If Government Arrested 800,000 Tobacco Smokers A Year - Would 21% Smoke?

Yesterday, I ran a link to a Ron Paul piece about the possible prohibition of Tobacco by our nearly worthless politicians. And, while I doubt that it will happen (after all, Chicago-Cook County in Illinois gets 2.68 PER pack in taxes) - it got me to thinking about countries that prohibit naturally occurring plants that have been used for centuries if not millennia by the everyday man. Indeed, North American tribes thought tobacco "was a gift from the Creator and that the exhaled tobacco smoke was capable of carrying one's thoughts and prayers to heaven." (Wiki)


But, our worthless politicians, are in love with DRUGS - not natural products.

And, Mr. Paul's piece made me think about how tobacco smokers would react if suddenly over 2,000 of them were arrested each and everyday and then thrust into the legal system. Suddenly, 1,000's each day would get to see the inside of a local jail cell. Some would even end up in Federal prison. Suddenly, thousands of them, each day would be put onto `probation' by a judge of the law for their `crime' - with the promise of a jail term if they messed up and were caught with tobacco again. A few, might even get their kids taken away or lose their home to forfeiture.

For sure, we could count on the politicians patting themselves on their collective backs. They would tell us how they were protecting us - and - that THEY know what is best for us and our KIDS. They would talk of the reduced health problems that America will have in the future and the great gains in productivity they are providing by prohibiting the drug. They will NOT talk about a loss of liberty or the right for adults to self medicate. And, the media - somewhat dependent on political ads every 2 years - would rah-rah the whole thing.

Indeed, one has to wonder if tobacco smokers would continue to use `their drug of choice'. And, one has to wonder if the tobacco smokers would realize that THEY should have spoken up about the millions of cannabis smoker arrests, jail time, and billions of dollars the smokers had to spend to defend the right of an adult to choose what is best for them.

And, what a BOON tobacco prohibition would be for the lawyers (big supporters of the political parties) and their industry. Perhaps a country gets what it deserves when 1,000,000+ of them are lawyers. I just hope that the tobacco smokers don't expect the cannabis users to speak up for them.

How about you?

More links for today:

Readers disagree with charges against pot dispensary operator -- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2009/06/weed-pot-drugs-marijuana.html#comments Yep, the worthless politicians still put folks in jail in California for it - maybe they can release a rapist early for good behaviour to make room.

Rhode Island overwhelmingly overrides governor’s veto of dispensaries! - http://stash.norml.org/breaking-rhode-island-overwhelmingly-overrides-governors-veto-of-dispensaries/ You learn something everyday - such as - the governor of R.I. is another worthless politician.

Alcohol is toxic and potentially lethal. Marijuana is NOT. - http://safercampuses.org/alcohol-vs-marijuana.html Don't miss the `drug chart' near the bottom of this article.

http://physicsitsgreat.blogspot.com/ Today's FUN link - you have to see the cats on a treadmill.