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June 2003
Dateline Thunder Bay, Ontario
On Friday I received a package from Thomas of propaganda the anti-smoking nuts are blanketing Thunder Bay with to win the November 10th plebiscite. Here is a compilation of their "facts" which are pure unadulterated lies:
The Truth: Every one of these claims regarding children's health was "VACATED" null and void) in a landmark 92 page judgment by U.S. Federal Court Judge William Osteen on the basis of vast epidemiological evidence (Osteen, North Carolina; 93V00370, 17/July/98). The author of the second-hand smoke harms children myth, Dr. Fernado Martinez, Director of Respiratory Sciences at the University of Arizona, and author of chapters of the infamous E.P.A Report whose work was "VACATED" by Judge Osteen (see above) has recanted his previous assertions. Dr. Martinez now believes smoking bans and hyper-sterilized surroundings are responsible for inducing the epidemic of childhood asthma. Its called" Lazy Lung" where kids lungs are not given the proper needed exercise, and thus become susceptible to allergies. Here is what Dr. Martinez recently said: "Like most people, I assumed tobacco smoke and pollution were the problem-this was the politically correct way to think. But these factors turned out not to play a major role...Clearly something else was involved." Does Civilization Cause Asthma, Atlantic Monthly, May, 2000.
The Truth: there is not one iota of evidence to substantiate these claims. The recent British Medical Journal study using American Cancer Society data involving hundreds of thousands Californians over a 40 year period showed no difference. In addition to the BMJ study there is a mountain of evidence at the Forces evidence archives that shows what a lie this is.
The Truth: This hyped claim comes from the California EPA, which found a negligible difference which has been hyped to a gullible media. The most comprehensive study on the question comes from the U.S. Department of Energy's laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Oak Ridge researchers spent years replicating the prolonged effect of second-hand smoke on 173 non-smoking bartenders, waiters and waitresses. After years of measurement using state of the art equipment, the U.S. Department of Energy's peer reviewed study concluded that exposure to "respirable suspended particulable matter" which includes second-hand smoke, was LESS than one-sixth of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Safety and Health Administration's allowable level. Some other myths dispelled by the Oak Ridge study (the longest and most comprehensive in recorded history): none of the 173 non-smokers showed any difference in lung function, no asthma, no bronchitis, no pneumonia, no lung cancer, no heart problems, no inner ear infections, no heartbreak of psoriasis, no leprosy. Nothing! What the Oak Ridge study did find was that the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) used spiked data in their studies to push for smoking bans. Although its not mentioned in the propaganda Thomas sent me, the anti-smoking nuts claim that hospitality personal are exposed to the equivalent of as much as 36 cigarettes over an 8 hour shift. This claim was made recently by some brilliant broad in Calgary-one Yvette Penman of something called" Smoke-Free Calgary" (Forces Canada June 19, 2003) who sure had her facts straight. The correct answer according to the Oak Ridge study is 2-3 cigarettes a YEAR-not 36 a day.
The Truth-The question of minority rights was decided hundreds of years ago at The Treaty of Westphalia. In a civilized country (not to be confused with Canada) the principle was established that a majority should NEVER be allowed to vote on minority rights. The U.S. Constitution calls this principle "Self-Evident." If minority rights were subject to popular whims the Anglos in Quebec would have no rights. The French outside of Quebec would have no rights. Non-white immigration would not be allowed. The list is endless. This is an axiomatic truth civilized countries learned centuries ago.
The Truth-A REAL WHOPPER. Just recently in Ontario in the past couple of months, Forces Canada reported on 40% declines in Sudbury, Kingston, and Belleville, Ontario. There is a mountain of evidence on this question on both the Forces Canada and Forces archives. The B.C. Supreme Court threw out the Province wide smoking ban PRECISELY because of economic devastation. Here is what B.C. Supreme Court Justice Sunni Stromberg-Stein wrote in overturning B.C's ban: "When the impact is so significant as to pose a risk to the private economic interests, and where the impact is so onerous as to impose a policing function upon employers coupled with severe penalties for non-compliance-then public debate is of paramount importance." The B.C. Supreme cited the loss of 730 jobs and 6 businesses after just 3 months! (Source-The National Post front page "B.C. Supreme Court throws out restaurant smoking ban. Cites Economic Interests on Business and Workers." March 23,2000).
The truth-ANOTHER WHOPPER. Honeywell has ventilation systems that are 99.9999%effective.New modern ventilation systems can even remove poison gas. There is a mountain of evidence in the Forces evidence archives on this question. Dateline-Vancouver B.C
The Grope and Flail reported Friday on another activity you will soon be allowed to do in Vancouver-where indoor cigarette smoking is forbidden. Soon you will be able to watch an "Actor" and an "Actress" (alert the Academy Awards) performing oral sex on one another-live. This tasteful display is considered "Art" in Vancouver. Its safe to assume that these tasteful performances will be smoke-free. Instead of having this in an "Art Gallery", why not put this in B.C. Place the domed football stadium? Why not put this spectator sport on as a half-time at the B.C. Lions games? Despite an exciting team, the Lions don't draw flies. The basketball team moved to Memphis. The baseball team moved to God knows where. This is the kind of spectator sport Vancouver should support. Dateline-Winnipeg, Manitoba
There was once a story by Franz Kafka called the Penal Colony. In the story there was a torture machine. One day the torture stopped. Was this because of a sudden epiphany from the commandant on the need for decency? No.The torture stopped because the torture machine needed spare parts and there was no money to pay for them. In this spirit, the Loserpeg smoking bylaw will be delayed until September 1 because there are a lack of "trained health inspectors." One would have thought there would be no shortage. What kind of training do you need to be a member of the smoking police? The Nazis deputized Hitler Youth for this. Given the make up of the City of Winnipeg employees-99.9% are there for reasons of nepotism-it wouldn't seem too difficult to find some yahoos for this exciting, worthwhile career where you make a difference-and get big fat wages, benefits, pensions, etc? Well folks this is N.D.P Manitoba. You need a four year degree to be a smoking police officer/health inspector. In the 70s in Manitoba the N.D.P made Liquor inspectors the patronage dumping ground of choice. The job was going to bars and the owners always made sure you got laid. Times change. The cost of this by-law, that Premier Garry Doer calls "ambiguous" and a sitting duck for a court challenge ,is in the hundreds of thousands. Today in the Winnipeg Sun, there is talk of closing the zoo, because there's no money. Years ago former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Quarterback, Dieter Brock, wanted out of Winnipeg. His famous comment was" What is there to do in Winnipeg after you've seen the zoo?" No kidding. City Council is installing 12 more photo-radar cameras- for safety reasons of course-not for a cash grab. City Council is planning a new $1.50 a bag garbage tax. Loserpeg as I've stated before already has North America's highest property taxes, leads Canada in murder, arson, child poverty. Loserpeg has the lowest library book collection of any comparably sized city in North America. The University of Manitoba has been ranked worst in Canada for over a dozen years in the McLean's magazine rankings. The state of the roads would be an embarrassment in Morocco. But Loserpeg manages to find hundreds of thousands for a smoking bylaw. A couple of days ago I was invited-they called me-to be a guest on Manitoba's most listened to open line radio show, The Charles Adler Show on radio station CJOB in Winnipeg. The topic was ostensibly to discuss Winnipeg's smoking bylaw. Part of my radio interview with Standard Broadcasting (the radio division of Canadian Press-C.P) where I asked smokers to boycott any indoor venue where there rights were not respected and to go to North Dakota if a Provincial smoking ban was imposed preceded my interview. I have done many of these type of shows over the last couple of years, in many parts of Canada. This one was a set-up hatchet job from the start. When the topic is smoking on these shows, I've heard more stories than a stewardess-and they're usually just as true. The most common is the story of some relative who died of lung cancer-and thus we need to ban smoking. My father-in-law died of cirrhosis of the liver. Neither my ex-wife nor myself became prohibitionists taking an axe to demon rum. Neither of us drink, but we respect the rights of consenting adults to do what they wish with their body. Charles Adler started with the Lung Cancer card. Do I agree that smoking CAUSES Lung Cancer, he asked. No. I said. Smoking increases your risk of contracting lung cancer, but it doesn't CAUSE Lung Cancer. A "CAUSE" is defined medically as a 50-100% correlation.3-5%of smokers ever get lung cancer. Then he starts up with the "Premature Death" song and dance. I said the average age for a" premature smoking related death in Canada is 78 vs. 79 for non smokers. We're talking months not years." In short order he started screaming at me and hung up. I felt bad, not for the abuse I had taken (you can't be publicly involved with smokers rights if you are thin skinned), I felt bad that I had let down Manitoba smokers for not having a chance to get our message heard. The next day the following e-mail arrived. I am omitting the name to preserve privacy: "Mr.Klass, Yesterday, we heard you talking with Charles Adler about the smoking ban here in Loserpeg. I have to commemorate (sic) you on how you managed to keep your cool with that pin head. Charles showed his true colors: ignorant, arrogant, stubborn, and some things I refuse to say. All the staff at my work, which by the way, all smoke on the job, went ballistic on Charles. My boss even wrote him an e-mail cutting him down." Tune in July 1 for a special Canada Day edition of Forces Canada-"Black Day In July". I am going to share some e-mails I received from a couple of smokers in different parts of Canada about how the war on smokers is affecting them. Smoking bans go into effect on July 1(Black Day in July) in Edmonton, Alberta, London, Ontario, and possibly Loserpeg. I urge all smokers in affected communities not to patronize indoor venues where your rights are not respected.
