BILL C-71 WILL PASS THE SENATE

But we believe that Bill C-71, the latest shame of this country, will pass the Senate.

There are many reasons inducing us to this conclusion, and a short analysis may clarify our position. For brevity, we are expressing our analysis in point form.

• The state-funded unrelenting, alarmistic propaganda portraying smoking as the epidemic of the century is forcing politicians to "do something" about the issue. Politicians are not and cannot be specialized in every field they deal with, thus they must rely on external input.

• The input available from authoritative sources is almost unidirectional against smoking. The noisy part of the medical establishment, for example, does not hesitate to validate the lies and exaggerations of the antismoking agenda in exchange for high financial and political gains.

• The machine created by the antismoking agenda does not allow information -- scientific or otherwise -- contrary to the agenda to reach the public. As a consequence, the majority of the public has formed the opinion that tobacco is indeed an epidemic, thus there is vast support given to all measures to eradicate it, regardless of their nature.

• As a result of the above, politicians are being pushed and manipulated into believing the misinformation fed to them. They have publicly exposed themselves, and there is no way back. Moreover, those politicians who may suspect or see the untruthfulness of this propaganda, do not dare to oppose antismoking measures at all, or they do so very indirectly, thus ineffectively. They are aware that in the present climate of witch hunt, opposition may cost them their career.

• The smoking issue provides a formidable diversion from the real, pressing problems of our society, and the inability of our political class to solve them.

• Historically, the issue of personal liberties has been a low priority in Canada, as the population has always looked up to and relied on the government as the only dispenser of privileges, prohibition, and public conduct. The knowledge about the corruption of the political world is taken for granted, and at any rate this awareness is not strong enough to debase the notion that delegating the protection of liberties to the state is the right thing to do, as opposed to guarding personal rights at the individual level. For this reason, the population allows the government to revoke any liberty that conflicts with its agenda, as long as a believable reason is used as justification. In this case, the reason is health: we must surrender our personal liberties in the name of health.

• The infatuation of Canadians with the concept of authority is very deeply rooted in our culture. Authority spells security, order, protection, and a direction to be taken, without the risks and hassle of self-determination. The sacrifice of personal liberties to the altar of authority is small change to be paid to appease the demon of insecurity. One can tell at a glance that Canada never went through a Revolution.

In the meantime, let it be known that neither FORCES Canada, nor its president will relent in their efforts to disseminate the truth, and we are ready to break this law -- if necessary -- to achieve that end, as it is probable that we will be charged for "promoting the use of tobacco", our office searched without a warrant, and our materials confiscated. No problem, we have copies!

On a personal note, this writer is quite ready to be imprisoned for defending the right to smoke -- and to smoke while conducting a social life.

I would not be the first -- or last -- to face jail for a conviction. The conviction that people must ultimately take responsibility for their liberties in their own hands. The conviction that choice is the only way in which a society can flourish, while the removal of choice seems to have become the preferred sport of the state. The disturbing knowledge that there CAN be democracy without liberty, notwithstanding the widespread popular belief to the contrary.

In a society that can no longer conceive any unregulated human activity, my choice to smoke has become a synonym for my choice for liberty, and may I be damned if I am going to give either one up.

I hope that many others will feel the same way. After all, a law unrespectful of the dignity of all citizens, itself does not deserve any respect.