Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Mar 30, 2008, at 2:28 PM, EarthNSky wrote:

> Okay, I am gonna bite, er, at least nibble here...
> Extreme negative health conditions are long and well documented for
> speeding in an automobile, too, and I'd bet that 90% of people speed  
> on
> a regular basis, at least it would be a higher percentage of people  
> who
> speed than who smoke (~25%).

Dearest Bev, we all love you, but I gotta tell you, you are being  
really, really defensive about smoking, kid.

But if you really want to seriously discuss it, consider that smoking  
is optional. For most people, driving is mandatory.
> It's funny to me that current and past presidents are almost always
> blamed for tougher laws whether they veto or not.  You just don't hear
>   the Senate getting any blame or credit for the laws they pass or the
> justices they approve...no...what you hear is a president's name
> attached to it...like Ronald Reagan and the Brady Bill(not a stellar
> example, I know<g>)...or GHW Bush and Judge Thomas or Clinton and  
> Judge
> Ginsberg, etc....the president ALWAYS get top billing, for better or
> worse, and especially for worse.

Well, the Prez is the leader of his party and they all kow-tow to him.  
And he does own the bully pulpit. Like God, all good things are  
attributed to his greatness. Unlike God, he also gets credit for a lot  
of the bad stuff. It goes with the territory.

>  Anyway, it almost sounded like you
> were going to be making excuses for the O-man in advance of his
> coronation...lol...

Should he go all the way, he will surely make plenty of mistakes. I  
will call them the way I see them.

> who knows though, he might just veto tougher smoking
> legislation...I doubt it, but it would sure make me like the guy a  
> whole
> lot better than if he succumbed to social pressure. (I like anyone who
> will stand up for individual rights-especially against a majority)

Well, I am fully in favor of maximal personal freedom. Where it hits a  
bump is when the freedom that A exercises impedes on B's rights. I  
would downgrade any leader who led his people down an unhealthy path.
> > > will he, as a smoker, champion the rights of smokers?
> >
> > I believe he is now an ex-smoker.
>
> I think that is wishful thinking on your part, but hey, I could be  
> wrong
> as I haven't read much on his personal life.  I've always had a  
> fondness
> for smokers in my heart, since I was one for so long...he would be THE
> perfect champion for an individual's right to smoke, or toke, or
> whatever. :)  Barack IS the new and improved Marlboro Man...lol..

Bev, your bias is loud and clear. We got it. Smoking kills people. It  
kills their lungs and it weakens their immune system so they get sick  
from other problems more easily. You are manifesting the highly  
intelligent human who subverts their intelligence to their emotions on  
a serious matter.
> I hear the first lady smokes, too...I wonder where...lol...I kind of
> doubt that they make HER stand out on the street in the rain, 20 feet
> from the gate....lol...
> And why is it "okay" for President Clinton to smoke cigars, but not
> really okay for Obama to smoke ciggies?  If he makes it to the Oval
> Office, I wonder where HE will smoke...he could prolly get a few leads
> on hidey-holes from Bill, if they are still talking by then...lol...
> > > I wonder...And WHY would he not endear himself to the South's
> > > Tobacco World by allowing photos of him smoking a cigarette?
> >
> > He is a role model. Bad message to young blacks? And, I thought we
> > were against pandering.
>
> Young blacks??
> He should be a role model for young males.  Besides, more whites and
> Hispanics smoke than blacks.
>
> > > I guess California and Colorado are more important.
> >
> > What's the connection?
>
> Those two states are seen by other states, at least here, as being
> states with a large population of people who are obsessed-bordering on
> fanatical about health.

Methinks the South doth protest too much. Probably guilty consciences.  
Pretty declasse to put down people who take health seriously, don't  
you think?

Personally, I have always immensely enjoyed watching the health  
conscious girls jogging down the strand. More, more, more, I say!