference. So why all the commotion now?

 
It's a well-known fact that medications, being prescribed by our medical professionals are killing many people including the babies of mothers who took the medications. Faulty hip replacements are currently being re-called and the recipient must return for another operation, to have the faulty hip replaced. Should we not be more worried about THIS instead of a little, harmless second-hand smoke? Seems meaningless in comparison.
 
Our government is loaded with ammunition to insure that they will eventually ban smoking (and ANYTHING unhealthy) all together. I feel that they are striving for a 100% healthy nation (much as HITLER wanted an all fair-haired, blue-eyed nation) and will stop at nothing to achieve this.
 
First, they raised the taxes on cigarettes outrageously. Why cigarettes? Why not coffee? Why not alcohol?
 
Then the FDA decided to alter the cigarette papers- something that had never been done before- adding glues and different chemicals which supposedly creates a 'Fire-safe' cigarette.  This is an out and out JOKE…The cigarettes are now causing more illnesses in smokers; they are also causing more fires as the papers actually cause the fire to unexpectantly drop off the cigarette causing physical burns as well as fires.  I have no doubt whatsoever that this change was enforced totally for MEANESS and no other reason.
 
Some smokers began buying untampered with cigarettes through internet mail-order from other countries. The government quickly jumped in and made it illegal to ship cigarettes through the USPS and made it a law that ALL cigarettes sold in the U.S would have these chemically altered papers. No choice given to consumers.
 
Next, the government went after the restaurant and bar owners.  Back in the old days nobody ever complained about smoking in restaurants and bars. It was just understood that it was a public place and allowed. If smoke bothered you, you just didn't go there. Then the restaurants had the 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' areas, this worked fine for everyone- except those who highly resented even SEEING someone light a cigarette.  
 
But not good enough! Now the government would tell the private bar and restaurant owners who they could and couldn't serve in their own restaurants. Bar owners were shocked to find they could no longer allow smoking in their BARS?  Of course, many of these business owners have gone under and have had to close.
 
You may be against smoking in public, but I'm here to tell you that this is JUST the beginning.  Today it's smoking, who knows what tomorrow will bring? You allowed this to happen. Now, don't complain when the government is knocking on YOUR door and inspecting your home and every aspect of your life. They've already taken away your right to discipline your children, made it a law that you wear seat-belts, where will it end? How soon will it be that you’ll be breaking the law by forcing your children to attend church?
 
Once you've won this battle against smokers, you have ONLY opened the door that YOUR rights will fly out of next.  So, you sit there in your nearly empty, smoke free restaurant and enjoy yourself.

Today MY rights have been taken- tomorrow it will be YOURS.

Learn more about this author, Betty Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.