Smokers Against Discrimination

Freedom Of Choice Should Never Become A Radical Idea In A Democratic Society.

The smoking ban is a manifestation of the uncompromising, arrogant and intrusive nature of government into the everyday lives of citizens. The result is the removal of choice and persecution of smokers exercising their own free will in consuming a legally available product.

The Irish government has engaged in nothing short of social engineering using legislation based on medical junk science to severely disrupt and control the social lives of both smokers and non smokers alike. Many compromises which would have accommodated the wishes of smokers and non smokers are available. However none were sought nor considered in favour of draconian measures of dubious health benefit resulting in the shame that sees elderly citizens booted onto the street among many other absurdities feisted on the public by these laws.

The health risks and dangers from passive smoking are simply over exaggerated, hysteric and unproven. Theories suggesting health risk to non smokers are not supported by scientific fact. Independent research shows that cabin and flight crew who were exposed to passive smoking on a daily basis throughout their working lives have no increased mortality or health problems as a result. Research conveniently ignored by anti-smoking zealots !

Regardless of the health concerns genuine or not, the real issue is Freedom Of Choice. In a society that supposedly cherishes the individual, his freedoms and his rights, nanny state antics and imposition of draconian legislation backed up by jackboot tactics are an abomination. In free thinking democratic societies you win your case by the persuasion of your argument not by repressive intolerant legislation.

Irish Health Authority wisdom a little over a decade ago decreed that the general availability of condoms provided no protection against HIV or other STD's, hence the banning of condoms from general sale and distribution. The idiotic logic of this had as much to do with the personal moral tastes of intolerant minds than any concern for the welfare of those they governed. The same is true for the smoking ban which has more to do with the intolerant meddlers disdain for smoking and the smoker than any concern for his health or those around him.

History teaches us this, that the one thing democratic societies should never tolerate is the intolerant and intolerance itself. Intolerance to freedom of choice being high on the list ! What's wrong with allowing smoking and non smoking areas of recreation ? What's wrong with allowing adults to choose ? What's next on the agenda of the malevolent meddler that he wishes repressed and banished ?

Western governments are increasingly treating civil liberty, personal freedom and freedom of choice as inconveniences to be controlled or dispensed with. It's important that intolerant intrusion into the everyday lives of people by those that govern is checked and countered. Otherwise the exception becomes the rule and uncompromising censorship of personal freedom becomes the accepted norm.

The mindset that dictates adults need to be forced and threatened to behave in ways others deem fit has to be put aside in favour of tolerance, accommodation and compromise. SAD Ireland supports the right to freedom of choice, everyone's freedom of choice including that of non smokers. Compromises can easily be achieved which allows for the wishes of smokers and non smokers to be accommodated.

Any society that can kick the elderly onto the streets with the smug glee that accompanied the imposition of the smoking ban is a society heading in a very dangerous direction.