In other words a Boycott. The elites of this country have given us no choice. I can't begin to describe how sick to my stomach I feel calling for a Boycott from millions of smokers in Canada. I am fully aware that many innocent people will lose their jobs. I am fully aware that many people in the hospitality industry will lose everything they devoted a lifetime to build. I am also fully aware that Forces Canada will be blamed for this. Do we have an alternative? As a former graduate student in history I can tell you that boycotts are crude and desperate acts-but they are sometimes successful. The Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott of 1955, launched Martin Luther King to prominence and ushered in the civil rights era was the most successful. The Jewish Boycott of German goods in 1933 came within inches of toppling Hitler. In certain venues in Ontario, accommodation of smokers to some extent was accomplished because people refused to patronize smoke-free establishments. The B.C. Supreme Court cited economic impact as the reason for striking down B.C's Province wide ban. In parts of Canada fears of the loss of smokers business has delayed for years the introduction of smoking bans. Even without a Forces Canada call for smoking bans business is down 40% in parts of Ontario that recently enacted bans. I told the interviewer what happened in a small Nova Scotia town that went along with the smoking ban. A bunch of sheep gave the anti-smoking nuts a huge propaganda victory." Smokers will cave in very quickly" they tell City Councils across the country. If we give in they spread like wild fire. Is there an alternative to a boycott? The media spreads lie after lie after lie on a daily basis. We never have a chance to respond or set the record straight. The anti-smoking nuts are given $450 million a year of your tax dollars to spread their campaigns of lies and hate. We have nothing. With the odd exception the Courts don't stand up for our rights. If you're a junkie, a pot smoker, an illegal immigrant ,a potential terrorist, a homosexual who wants to make a big lifestyle statement, a pornography consumer, some broad who forgets to take her birth control pill and gets knocked up and wants an abortion (name one thing Liberals believe in free choice other than abortion) the Courts in Canada are there to stand up for your rights. If you're a law abiding person who fought for this country, or a business or a consenting adult consuming a legal product in Canada-you have no rights. As far as smokers are concerned in Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a farce. The Liberal Party of Canada has used the Judiciary as dumping ground for every hack and bagman they couldn't fit into the Senate. Everybody in this country has rights-except us. Dateline- York, Ontario
Although I hate anti-smoking nuts-I hate them because of their ideology not because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or whatever. Anti-smoking nuts come in all races, creeds, religions, genders and sexual orientations. Its the anti-smoking nuts who have now moved the war on smokers from class to race. The Nazis started this. Nazi propaganda portrayed smokers as :"Jews, Africans, Indians, loose women and decadent intellectuals." It was only foreign policy considerations that kept East and Southern Europeans, Asians and Arabs out of Nazi anti-smoking propaganda in the 1930s. Would the anti-smoking nuts like it if I started bringing up all the rich Jews now involved in anti-smoking (Medicine and the Media)? I'm Jewish so my co-religionists cannot accuse me of being an anti-Semite. I choose not to because I refuse to get in a pissing contest with skunks. Its the anti-smoking nuts who are now playing the race card-like all true fanatics who preceded them. Dateline-Victoria, B.C
"Greetings Warren, and keep up the good efforts! My cousin lives in Victoria. He has been working in the hospitality industry pre-smoking ban days, and up to the present. According to his observations and opinion business has dropped 20 to 30 percent, and it has never recovered. Many places went belly up; the vast majority of hospitality businesses barely keep their heads above water. The profit margins are so thin a smoking ban is enough to sink the entire fleet." If anyone else has knowledge of how the smoking ban impacted Victoria hospitality industry please e-mail me at: warren.klass@3web.net . I promise I will not use your name. Dateline-Kingston, Ontario
The latest in a long line of prize packages the Liberal Party dumped on the bench upheld Kingston's smoking ban as constitutional even though by his own admission it was grotesquely unfair and makes no sense. The Kingston Whig-Standard is reporting that Pubco is planning to take the smoking ban issue to the Supreme Court of Canada for a constitutional challenge. I personally believe that when it comes to smokers the Charter of Rights and Freedoms isn't worth the paper its written on. Dateline-Kingston, Ontario
Even worse was the actions of some dingaling broad-a real affirmative action case-who sounds like she would be in over her head chasing ambulances or hustling divorce cases, that for reasons known only to the Liberal Party was made a Judge in Kingston. Just when I and numerous Canadians are ready to write off the Ontario Judiciary as the Liberal Party's revenge on Canada-along comes a judge who restores the respect and reverence the Court deserves, and used to occupy in Canada. The Judge has not yet ruled but from his comments-he has certainly won the respect and admiration of this Canadian. Over the past few months, I have tried to keep Forces Canada readers informed about the situation in Kingston-especially about the Legions. The Legions who have been decimated by Kingston's smoking ban have gone to Court to challenge the legality of the ban. The following comments of Mr. Justice Richard Byers appeared in Tuesday's Kingston Whig-Standard: "If you're a 20 year-old pregnant woman who plays bingo you can smoke, but if you're a 90 year old veteran you can't smoke. "I must tell you where my heart is. My heart is with the veterans." The Kingston Whig Standard wrote:" The judge observed that a lot of young men who were sent overseas to fight were taught to smoke by their government and now that they've reached 80 or 90 years of age they're chastised for their habit." On the question of ventilated smoking rooms, Judge Byers said:" I think we should leave them in place. They're not asking for too much. What's the problem?" The Kingston City lawyer defending the bylaw said the Ontario Municipal Act doesn't require bylaws to be fair, only non-discriminatory. I'm not a lawyer but there is enough legal precedent from Here to Eternity on the "Fairness Doctrine." For example virtually every U.S. Supreme Court case decided by the "Warren Court" (named for Chief Justice Earl Warren) was decided on the "Fairness Doctrine." Earl Warren would regularly say to lawyers arguing a case before the Supreme Court:" Look I don't understand this. Just tell me if what you're advocating is fair." Is what is going on in Kingston fair? Dateline-Edmonton, Alberta
In Wednesday's Edmonton Sun, columnist Kerry Diotte examines the same situation from an Alberta perspective. Kerry is probably the only consistent voice in the entire Canadian media who stands up for smokers rights. Kerry has taken a lot of abuse for his unpopular stand. For what its worth I consider Kerry Diotte to be one of Canada's great heroes. Here is a brief excerpt from Kerry's column, Wednesday entitled Legions fume over July 1 smoking ban: "Many members of the Strathcona branch of the Royal Canadian Legion are doing a slow burn over the July 1 ban." I would guess 75% of the people here are smokers," said bartender Elie Powis, who has worked there 16 years." This is one of the few places where they can come to smoke." "She worries they may simply stop showing up and go elsewhere." I honestly don't expect to have a job after August." "She said the mood among most members can be summed up with this thought" These vets fought for freedom and they're saying 'Now the damn city councilors are taking my rights away.' A lot of the members are very upset." Dateline-Calgary, Alberta
