Accountability and the matter of choice

Shifting the blame is one of the great generational differences today. The cigarette companies are to blame if I smoke, the bartenders if I drink, McDonald's if I'm fat , video games if I kill my family, TV if ...

[Ken Nicholson]

I note that you probably didn't think all too much about your choices.

[sam]

Bravo, I too, make my own choices, it has gotten so ridiculous with these law-makers in this country,if one sees you scratching your butt in publc and doesn't like what he sees, with a stroke of a pen he will make it unlawful to scratch your butt in public, as long as I'm not hurting ANYONE ELSE I will keep my freedoms, my body is MINE, not the governments

[Ron Jeske]

To Mr. Halbert, I agree that too many want too much after doing too little to help themselves. There are far too many lawsuits and the courts are viewed as the way to secure everlasting peace, if not money. As for smoking, I am sure that you are one of the luckiest tobacco users around if you have none of the common ailments of smokers after having smoked as you say you have. I know that others have not had your luck.

Some habits, like drinking too much alcoholic beverage, can be very harmful to the individual and others and should be controlled. Drunk drivers kill people and that activity should be controlled. Studies say that second hand smoke is bad for non smokers. The answer is to provide smoke free zones. I believe that the answer to that is really one word, choice. If I want to be around friends who smoke, I make that decision and no one else need try to make it for me.

I do play the lotto once in a while, but have found better odds at a slot machine.

Continued good health and good luck to Mr. Halbert.

[M Catts]

While I agree that the govt. should not dictate to a person what they do with their own bodies I.E smoking etc. there is a "flip side" this this also.
The tax payers fund that habit in the way of health care.
If you choose to smoke, drink alcohol in excess etc. then you should give up any rights to any tax payer supported help.

[New Mexican]

sam wrote:

Bravo, I too, make my own choices, it has gotten so ridiculous with these law-makers in this country,if one sees you scratching your butt in publc and doesn't like what he sees, with a stroke of a pen he will make it unlawful to scratch your butt in public, as long as I'm not hurting ANYONE ELSE I will keep my freedoms, my body is MINE, not the governments

Would not want to walk by a tobacco chewing cigarette smoking butt scratcher. No siree, not at all.

[Obama]

Nothing wrong with scratching your butt in public, I scratch my balls when the Star Spangled Banner is being played.

[hmmm]

Is that what those pea sized things are?

Obama wrote:

Nothing wrong with scratching your butt in public, I scratch my balls when the Star Spangled Banner is being played.

[David]

Waaaaaa! I'm such a victim! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

[John Baake]

It's so sad to see that half the posts on here only prove mr. Halbert's point.

Mr. Halbert is not one of the lucky few smokers. He is one of the majority of smokers who will never develop any of these so called smokers illness's.
The most skewed statistics out there still show that fewer than one in four smokers will ever develop any of these diseases, regardless of how much or how long they have smoked.

Mr. Halbert is right on the money when he says that the era of freedom is over. We have entered a second dark age, where the governing body will eventually have absolute control of our thoughts and actions.
In some peoples minds it is already heresey to support a persons choice to drink, smoke, or eat a Big Mac, because the government has said that these things are bad.

[Beware]

John Baake wrote:

It's so sad to see that half the posts on here only prove mr. Halbert's point.
Mr. Halbert is not one of the lucky few smokers. He is one of the majority of smokers who will never develop any of these so called smokers illness's.
The most skewed statistics out there still show that fewer than one in four smokers will ever develop any of these diseases, regardless of how much or how long they have smoked.
Mr. Halbert is right on the money when he says that the era of freedom is over. We have entered a second dark age, where the governing body will eventually have absolute control of our thoughts and actions.
In some peoples minds it is already heresey to support a persons choice to drink, smoke, or eat a Big Mac, because the government has said that these things are bad.

Well said, Mr. Baake. Less government is what we really need.

[Opinion]

I agree about are modern society today. We the people are letting the Federal, State, and local Government take more and more of our rights way. Which even in other countries is called soliciasic view. We the people of America need to speak out more about our freedoms being taken away. Parents can not discipline their kids. People it is getting to the point where you can not do anything without breaking the law although, it is your constitutional freedom to do so at times with discretion accourse.

[Fred Halbert]

John Baake wrote:

It's so sad to see that half the posts on here only prove mr. Halbert's point.
Mr. Halbert is not one of the lucky few smokers. He is one of the majority of smokers who will never develop any of these so called smokers illness's.
The most skewed statistics out there still show that fewer than one in four smokers will ever develop any of these diseases, regardless of how much or how long they have smoked.
Mr. Halbert is right on the money when he says that the era of freedom is over. We have entered a second dark age, where the governing body will eventually have absolute control of our thoughts and actions.
In some peoples minds it is already heresey to support a persons choice to drink, smoke, or eat a Big Mac, because the government has said that these things are bad.

