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Bob Parks is too radical for me! Charlie

Doggy, I think Parks hits many points right on the nose. He says it's about the money, and you somehow disagree with him while simultaneously making that your second point. His cry over the Liberals isn't solely about keeping tobacco legal, but rather the systematic dismantling of our freedom to do what is still legal. i.e., the Liberals are keeping cigarette smoking legal while they surp funds via increased tobacco taxes, and swiftly eliminate one's ability to smoke the gosh darn things. A few states have already mandated smoke free environments based on zero tolerance rather than on air quality. That is the liberal agenda and he makes the point loud and clear. Sure he uses some other examples to exagerate his point (abortion and asbestos), but that is for the journalism aspect, not the true heart of the subject. Here in Massachusetts, towns are quickly joining the "feelings flock" by outlawwing smoking even at bars that don't serve food. It's ridiculous, and it is once again led by the Liberal Agenda.

tailgator: more and more i am agreeing with you and perhaps vice versa. assuming you like you're vice, versa.

Tailgater, I said cigarettes aren't banned because lawmakers are scared of the hue and cry of addicts. I guess you can't addict people legally and then tell them it's illegal to use the product. Lawmakers take advantage of the addicted by taxing the cigarettes. Bob Parks says cigs aren't banned because of the money. If eggs suddenly caused cancer would they still be on store shelves? Would people bitch about being free to have their eggs? Some would yeah. But not like if they can't have cigarettes. Eggs would disappear quick. I think lawmakers are more concerned about lawsuits concerning secondhand smoke. I don't think it has a damn thing to do with what's good for you and me. Maybe bars should have 2 rooms, smoking and non.

Funny you should mention eggs. Several years back I saw a report on tv regarding bacon and its effect on cancer in those that ate it. Yet, it was never banned. Hmmm. And look at the HUGE number of folks who puff a pack a day and live to be 90. Hmmm. No, this isn't about the governments inablity or lack of desire to prevent an addict from getting a fix. It is indeed about money. First, last, and foremost.

I'm reminded of prohibition. Alcohol causes way more trouble in general than weed. Healthwise and socially. And yet booze is legal! They tried to outlaw it and it just didn't work. Cigs would not be any easier. OK I agree it is about money to a large degree. Cigarettes are a big chunk of our GNP. But are you saying Gov. would not try to ban them if they thought people would accept it?

I did not know bacon was a carcinogen! I don't eat it. I figure something that rich and tasty must be bad for me LOL!

the mafia arranged prohibition. it was an investment in politics that is still paying off.

That's an interesting theory Rick. But the temperance movement was strong in this country before the mafia was a force. Ever hear of Carrie Nation and her tavern busting axe?

I can come home after a days work and have a beer or two. Or perhaps a glass of red wine. I can do that without getting drunk. Who sparks up a heater and takes one hit? When you smoke pot, you smoke to get high. Alcohol can be enjoyed without the drug taking effect. I think that clearly seperates the two.

Sure, in moderation alcohol's OK. Problem is people overdo it and you have domestic abuse cases. Drunken homicides etc., etc. There are also alot of people who think they can have 2 or 3 drinks and drive ok. Your avg. pot smoker will admit he's too buzzed to drive. The drugs distort reality in different ways. How many people have you heard of smoke pot and get in fights and kill people? I think we are off topic though it's interesting.

xrundog: if you think carrie nation had the clout to cause prohibition you are charmingly naive. prior to prohibition, there was no real mafia, just small local sets of gangs. they formed a group and bought warehouses in this country. (incidentally if you don't know how to spell warehouses and you use spell check, as i do, you come up with two alternate spellings,
warehouses or whorehouses)
they bought distilleries in canada and england. they elected politicians that could be bought. the plan was to take about ten years and it succeeded. the mafia was born. this was about the same time that
j edger hoover was investigating everyone to see who else was gay. they called them **** at the time. he was too busy with his perverted mind to investigate the mafia.

Rick, who is Bob Parks? I seldom visit the politics area, but would like to see what it is you agree with. You should see if Michael Savage is syndicated on an L.A. radio station, too, and hear him on the Israel-Palestine issue. Maybe he would pull you all the way in. Nah.

tailgater stated the way I feel about liberals so eloquently, that there's no need to revert to calling rickmaven names like fat, bucktoothed, knobbly-knee'd, gravy-sucking, varmint! Wait....ooops.

Never mind Rick. Duh. 'Search' didn't turn up another Parks thread, but scrolling down did. I'll go have a look. Thx.

Dog man, my point is that although alcohol is indeed abused by many, it is also OK to use in moderation. Pot and other "hard" drugs are NEVER used in moderation. So the difference is very clear cut. And just because some abuse alcohol, it shouldn't be banned. Some people abuse automobiles by speeding. Should they be banned as well? By the way, I'm not saying that I'm for or against legalizing pot, I'm just pointing out the distict differences.

Rick, I'm sure that the Mafia will be glad to hear that they were born not from Italy but from the American Prohibition. True, prohibition escalated their growth 100 fold, but it was just the vehicle, not the seed. They likely would have flourished in other endeavors such as their infamous "insurance plans" and later on in gambling. They investing time, money and effort into illegal activities because it gave them a built in monopoly. When booze became legal they eventually got into drugs. A great movie showing the excess and downfall of the Mafia is Goodfellas.

tailgater: goodfellows is an excellent movie and an excellent example of a book turned into a movie. i didn't mean the mafia was born here, my mistake. but prohibition, a planned event, gave them the money and the clout. the numbers gave way to the lottery, without the bs about supporting education. even though almost all hotels in vegas are now corporate owned, bugsy seigel had a dream and unfortunately as another with a dream, both suffered the same end, bullets. imagine this. you send your child to college for an education and you bring him into your business. he has all the knowledge other business men have, but he has an ace in the hole. if things don't go his way, he has you killed. it does give him an edge, doesn't it.

: tailgater i forgot. an excellent book report. incisive and right to the heart of it. (i am not beeing sarcastic)