So what would be the pre-occupation of numerous columnists at the Calgary Sun? Calgary City Council not imposing a total smoking ban-but leaving in place a ban on patio smoking-of course. Yesterday I quoted some of the moronic ranting of Sun columnist Bill Kaufmann. Today I will quote excerpts of two Calgary Sun columnists who have far more gray matter. Dave Ryan writes: "If Calgary's meddlesome council truly wanted to solve the smoking issue democratically, they should have left Calgarians to vote with their patronage. "Calgarians could frequent establishments that provide an environment that meets with their lifestyle. "That way every Calgarian could make their own choice, and we wouldn't need elected officials like City Coun.Dianne Colley-Urquart to crusade on our behalf." Fellow Calgary Sun columnist Roy Clancy wrote in Wednesday's column: "When Calgarians see photos and TV footage of smokers happily puffing away in an enclosed room while they are turned away from an adjacent outdoor patio, they are forced to laugh out loud at the absurdity of it. "The owners of the establishments affected by the bylaw aren't laughing. If the law is changed, the money they've spent for separate ventilated rooms could go up in smoke. "Surely smokers...should be given a little puffing room, instead of being banned from outdoor patios, hospital grounds or anywhere near the entrance of buildings. "Compared to smog and assorted environmental unpleasantness...the odd whiff of smoke in an outdoor breeze is merely a minor irritant." Dateline-Winnipeg, Manitoba
"In response to the story, Suffers breathe easier as tobacco bylaw nears (June22): I have been an asthmatic for well over 40 years, and a cigarette smoker for well over 30 years. I am also president of the Canadian chapter of the world's largest smokers rights group, Forces International. "As an asthmatic, a smoker and someone conversant on the medical literature on this question, I would just like to inform The Sun that the issue of second-hand smoke is a myth put out by hypochondriacs and spread by the media. "There are no documented allergens in cigarette smoke. An asthmatic is potentially allergic to thousands of things, the most common being dust, pollen and pet hair. If cigarette smoke contained allergens there is no possible way millions of asthmatics could possibly be smokers." Dateline - Ottawa, Ontario
The objection raised by some is that Gay marriage makes a mockery of marriage rings hollow in a world of Anna Nicole Smith. For those of you unaware this was the 20 year old blonde, bodacious Playboy centerfold who married a 93 year old oil Zillionaire. The grieving widow walked off with hundreds of millions. I saw today in the Grope and Flail that the first Gay divorce has been filed in Ontario. The ink isn't even dry on the wedding certificate when one is suing another for divorce and asking for $2,500 a WEEK in support payments. What this kookiness is doing is giving every group of nut balls a chance to go to court to impose their agenda on society. Ottawa already bans public smoking, and lawn chemicals with no real evidence. Why not have the modern descendents of the Temperance Union (Carrie Nation, Billy Sunday) go to court to ban alcohol in Ottawa? If you think I'm kidding the following is a verbatim excerpt from Susan Sherring's column in Sunday's Ottawa Sun: "If city council can ban smoking in public places, why not alcohol? That's what a group called Citizens for Healthier Safer Communities says it wants. The group is threatening to sue Ottawa city councilors if they don't take lobbying efforts seriously. Group members have been busy e-mailing councilors. Sounds ridiculous, but in our litigious society, who knows? "Our request is not a joke. Alcohol abuse is a serious problem worldwide. Alcohol has many health risks to the user. It also causes death. "As was the case of smoking, alcohol...kills innocent people, and therefore should have the same limitations placed on it. If we do not receive a response to this letter we will perceive it as your intention not to pursue this, and proceed to the legal system claiming discrimination based on your actions to control the consumption of tobacco products in public places under the pretense of health and safety." They do have a point. Ten years ago who would have ever believed you couldn't have a cigarette in a bar or on an airplane? 10 years from now both smoking and alcohol may be replaced with coffee bars where you can only smoke marijuana-until someone goes to an Ontario Court claiming correctly that a cup of coffee contains 19 carcinogens and 500 chemicals and certain strains of marijuana (B.C.Bud) have 10-20 times the carcinogens and tar as cigarettes. I don't drink, but I can think of nothing more dangerous than having the Ontario Supreme Court deciding how we live. Dateline - Calgary, Alberta
For those of you who wonder how Bill could possibly make a bigger ass of himself on the smoking issue, obviously have not seen Mr. Bill's column in Monday's Calgary Sun. The column is entitled "Beached whale-Smoking bylaw city hall's latest display of dysfunction." The usual Bill Kaufmann criticism of Calgary City Council for not imposing a total smoking ban. Yawn. What does the "Beached whale" have to do with smoking bans, you might ask. What could possibly be the most wrong-headed, moronic analogy possible? Quoting Churchill to call for a smoking ban. The quote is "Instead of a wildcat being landed ashore, we are left with a beached whale." Winston Churchill a supporter of smoking bans? Here is a quote from Penn State historian Robert Proctor:" Many Nazi leaders were vocal opponents of smoking. Anti-tobacco activists pointed out that whereas Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt were all fond of tobacco, the three major fascist leaders of Europe-Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco-were all non-smokers. Hitler was the most adamant characterizing tobacco as" the wrath of the Red Man against the White Man for having been given hard liquor." The anti-tobacco campaign of the Nazis: a little known aspect of public health in Germany,1933-45,British Medical Journal No7070 Volume 313.) One of Hitler's contribution to history was as the architect of smoking bans. The concept of "passive smoke" was a Nazi invention. Churchill, a cigar smoker, spent his life fighting evil, social-engineering and liars. Once again Bill Kaufamann manages to make a complete ass of himself. Also in Calgary, CBC Calgary is reporting on an epidemic of break-ins targeting convenience stores and gas stations in small Alberta towns. The thieves are only after cigarettes. Who can blame them? Its a quick lucrative entrance into the contraband business. A gas station owner was quoted by C.B.C. as saying he can not stop selling cigarettes because its his most profitable product. Once again the unintended consequences of high cigarette taxes have terrorized small towns. Dateline-Edmonton, Alberta
"I think the city should come up with some help to contribute to the change they made. "What we've done will negatively impact a great number of businesses who rely on their smoking crowd. "In the short term people who smoke will go up to St.Albert or Leduc or to other places if that's their priority. Restaurants got a very short period to make adjustments." Naturally the anti-smoking nuts on Edmonton city council are in denial, led by Coun. Alan Bolstad. Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte refers to Bolstad as "the Bolshevick." Bolstad takes a very sanguine approach believing smokers dining venues won't change. Wanna bet? Dateline-Edmonton, Alberta
It seems that the Enoch Cree Nation wants to build a huge $100 million complex just west of the outskirts of Edmonton. Why oh why wouldn't Mayor Bill Smith be overjoyed at the prospect of jobs and growth such an endeavor would entail? The answer is because of Edmonton's proposed smoking ban. It seems that the Enoch Cree Nation's complex which includes: casinos, bingos, bars, restaurants etc has no intention of going smoke-free. Alberta Premier Ralph Klein (an "occasional smoker") has made it clear he has no intention of imposing a Province-wide ban on Alberta. Premier Klein, unlike say, Manitoba Premier of "Today's N.D.P." actually gives a damn about about jobs and growth. Even if Klein were to change his mind it remains to be seen if sovereign Native Territory would be subject to Alberta laws. According to Sunday's Edmonton Journal, Mayor Smith has tried every delaying, stalling tactic to stop construction of the Enoch Cree Nation complex. The Courts have so far sided with the Cree. A City Councilor told the Edmonton Journal: "Bingo players like to smoke. If they put in a major bingo it would decimate the Edmonton bingos. That is a big concern." But don't the anti-smoking nuts ever tire of telling the gullible media that smoking bans are great for business? Aren't the Letters to the Editor, just before a ban is imposed, regularly filled with anti-smoking nuts who claim the reason they don't patronize establishments is because of smoking? All those people who regularly write letters to the editor in Edmonton complaining about smoking in restaurants, bars, casinos,and bingos will certainly make up for any business lost from smokers, won't they? Why would Edmonton be worried about losing smokers business? The anti-smoking nuts assured Edmonton City Council everything would be wonderful. The anti-smoking nuts wouldn't lie, would they? Dateline-Fall River, Nova Scotia