Mr Baake, you are, as they used to say, a man after my own gizzard, and my hats off to you. I admire your way with words: would that I had it.Your reference to the dark ages even made ME think. Here's two examples of how the govnt tries (and succeeds all too well);"50,000 deaths blamed on secondhand smoke". Show me ONE death certificate that says that.(Oh, my! I caught a puff of smoke on a wafting breeze ! Now I'll surely die!) The other example is global warming. Well, Mr I-invented-the-internet Gore has been disproved many times over, but the damage has been done.Much to much of our liberty has been voluntarily given up to supposed safety and security, not to mention health.

[renegade]

i have to agree with you, we are responsible for what we do, and as long as we have that outlook we will be okay, used to be we could make up our own minds, but the government rules our every move, thought and action,

[pureasmud]

Fred Halbert wrote:

<quoted text>Mr Baake, you are, as they used to say, a man after my own gizzard, and my hats off to you. I admire your way with words: would that I had it.Your reference to the dark ages even made ME think. Here's two examples of how the govnt tries (and succeeds all too well);"50,000 deaths blamed on secondhand smoke". Show me ONE death certificate that says that.(Oh, my! I caught a puff of smoke on a wafting breeze ! Now I'll surely die!) The other example is global warming. Well, Mr I-invented-the-internet Gore has been disproved many times over, but the damage has been done.Much to much of our liberty has been voluntarily given up to supposed safety and security, not to mention health.

My father died of lung cancer and my mother has had a lung removed, most probably due to second hand smoke inhalation over a lifetime. There are thousands and thousands of documented cases of lung cancer traced to smoking. You are smoking alright, but it's the funny terbaccy. Either that or you are nuts. Wait? That is a precondition to being a member of the Bush cabinet.

[Fred Halbert]

pureasmud wrote:

<quoted text>
My father died of lung cancer and my mother has had a lung removed, most probably due to second hand smoke inhalation over a lifetime. There are thousands and thousands of documented cases of lung cancer traced to smoking. You are smoking alright, but it's the funny terbaccy. Either that or you are nuts. Wait? That is a precondition to being a member of the Bush cabinet.

See how you Bushites are? Unable to address the topic under discussion, you ramble on to put a cloud over the subject. We are talking about loss of American liberties, NOT secondhand smoke!

[Veteran]

Fred Halbert wrote:

<quoted text>See how you Bushites are? Unable to address the topic under discussion, you ramble on to put a cloud over the subject. We are talking about loss of American liberties, NOT secondhand smoke!

You are correct! If I choose not to wear a seatbelt thats my right. My safety is MY responsebility
NO ONE ELSES!!!

[Sam I AM]

Fred Halbert wrote:

<quoted text>See how you Bushites are? Unable to address the topic under discussion, you ramble on to put a cloud over the subject. We are talking about loss of American liberties, NOT secondhand smoke!

Bushites!! I have news for you Fred, Democrats want more GOVERNMENT CONTROL on your lives. Republicans want less. You talking about loss of freedoms you should check your facts.

[Veteran]

Sam I AM wrote:

<quoted text>
Bushites!! I have news for you Fred, Democrats want more GOVERNMENT CONTROL on your lives. Republicans want less. You talking about loss of freedoms you should check your facts.

I am not a dumbocrat, but the Patriot act HAS taken away some of our Liberties.
BOTH parties are at fault. They don't give a rats butt about the people who elected them.
Call them ,CHEW them out, I DO !! every week.
They are supposed to be working for US !!!!!

[pureasmud]

Fred Halbert wrote:

<quoted text>See how you Bushites are? Unable to address the topic under discussion, you ramble on to put a cloud over the subject. We are talking about loss of American liberties, NOT secondhand smoke!

Nope. You are wrong. Your reasoning is clouded by the smoke. Liberties are being eroded, certainly, but by a corrupt and oppressive administration in power. I'm a Bushite? Wouldn't that imply I agreed with Bush's policies? Not quite.

[High Rolls Resident]

the Patriot act has taken away our freedom. sponsored by the republicants.

Sam I AM wrote:

<quoted text>
Bushites!! I have news for you Fred, Democrats want more GOVERNMENT CONTROL on your lives. Republicans want less. You talking about loss of freedoms you should check your facts.