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Le Mars, Iowa ~ Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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Posted Monday, May 12, 2008, at 9:10 PMRead comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
I want to start this first blog entry with a few statistics.
In polls of the polls, 100% of people who described their occupation as Slave, sex slave, wizard, and pizza guy voted for Ron Paul.
One American child generates as much CO2 as 106 Haitian babies.
More than half of our oil imports come from countries with tyrannical or corrupt governments.
Between 1976 and 2006, California built 20 prisons and one university.
And now a few secrets:
Politically, I lean so left that I spill into the right. That is, the far right. My ideal government would be a friendly dictator, for real. I did not vote for Ron Paul, and I'm not a slave, sex slave, wizard, or pizza guy. I want to save the planet by finding some way to inflate gas prices to six dollars a gallon. There are at least 200,000 prisoners that we could free right now, and you'd never even notice. You might be thinking right now, "Wow, this guy is going a little to far." I'm not really. I'm just busting through the fear that suspends this nation to be a little bit more realistic.
Hi. I'm Paul. I'm a 24 year old college student guy. I derived from Le Mars, but I live in Des Moines, IA. I like to share my worldly perspective with people everywhere. I would like to make this blog an open forum for all who would like to discuss anything and everything with me. I have opinions on almost everything, and can create competent opinions on issues I have none on in little time. Feel free to comment about anything!
With that introduction, I want to bring something up. The smoking ban. I really want to know what the impact is on rural Iowa. Des Moines has about a 70/30 split, I believe. That means that some non-smokers side with the idea that the ban is intrusive to rights and disagree with it, considering more than 70% of Iowans don't smoke. I myself agree with it, just as much as I agree with people not defecating in corners of pubs and the like. Is that metaphor extreme? I'm sorry. I agree with it as much as I agree with the implied ban of talking on your cell phone during a funeral. Tell me what you think of that metaphor. I'm a metaphor machine, so I am sure to find one that suits you. People claim that it's taking peoples' rights away, but why couldn't people be courteous in the first place? Your cigarette emits smoke, which without a synopsis of the health effects and chemicals within, is an annoyance. Some people feel cheated because there wasn't a public vote on the ban. Considering the higher amount of non-smokers, it would have been a bigger victory for the ban.
I'm pretty psyched to be able to go into any establishment (besides casinos, but really, who goes to those anyway?) starting July 2, and be able to come out still smelling like whatever cheap cologne I'm wearing on any given night (most likely Brut). Or I could still just go to the proactively banned smoking bars I've always gone to thus rendering the ban ineffective for me. Well, whatever. I still like my semi-oppressive legislature. Go USA!
Well, that'll be it for now ladies and gents. Stay tuned for more wild rides.
Cheers.
p.s. - MMVIII is the roman numeral 2008. Something's going to happen this year, and I'm going to be the guy who documents it 5 months late. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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I just dont like that fact that this right is being taken away. When many people go out to the bars they go out for the atmosphere, and a big part of that atmosphere is reaking like cigarettes. Sure its yuky, but i like it when im in the mood to go out. For those who dont like smelling gross at any time, they can go to a non smoking establishment. Separate but equal perhaps?
And this is something I can agree with you on. Some places have a smoky atmosphere, and that's part of the place. There's a pub called Brew Haus in Des Moines, and that place is exactly it. I've gone there a few times voluntarily because of all of the interesting things it has to offer. But honestly, what would be a fair compromise on this kind of situation? Because where one person sees the smoke as part of the atmosphere, others see it as a problem. The Sweet 16 Lanes is a good example. I hate the smoky smell. Someone else might love it. There's a real fine line, and I'm still trying to figure out where to draw it.
I agree totally. Why can't we have both. A bar for smokers and a bar for non-smokers. But instead of that we put a ban on it. But instead we are told what we can and can't do in a "free country". I know that its gross to non-smokers and I agree that its a health issue. But that should be a decision for the business owner and HIS/HER establishment that HE/SHE is paying for and paying taxes on. So we are slowly becoming a dictatorship whether we like it or not.
I will touch on something else to, so we can add this to the list of things to talk about. A big part of how its happening is called the scare tactic. Terror level on Orange "BE AFRAID". And all of a sudden we all submit to our government cause sure they will protect us for terror. But in the mean time we will empty your pockets on high fuel cost and food. And of course our dollar is weakening. COME ON NOW. Who is the first person that comes to mind that is getting LOADED with money from gas?? BUSH BUSH BUSH. Shell reported 19 BILLION profit just in the first quarter of this year. 19 BILLION are you kidding me?? And there excuse for this gas prices are high because "excuse of the week add here".. If its not one thing its another. There is NO EXCUSE for 19 billion profit while your screwing people. So what does our wonderful president do? Stimulas checks FOR EVERYONE. So you now you have money to use on GAS. Which, you guessed it goes right back into Bush's pocket. So not only is are markets crap and gas is ridiculous we have a president that is STEALING from the GOVERNMENT!! WOW what a great country. Get rich and screw everyone else... Yea your going to heaven!!! Money is the ruit of all evil. And sorry to say it evil is here.
It really is a brilliant tactic that a government that proclaims itself as free can use fear to control the population whereas other totalitarian countries kill people. This has been a tactic that has been present for many years. I like to joke around about the Soviet threat a lot. Mostly, because there was never such a thing. The only threat was the monetary one, where this new country emerged and didn't roll economically like we did, so in order to organize the masses against the perceived threat, ideas of nuclear war were fabricated. Yes, people can be scared into submitting their freedom, and that's how the patriot act got passed.
if people are so afraid of losing their freedoms, and therefore deciding hastily on decisions like the partiot act, i dont see how a ban like this could pass. I dont understand how people can allow this right to be taken away so easily. I guess the health factor plays a big part in this situation.
The new smoking ban that goes into effect on July 1st, 2008, is "discrimination" in true colors.
Business owners who rely on their customers, to make an honest living....are now told....no smoking in your business as of July 1st/2008.
The State of Iowa, who rely on casinos for revenue...write the law to make casino's excempt from the new law.
If this is not "discrimination" then what is it?
Yes, its an individuals choice to smoke or not to smoke; its an individuals choice to socialize in a smoking/non-smoking establishment.
As of July 1st/2008.....our choices will be made null and void.
I am wondering WHEN the State of Iowa will ban alcohol?? Its a choice to drink or not to drink; its a choice to socialize in a drinking establishment/or not to. Oh my....what would the State of Iowa do without the money it makes off of liquor licenses, DUI'S, ect?
What about those that choose not to drink? How come their voices don't hold any weight? The answer lies within the revenue that the State of Iowa makes off of those that do drink.
The motorist that goes down the highways each day/night, deserve to know that they will NEVER be accidently killed by someone with alcohol in their systems....but thats not the case.
Honestly it boils down to a State that speaks out of both corners of their mouths at the same time.....hypocrites.