According to the Halifax Daily News it didn't exactly work that way. The kids-and according to the Halifax Daily News-there are tons of these kids-have moved off school grounds and destroyed neighboring property. Numerous kids came close to being run over in the back lanes and streets. These crowds of kids have naturally attracted the attention of drug pushers and pimps. A non-smoking Guidance Councilor told the Daily News:" The children are not trying to make trouble, its just that there are so many of them. They would like a safe place, but the only people not observing the safety of the children are the board of education bureaucrats." These geniuses in Nova Scotia obviously have great difficulty differentiating between a sentiment and a policy. To paraphrase Pink Floyd: "Hey-anti-smoking nuts. Leave them kids alone. All in all you're just another brick in the wall." By the way, I'm the parent of two teenagers. Neither smokes. Dateline-Brandon, Manitoba
The Brandon Sun is reporting Sunday that Brandon Mayor, Dave Burgess is leading the effort to at least allow patio smoking to help out Brandon's devastated hospitality industry. According to the Brandon Sun there seems to be no enthusiasm for even this small gesture. Since this is Manitoba, why let common sense intrude on ideological fanaticism ,irrespective of consequences? Dateline-Coubourg, Ontario
Poker Mag in its June 19th issue reported that revenues were down 50%. According to Lynn Farris of Rebound Youth Services Northland (64 charities rely on bingo revenue) they LOST $187 putting on the last bingo because only 84 of the usual 150 patrons showed up. The breakeven number is 100. City Councilor Gail DeVeau and others who voted to ban smoking were invited. No word on whether they attended. A suggestion: why not have topless Bingo hostesses that will compensate for the loss of smokers? Dateline-Vancouver.B.C.
The following two stories are about the difference between marijuana-still technically illegal-and tobacco-still technically legal-in British California. A few months ago Forces Canada carried the story of "The Smoking Judge. "The case of Judge Mary Southin made headlines across Canada. She was the judge who illegally smoked in her chambers, and threatened to resign unless accommodation was made for her smoking habit. The Province of B.C. spent $77,000 building her a special ventilation system in her office. My criticism of special treatment for Judge Southin was national news. I stand corrected. Whatever, money was spent accommodating Judge Southin was money well spent. My comments not supporting her made National news on C.B.C. I felt-and still feel- that my role as President of Forces Canada is to stand up for the rights of ALL SMOKERS-not just the powerful and well connected. B.C's anti-smoking nuts never said a word about her ventilation system while bitching incessantly about other ventilation solutions. Judge Southin has made the news again. This time I'm not criticizing her. The membership of Forces International has made it clear that it wants Forces to remain neutral and stay out of the marijuana question. As a Forces chapter President I respect that decision. My only on the record comments have been that rich people smoke pot in Canada. Poor people smoke cigarettes. Canada's recent tolerance of marijuana and war on cigarette smokers reflects this reality. According to Saturday's Vancouver Sun, Judge Southin and two other B.C. Appeal Court Justices unanimously overturned the conviction of a couple convicted of GROWING not merely possessing marijuana. Judge Southin wrote the majority opinion. Here is a brief excerpt of her judgment: "I have not abandoned my conviction that Parliament has a constitutional right to be hoodwinked, as it was against marijuana and to remain hoodwinked. "The growing, trafficking in and possession of marijuana...is the source of much work, not only for peace officers, but also for lawyers and judges. Whether that work contributes to peace, order and good government is another matter." Southin said the marijuana laws in Canada and the U.S. have made "criminals of those who are no better or worse, morally or physically than people who like a martini." You can legally possess marijuana in Ontario. You can now legally grow marijuana in B.C. But you can be fined up to $5,000 for smoking a cigarette in Victoria. (See next story.) Dateline-Victoria. B.C.
A couple of years ago I was briefly in Victoria with the former President of Forces Canada, and a local Forces supporter. I can attest that the restaurants were a ghost town. You could shoot a cannon ball through virtually every Victoria restaurant I saw and not hit anybody. Yahoo Canada is reporting that Stanwick is now quoted as saying how great smoking bans have been for Victoria's business. Stanwick naturally is encouraging the rest of Canada to follow Victoria's success story. Stanwick is quoted as saying that bingo attendance and bowling revenues have increased 8% since the smoking ban. Restaurant revenues he claimed are up 23%. In the 6 months I have been in charge of Forces Canada I have seen nothing out of Victoria. If someone has knowledge of what the reality is for the Victoria hospitality industry ,please contact me so the record can be set straight. Please e-mail me at: warren.klass@3web.net if you have recent information about Victoria. Dateline-Winnipeg, Manitoba
Last and least the latest from Loserpeg. The Winnipeg Sun on Sunday in a banner front page headline announced that NDP Premier Gary Doer said a province wide smoking ban is "inevitable." This would be Canada's first and only all-encompassing ban. For weeks before the election I tried to warn the smokers of Manitoba such an action was inevitable if the N.D.P. were re-elected. I told you so. Dateline-Ottawa, Ontario
"The organ needed to differentiate truth from falsehood is not the eye, but the nose. Falsehood leaves a bad smell." Nietzsche The Toronto Red Star Thursday reported on a study put out by some anti-smoking nuts called the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit that claims there has been no overall loss of business due to Ottawa's smoking ban. For the past few years Pubco and Forces Canada have been fabricating numbers and stories about the effects of the smoking ban? The Ottawa hospitality Industry spent hundreds of thousands in legal fees for no reason? The Gatineau, Quebec hospitality industry is fighting tooth and nail to keep the right to smoke in Gatineau because of all the phantom Ottawa patrons? 60 Bars in Ottawa just happened to close because of September 11? As Thomas Laprade points out this is the modus operendi of these liars.( See Following story) When a business goes under and people lose jobs and lifesavings its never because of smoking bans. It doesn't matter how many years a place has been in business. Its NEVER because of smoking bans. Its always because of Sept.11,or an economic downturn-but never the fault of smoking bans. What's beyond belief is that the COMPLETE MORONS IN THE MEDIA accept this garbage at face value. These nuts are PURE LIARS! These are just pure lies told to a bunch of ideologically deluded morons in the media. Jayson Blair of the New York Times got fired for less. University of Toronto Professor, Roberta Ferrence was quoted as saying there was: "no negative impact on restaurant and bar sales as a result of the bylaw." A better use of Prof. Ferrence's time- rather than spreading obvious lies would be advising her illustrious colleagues at the University of Toronto how not to lose hundreds of millions in pension and endowment money in stock market-a Canadian record. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch. Dateline-Thunder Bay, Ontario
What the ads don't say is the job losses , business losses, the losses to charities. I don't have the time to list them all, but here's a small sample from Belleville-40%, Sudbury 40%, Kingston 40%. The list is endless. The loss to charities everything from a marching band in Waterloo to Legions teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. Go back over the past few months in the Forces Canada archives over the past few months and see for yourself. If you're in Thunder Bay please help Thomas by putting up leaflets or by even going to the polls and making sure you tell everybody you know to please vote NO to the misleading question on banning smoking in Thunder Bay, November 10. Dateline-Montreal, Quebec
Dateline-Edmonton, Alberta
The evidence produced for this obnoxious sophistry was a recent study from Dartmouth that claimed to show that kids who see characters smoking on screen are more likely to smoke. This study was Junk Science 101 that even most anti-smoking nuts ignored as moronic propaganda. The only notable exceptions were surprise-surprise the Washington Post and CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. As I love to point out in Nazi Germany heroic depictions of smokers in films were banned. The only depictions allowed were of Jewish Mental Patients and Homosexuals. Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls all took "smoke-free" pledges for Hitler. Youth smoking was criminalized-just like Alberta. Huge cigarette taxes, and draconian indoor restrictions were imposed-just like Alberta. There was a non-stop propaganda barrage unleashed on primary and second-hand smoke-just like Alberta. Smoking was depicted as "a Jewish Plot to Poison the Aryan Race." The punch-line is that by 1939 Nazi Germany had the highest youth smoking rate in human recorded history-50%.The problem with state sponsored phony propaganda campaigns is the human condition. Tell a kid not to smoke 50,000 times and guess what they're going to do? In the 1920s-50s the League of Catholic Decency demanding Hollywood stop depictions of smoking, drinking, drugs, bad language, violence, sex, etc. The Lung Association has become a secularized version of the League of Catholic Decency. We don't know why kids smoke. We don't know why anybody does anything if the truth be told. Sometimes the banning of smoking in movies becomes ridiculous. One of the most ridiculous examples was the tedious, boring Disney bomb, Pearl Harbor where nobody smoked in 1941.Look at any movie set in that period-everybody smoked. Dateline-Calgary, Alberta
One of the most idiotic statements came from some nut named Yvette Penman of something called "Smoke -Free Calgary." Penman was quoted as saying that a non-smoking bartender breathes in the equivalent of 36 cigarettes during an 8 hour shift. According to the biggest, most comprehensive study ever undertaken on the question conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy's Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the correct answer is 2-3 cigarettes a year-not 36 a day. One of us is clearly lying. Thus I challenge Miss Penman to supply her evidence which counters the Oak Ridge Study. What's truly sad about all this lunacy coming out of Alberta is how hollow their protests about Kyoto sound. For those of you unaware Kyoto will decimate the Alberta Oil Industry. The pretext is Global warming. There is no evidence that Global warming even exists or shutting down the Alberta Oil Industry will have any effect on climate-but now Alberta is engaging in as much junk science as any Kyoto proponents. With all the layoffs in Southam Papers its nice to see that Canwest has found room for disgraced New York Times reporter Jayson Blair as its fact checker. Mr Blair was fired from the Times because he made up the news. Its wonderful to see Canwest papers following this illustrious tradition. Dateline-Simcoe, Ontario
According to Simcoe.com they are launching a brand new court challenge this time using the Charter of Rights. Their argument which is too complex to encapsulate here is quite brilliant. It makes you wonder who the real nuts are in this Cuckoos Nest. The dumping ground for Liberal hacks and bagmen( the Ontario judiciary) can but probably won't do the right thing. The Black Robed unelected, unaccountable, social engineers in Ontario legalized marijuana possession and homosexual marriages. The Supreme Court recently ruled that a Paranoid Schizophrenic was within his rights to refuse "treatment" by refusing to take medication. If a lunatic can legally refuse treatment shouldn't the same right apply to other victims of a self-important Quack? It should be an interesting Court case. Dateline-Kingston, Ontario
Dateline-Guelph, Ontario
Where are all the Black robed social-engineers from the Ontario judiciary to take a once and for all stance and declare this nonsense unconstitutional? Dateline-Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that the Legions who have specifically designed smoking rooms won't be able to use them July 1.But this by-law is about health not social-engineering, right? How many Legions-PRIVATE CLUBS-will survive is anybody's guess. The Winnipeg Sun is reporting that the Provincial Government-technically exempt from city by-laws-is still working on a policy to adhere to the "spirit" of the smoking ban in Loserpeg's Government run casinos. What this means is anybody's guess. Sun columnist, Tom Brodbeck wrote a terrific column Wednesday," Hospital smoking loophole loony." It seems that the Nazis on Winnipeg City Council exempted hospitals and nursing homes-if they wish from the smoking ban. When I had to take my ex-wife to Winnipeg's Health Sciences Center last winter I saw legions of bleeding people on stretchers forced outside in the freezing cold for a cigarette. Winnipeg's Health Sciences Center is famous for two things: being ranked 15th out of 15 for the last dozen years in the McLean's magazine ranking of Canadian Medical Schools/Teaching hospitals. The H.S.C.is the University of Manitoba Medical school. The U of M as a stand alone entity is also perennially ranked worst in Canada by McLean's magazine. The Health Sciences Center is also infamous for the "preventable deaths" of 12 babies. In the longest inquiry in Canadian history, the anti-smoking nuts testified before a tribunal how "Northern Babies" (Native) were selected for certain slaughter in furtherance of "the Learning Curve." For those who wonder why I call them Nazis, the first of Nuremberg's 27 tribunals involved Hitler's anti-smoking nuts from Academic Medicine who were charged with "The Euthanasia of Sick Babies born with heritable defects." Babies not judged to be "brachbarer volksgenosse" (a useful racial compatriot) were sent to a certain slaughter. The anti-smoking nuts defense at Nuremberg? The Learning Curve. The difference between what went on in Loserpeg and Nazi Germany, besides newer magazines in the waiting rooms was that the anti-smoking nuts from German Academic Medicine were hanged. The anti-smoking nuts at Loserpeg's Health Sciences Center were given raises. But I digress. Here are a few lines from Tom Brodbeck's column: "But I've always thought that if the federal government sanctions tobacco use, people should be able to use it on private property, if they wish, after all its a legal substance and the market, not the government, should dictate where you can and can't smoke in private establishments. "But if this product is harmful and kills people, then government should ban it outright, not tinker around the edges and pretend to be health conscious, while reaping huge tobacco revenue. "That's the height of hypocrisy. "And so is this bylaw." Dateline-Toronto, Ontario
Briefly here is the encapsulation of the case. The Federal Government forced the Tobacco Companies to label cigarettes that contained lower amounts of tar and nicotine cigarettes "Light and Mild." In 1980 (23 Years Ago), a CBC program called Marketplace raised questions about Light and Mild cigarettes. Even though they did contain less tar and nicotine, the program claimed some smokers covered the air holes and breathed in deeper.23 years later this is the crux of the anti-smoking nut case. A few years ago Former Health Reichfuher Allan "The Crock" Rock in conjunction with the anti-smoking nuts demanded an end to Light and Mild cigarettes. The anti-smoking nuts have driven The Crock's successor Dreamboat Annie McLellan crazy over this. Four of these pain in the asses quit Dreamboat Annie's advisory panel and Uber Parasite Gar Mahood was kicked off. As I say this is not a new story. A couple of years ago Forces Canada published an account from a reverse Insider, Luc Martial on this. Mr. Martial a former Federal Tobacco Control Bureaucrat told Forces Canada readers that the anti-smoking nuts could care less about Light and Mild cigarettes. Their agenda was plain packaging. (The Light and Mild Deception). On May 21 of this year in a story datelined from Roberts Creek. B.C.I informed Forces Readers of a lawsuit filed by the pu--- whipped husband (Kenneth Knight) of Airspace Action on Smoking and Health founder ,Heather Mackenzie. Kenneth Knight -- Mr. Heather Mackenzie -- filed a lawsuit over the Light and Mild deception, with the avowed intention of bankrupting Imperial Tobacco (B.A.T.). The Court ordered Heather to shut up. Whether the Lawsuit mentioned by CTV is Heather's or a different one is anybody's guess. I've never smoked Light Cigarettes so I am probably the last person who should comment on them. I never cared for the taste. Personally I've never seen two people smoke cigarettes the same way. Should the Tobacco Companies be held libel because some smokers smoke Light cigarettes like a joint-toking and holding it in? It sounds pretty far fetched. But since Philip Morris got nailed in an Illinois suit for $10 Billion (the Judge co-incidentally accepted campaign contributions from Trial Lawyers. The case is under appeal), the PARASITES (Anti-smoking nuts and ambulance chasers) smell BIG MONEY. Whether the Liberal Party appointed social-engineers let these Parasites get away with this in Canada is anybody's guess. Dateline-Sudbury, Ontario
After two weeks here is what the 5 cent brains on Sudbury City Council have managed to accomplish according to Wednesday's Sudbury Star -which naturally pushed for the smoking ban: at Romano Taus' Frood Hotel and Walden Bowling Center 20 full and part time workers laid off. At John Laberge's Crazy Horse Tavern business is down $875 a day. At Don Borkovitch's Martini's restaurant business is down 30-35%. Restaurant owner and CABR President (Citizens Against By-Law Reform) Dave Horton claims business is down 30-40%.Two employees have been already laid off. CABR is going to court July 9 to challenge the by-law. All are quoted as saying if the smoking ban is not lifted they will all be forced out of business. But all the anti-smoking nuts kept telling the Nickel brains on Sudbury City Council that business would not suffer. These are real 5 cent brains who worry about second-hand smoke in the middle of nickel country. Once again jobs lost, businesses decimated, lives ruined. I just hope the anti-smoking nuts are proud of their accomplishments. Dateline-Toronto, Ontario
The Financial Post-the business page of the Toronto based National Post-in addition to the excellent commentary by Mr. Luik ran a whole series on junk science. Not since the time of Hitler and Stalin have we seen science manipulated for ideological agendas as we are seeing today in Canada. The manipulation is not confined to just second-hand smoke. In a series of excellent commentaries the Financial Post demonstrates the same lies applied to second-hand smoke have been extended to Environmentalism (Kyoto, and so called "Global Warming" another unsubstantiated myth devoid of evidence.), and "obesity." Change the definition and all of a sudden have a new "epidemic" requiring a whole new bureaucracy, public service announcements, and of course well meaning PARASITES to save everyone from their own choices. Naturally this requires a whole new set of taxes on junk food, demonization campaigns. Another case of the Toronto/Canada elite telling everyone how to live. Sound familiar? Is there a day that goes by when the media is not warning of an increased 25% risk of dying "Prematurely" from obesity ("Prematurely" is base lined against 7th Day Adventists. For smokers/sinners the average age of "PREMATURE DEATH" is 77-78 vs. 79 for 7th Day Adventists.)? The Financial Post points out that the epidemiological level of this junk lifestyle epidemiology is 1.25.Anything under 2 does not even register in epidemiology. You need at least a 4 level to be a credible risk. There was a headline a couple of years ago in Australian paper that encapsulates the truth: "We are smoking, drinking, overweight-and we're all living longer than ever." Also in Toronto we have the ultimate Liberal Party wet dream. The Toronto Red Star reported Friday that noted anti-smoking nut "Senator" Colin Kenny (One becomes an appointed Senator in Canada in one of two ways: by being a BAGMAN and/or being a Liberal Party hack.) Colin Kenny, who couldn't get elected dogcatcher in Rosedale, presented Queen Jubilee Medals to three of Toronto/Canada's leading anti-smoking nuts. The first recipient was Uber PARASITE Gar Mahood,of the Non-smoking Rights Association. Gar's "non-profit" organization pays Gar's six figure salary and is the recipient of millions in grants from the Liberal Party. Gar was recently kicked off Dreamboat Annie McLellan's dog and pony show. Gar's whole shtick is that smokers are all just victims of a huge conspiracy by Big Tobacco. As Dr. Evil said in the Austin Powers movies "Riiiggghhht." Also honored was Dr .Sheelah Basrur.Do you remember how Sheelah, the Toronto medical bureaucrat went on TV before the world and assured all that Toronto's prize packages from the O.M.A had controlled SARS? Riiiggghhht. Wonderful prescient comment, Sheelah. Lets get this straight. Sheela went from making a complete ass of herself in front of Toronto City Council arguing for ending smoking rooms. Even noted anti-smoking nuts laughed at Sheelah's arguments- to making a complete ass of herself in front of the whole world by assuring that Toronto was SARS free. Only in Toronto would this level of accomplishment qualify Sheela for a medal. One wonders what kind of medal they would give Sheela if she actually did something right. Without Liberal Party imposed affirmative action ,Toronto might have been stuck with some incompetent quack in such a sensitive position. The third honoree was the Head Quack of the Ontario Medical Association, Dr. Ted Broadway, who was given a medal for his unending mantra: Raise cigarette taxes to give doctors a big raise. I hope all Ontario, celebrates these heroes of Tobacco Control by voting Liberal in the next Provincial election. Dalton and Co, is very enthusiastic to implement the agenda of these 3 Stooges-for the benefit of Rosedale. The Toronto Red Star Thursday featured a story on the plight of the smoking ban on Egyptian coffee shops where you smoke tobacco in a hookah. They are all worried they will be forced out of business with the anti-smoking by-laws. A suggestion- why not use marijuana instead? Possession laws are no longer enforced in Ontario. The unelected, unaccountable Black Robed social engineers at the Ontario Supreme Court just finished legalizing marijuana possession and Gay marriages. I have nothing against either one. I only wish that elected representatives would have done this and not the usual appointed, unelected, unaccountable Liberal Party hacks. The by-laws are all called "Tobacco Control" not marijuana control. You have to hand it to "The Big Lemon" (New York City is the Big Apple), they have another SARS outbreak, child murderers running loose, a decimated tourist and hospitality industry, about 36,000 potential terrorists ordered deported from Canada-they can't find, and yet they tell the ROC (Rest of Canada) how to live. Dateline-Calgary, Alberta
How about this for a radical idea Calgary? How about allowing private businesses to decide on their own smoking policy? I always thought that Alberta rejected Ontario based junk science and micro-managing lifestyle. Dateline - Halifax, Nova Scotia
"Why are they replacing laboratory rats with lawyers? There are more of them. They are cheaper to train. And there are certain things rats won't do." President Ronald Reagan. The ink isn't yet dry on the B.C. Supreme Court throwing out as unconstitutional-for a second time-the Province of B.C.'s attempt to shake down the tobacco companies over the spurious myth-"the health costs of treating smokers" at a cost of $10 million-when Nova Scotia's, and Newfoundland's (see next story) anti-smoking nuts are pushing for a similar suit. The Halifax Daily News reported Monday that Nova Scotia's anti-smoking nuts brought in noted Boston shake-down artist Ed Sweda to advice them. When last heard from Eddie was encouraging an appeal for the multi-billion dollar Florida verdict that a Florida Court threw out in no uncertain terms. (Eddie is an avid Forces reader.) If there is one thing Canada has no shortage of its slime-ball ambulance chasers. Why we need to import Eddie here advising on Canadian law is anybody's guess. The National Post once said about Canada's esteemed Legal community:" only 99% give the rest a bad name." In my previous Forces Canada commentary, datelined Vancouver, I showed that the evidence proves that the whole" cost of treating sick smokers" routine is a MYTH cooked up by the anti-smoking nuts for a shakedown. By co-incidence I have just received a terrific brand new book by an Australian Psychologist named Vincent-Ricardo DiPierri entitled "Rampant Antismoking Signifies Grave Danger". Over the next couple of weeks I will try to offer Forces readers a review of this fabulous book. But even in the first 40 pages, Dr. DiPierri meticulously documents how devoid of evidence the claims of PRIMARY smoking being responsible for the multitude of diseases claimed by those with an ideological agenda. Dr. DiPierri demonstrates that contrary to popular MYTH its not smokers who are the drag on health-care systems, rather it is non-smoking hypochondriacs. Dr. DiPierri writes:" There may be a far better argument that it is the nonsmokers group that should be paying higher health-care premiums in covering a small subgroup of nonsmokers that engage in conduct conducive to post mature mortality, and therefore, placing greater pressure on the health-care system." ( Rampant Antismoking Signifies Grave Danger page 46). If you are a lawyer involved with Tobacco cases or just interested in the issues, I recommend Dr.DiPierri's book as a must read. Rampant Antismoking Signifies Grave Danger can be purchased at www.newbooksinfo.com.au . As I stated within the next week or two, I'll be reviewing the book on the Forces main page. If a Canadian Court ever agrees with these MYTHS about "the cost of
treating sick smokers", the Tobacco Companies have announced they will cease
Canadian operations. All things considered not a bad outcome for smokers.
Overnight we'll have a huge new black-market develop. The most likely
suspects will be Hell's Angels and the Asian Gangs controlling the tobacco
market. Prices will plummit. Canada's legions of anti-smoking PARASITES will
be sent packing. For the anti smoking nuts this means: no more 6
figure" jobs", no more all expense paid vacations in Florida to go to
conferences on Teen Smoking, no more denormalization campaigns, no more smokers funding Canada's third-world medical system. Rose Marie's
finest (R.C.M.P) can't find 36,000 people ordered deported from Canada. They The biggest lies ever told were: "The cheque is in the mail", and "Don't worry. I'll still love you in the morning." (There are far more explicit versions, that I can't use here). The biggest MYTHS ever spread were: second-hand smoke is harmful, and tobacco taxes are high because of the costs of treating sick smokers. Once again the anti-smoking nuts have spread more myths than the ancient Greeks. The Greeks unlike the anti-smoking nuts at least told entertaining myths that survived thousands of years. In Courts the rules of EVIDENCE-not spurious myths should apply. Dateline- St John's Newfoundland
Dateline- Sault, Ontario
Gatineau, Quebec
Vivre le Quebec. Vivre le Quebec libre! Dateline - Vancouver. B.C
The "cost of treating sick smokers" next to second-hand smoke-is the biggest most pernicious lie told by the anti-smoking nuts-and spread by the media. This tautological assertion is such a bunch of ridiculous garbage -in a nation where cigarettes are $10 a pack as to be beyond belief. Smokers receive substandard, third world health care in Canada. For $10 a pack you could put up a Mayo Clinic on every corner. We not only pay for our own way-we pay the lion's share for everyone else-and we always have. In 1986- BEFORE THE HUGE TAX HIKES- SMOKERS CONTRIBUTED $4.3 BILLION over what they received in health benefits. (Source: "Smokers Burden On Society: Myth and Reality in Canada." Canadian Public Policy Vol XVIII, Number 3,Sept,1992).Can you imagine how much smokers contribute NOW? Here's a quote from the Journal of the American Medical Association on the question in 1989-again BEFORE the huge tax increases in the U.S. (JAMA's anti-smoking antics ranged from praising Hitler's anti-smoking campaign in 1939 to being accused by the U.S. Department of Energy's Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennesee of using spiked levels of second-hand smoke to push for smoking bans): "On balance smokers probably pay their way at the current level of taxes on cigarettes...In contrast drinkers do not pay their own way: current excise taxes on alcohol cover only about half the costs imposed on others." The Taxes of Sin: Do Smokers and Drinkers Pay their Own Way? JAMA, March 17,1989 Here is a quote from the New England Journal of Medicine-another noted friend of smokers:" If people stopped smoking there would be a saving in health costs but only in the short term. Eventually smoking cessation would lead to increased health costs." The Health Costs of Smoking. The New England Journal of Medicine Vol.337 #15,Oct.9.1997.Get that? According to the New England Journal of Medicine if people actually quit smoking health costs would skyrocket. No wonder the Medical Associations are so wonderfully altruistic in their quest to get people to quit smoking. More money for the Quacks. I can't begin to describe the volume of research from unimpeachable sources that have studied this question-that have all come to the same conclusion. The costs of treating" sick smokers" is a hoax. If the claims of second-hand smoke is the biggest Hoax of the Century-"the burden of treating sick smokers" is the Second Biggest Hoax of the Century. Vancouver used to be the hands down winner of Canada's laughingstock. Lately however, Halifax has been giving them a run for their money. During the last municipal election in Vancouver, the deciding issue was safe shoot-up sights for Junkies. The landslide winners in the Vancouver election promised safe, secure shoot-up sights. I'm not sure what the Politically Correct term is for Junkies. The Heroin challenged? Whatever. Toque magazine -Canada's pale imitation of National Lampoon-recently ran a spoof on this. They ran a parody of a boilerplate Vancouver City Hall press release:" City Approves Safe Inhalation Sites" (Smokers). Its a clever but sophomoric spoof. The joke only works if cigarette smokers are depicted as "addicts." Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everette Coop started this re-classification. "Addiction" which purposely carries a huge stigma, means something that is BOTH habit forming and intoxicating. Cigarettes are like coffee and chocolate-habit forming-but not intoxicating. Marijuana is intoxicating with out being habit forming. Only Heroin, Cocaine and Alcohol fall into the category of addictive substances because they are BOTH habit forming and intoxicating. This is not hair splitting. As I stated before in the movie Town and Country, Diane Keaton accuses Warren Beatty of being addicted to pu---.Its a clever line, but its not true. Junkies have been replaced with smokers who need a safe secure place to inhale up. Here is a small excerpt from Toque's spoof: "Its an unfortunate but sad truth that most smokers light up in wet, unsafe conditions, increasing their chances of catching colds, getting soaked by passing buses or breathing second-hand smoke from their fellow smokers. "The program is part of a four-pillars approach. Everyday, thousands of smokers can be seen puffing away in underground parking lots, in alleys, and doorways, along side-walks, and in public washrooms. They are subjected to all sorts of abuse from non-smokers. "These new safe inhalation sites will be non-judgmental where guilt-ridden, nicotine stained fingered addict can come in and light up a cigarette and we will not sneer at them." Its sort of clever, but I don't think The Saturday Night Live writers have much to worry about. The problem with writing satire about Vancouver is the same as writing satire about Weimar Germany. (Germany between 1919-1933,when Hitler came to power). The Dadaists and Surrealists eventually could not parody a society that was more insane on a daily basis than anything the Dadaists could dream up. How do you parody a Vancouver where you can go into innumerable head shops, smoke joint after joint, but are told if you want to smoke a cigarette you have to go outside because they" don't need the hassle from the cops." How do you satire a Province where the fine for smoking a cigarette indoors is 10 times the fine for smoking a joint indoors-assuming anybody in B.C. ever gets charged with smoking a joint. Dateline-Calgary, Alberta
"Smoking bans like Calgary's aren't really about people's health...Ventilation systems have advanced to the point where air quality can be maintained even in establishments that have a designated smoking section. That isn't good enough for the anti-smoking crusaders. "It was Albert Einstein when speaking of prohibition who said, "Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced." "The anti-tobacco lobby never butts out, they just smolder until they find a new opportunity to be a drag. Like prohibition, tobacco's a reality that will not go away. "What should be banned are crusaders who dictate how people live their lives." I couldn't have said it better. Dateline - Kingston, Ontario
The Legions are private Clubs. There is no possible way they could even be
construed as public places. How many City Councilors would even qualify as
members? Very few, if any. The Legions support so many charities and ask so
little in return. One charity the Legions support are Cadets. One of my son's is in Army Cadets. His dream in life is to go to the Royal Military
Academy in Kingston to become an officer. (The Canadian equivalent of West
Point). My other son is planning on joining Navy Cadets in the fall. As a
parent I can attest to the role the Legions play in raising money for the Here is a brief excerpt from Thursday's Kingston Whig-Standard-Smoking ban uproar alight: "Patricia Clark, president of Legion 631...said that business has been devastated by the smoking ban. She estimated that it has lost $8,000 due to cancelled bookings so far (the Kingston ban is one month old), and has already received cancellation of events as far as August when people discover their guests at weddings and other events won't be able to light up. "The Legion has had to cut back its hours of operation as a result of the drop in business, she said and that has also meant curtailing the hours of work for bartenders and kitchen staff." My only hope is that the anti-smoking PARASITES (who I know are monitoring us), who are paid six figures for their efforts are real proud of themselves for this. Dateline -Winnipeg, Manitoba
For those who wonder why I call it "LOSERPEG" here are some lowlights of the city: Murder capital of Canada, Arson capital of Canada, Child poverty capital of Canada, highest property taxes in North America, lowest library collection of books of any major city in North America, the roads are full of potholes, its University of Manitoba has been ranked worst for 15 straight years in the McLean's survey of Canadian Universities, its Medical School-also ranked worst in Canada for 15 straight years hired an incompetent Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon-12 babies died. Of course the N.D.P. Government was re-elected in a landslide with this wonderful record of accomplishment. But Loserpeg is following Vancouver's lead and going to have safe injection sites for Junkies. To all the non-smoking Junkies of Canada-Come to Winnipeg-One Great City. Dateline-New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Not everyone is hanging down their heads and crying at Dooley's Billiard Room in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Over the past few months, I've been informing Forces Canada readers about The New Glasgow Six. I sarcastically suggested that someone alert John Walsh (America's Most Wanted) or Rose Marie's Finest (R.C.M.P) to be on the lookout for the Dooley Gang. The heinous crime of these desperados? Allowing patrons to have a cigarette at a pool hall. By the way there would have been no charges laid if they had allowed pot smoking. The no-smoking provision only applies to tobacco. Honest. It now turns out that 21 year old Barmaid, Candace Mason (AKA Ma Barker) was acquitted. The other ringleader, Manager Terra McLean (AKA Bonnie Parker) case has not as yet gone to trial. This most recent account of the Crime of the Century did not come from the local Halifax papers (either the Halifax papers have not published details of Miss Mason's acquittal or my sources for Halifax news haven't forwarded me anything on this.), but surprisingly from the Grope and Flail. More specifically, Margaret Wente's magnificent column "Getting burned by the butt law" in Tuesday's Grope and Flail. Mrs. Wente is an anomaly at the Grope and Flail. She is the only one at that den of idiocy who ever tells the truth about smoking, or anything else. She has deservedly won numerous awards as Canada's best columnist. Here is a brief excerpt from Mrs. Wente's column: "But only the lower classes smoke cigarettes without shame anymore. All the rest of us feel guilty. My friends hide it from their children, the way they used to hide it from their parents. "New Glasgow, however, is a small backwards place. In the more enlightened centers of Halifax, Toronto, New York, the clampdown on smoking is wildly applauded by the opinion elites as a sign of social progress. "The same elites are mighty chuffed about Canada's move to decriminalize pot. They think its just one more sign of how enlightened and progressive we are, compared to those backward yahoos across the border. They see no contradiction between decriminalizing one substance and banning a whole bunch of other ones, even though they are equally, if not more innocuous." It is very rare to find a newspaper columnist who is both a big thinker and a great writer. Lets face it most North American columnists are not exactly Mensa material. You could almost count on the fingers on one hand those that are brilliant writers and big thinkers: Margeret Wente of the Grope and Flail, Paul Jackson of the Calgary Sun, George Will and Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post , William Safire of the New York Times and Phillip Terzian of the Providence Journal. All except Krauthammer who is an MD/Psychiatrist have written columns in favor of smokers rights. Coincidence? Dateline-Mulgrave,Nova Scotia
Dateline- Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thomas sent me a notice about the referendum question that will be voted on by Thunder Bay voters on November 10: "Do you support a ban on smoking in public places and in workplaces in the City of Thunder Bay?" There is an appeal process available until June 13 because the question itself is misleading as restaurants and bars are pointedly not mentioned. In a civilized country (not to be confused with Canada) certain rights are "inalienable." This is a fancy way of saying that businesses and consenting adults have rights that can not be taken away because of the temporary insanity of the majority. If minority rights were subject to the majority whims there would be no minority rights. For those of you who thought the question of minority Rights were settled with the Treaty of Westphalia-guess again. The French outside Quebec would have no rights. The Anglos in Quebec would have no rights. There would be no right to non-white immigration in Canada. The list is endless. But in Thunder Bay whether the minority have rights is to be decided by majority vote. First of all there is not one iota of evidence about the harm of second-hand smoke. The hospitality industry will be decimated with a smoking ban in Thunder Bay. You can look through the Forces Canada archives to see what happens when these smoking bans are imposed. The loss of jobs and businesses is staggering. The Tobacco Free Thunder Bay parasites are well paid from a $480 million dollar slush fund. They don't have their life savings tied up in a bar or restaurant. They don't have to worry about making a living or feeding their families. These PARASITES-and make no mistake they are PARASITES-receive 6 figure salaries for making our lives miserable. These Liars and Parasites are well funded and have the media on side. We never get much of a chance to allow our side to be heard. If you want a bunch of rich Parasites and Busybodies telling you how to live then by all means vote Yes to a smoking ban on Nov.10.If you believe in :honesty, decency and fairness then please vote No. There is a precedent in Minnesota for winning. In a small town recently the anti-smoking nuts spent hundreds of thousands to spread lies and propaganda into a referendum banning smoking. They had the media on side. Our side had no money and no media access-but we won in a landside. Freedom won because of the tireless efforts of Archie Anderson of Forces Minnesota, who with no money organized a grassroots effort. Thomas Laprade is this kind of hero-but he can't win this himself. Please get in touch with Thomas and help him and the No side in the Thunder Bay Referendum Nov.10 Dateline- Regina, Saskatchwean
CBC Saskatchewan is reporting that in order to get around this idiocy, Klein's Food Mart in East Regina is now banning anyone under 18 from the store. This is a first in Saskatchwean. This N.D.P. lunacy has accomplished nothing except to hurt small retailers. Dateline-Halifax, Nova Scotia
Over the years Forces has reported on the side effects of Zyban/Wellbutrin. Zyban is Wellbutrin with an 800 number an |
TOBACCO
NEWS FROM CANADA
June
30 - There is an old saying: "Some are born great. Some attain greatness. And
some have greatness thrust upon them." Thunder Bay resident Thomas (The
Snowbird) Laprade encompasses all three simultaneously. Thomas is an ordinary
guy and an extraordinary man. Single-handedly he has taken on the entire anti-smoking establishment. The media ignores him except to run letter after
letter in the Local Rag-The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal-criticizing him from a bunch of paid liars. Out manned, out gunned by a multi-million dollar
campaign, Thomas is fighting against an anti-smoking plebiscite
single-handedly. If and when the Liberal Party is ever voted out and their $450 million a year mob of Parasites are sent packing-and we take back
Canada, the first order of business should be to award Thomas Laprade "The Order Of Canada", the highest civilian medal this country can bestow on a
tireless fighter for freedom.