The March of the Bully State
This is not about smoking.
In fact it has never really been about smoking.
Personally I never gave a shite about the anti smoker laws as they either didn't apply to me, or I just ignored them.
What I did care about was the ever encroaching and relentless march of the Bully State into how I live my life.
I resented the lies, the mistruths and the downright fairy tales spouted by the health fascists in their efforts to "denormalise" me and their attempts to turn me into some kind of social outcast.
Of course a lot of you sighed and doubtless thought I was a nut case. "Old Grandad ranting on again about his fucking smoking"! Am I right?
But you see it was never just about smoking.
It is all about control.
It is about people who think they know better than you telling you how to live your life.
Now that they think they have the smoker beaten into submission they are expanding their sights.
Now it really is the turn of the drinker.
Minimum pricing? A ban on advertising? Not showing alcohol in films? Legislation on how alcohol is displayed? Warning labels? This is all very familiar territory to those of us who followed the Tobacco Nazis.
Next they will be demanding plain packaging. Prices will go through the roof, but it's all for your own good, don't you see? They know best how you should live your life and we all know [or we soon will know] that drinking causes 1.3 million deaths a year in Ireland. We also know that alcohol the the primary cause of preventable disease and the cause of all known cancers. We know it costs the Irish Health system 128 billion euros a year. No doubt it will soon be discovered that half a million die each year from passive drinking? It must be stopped and IT'S ALL FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.
You thought it wouldn't happen to you? You thought smoking was in some strange way unique? Think on.
Or maybe you don't smoke and don't drink?
Do you seriously think you are safe?
The Bully State has the bit between its teeth and nothing is sacred.
If there is any aspect of your life which doesn't meet with their approval, they will find a way to relentlessly grind you into the ground until you conform to their sterile puritan view of life.
You have been warned.
Again.
Learn from plants… Fifty minutes of wonder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjrEdv9E0yU
They're more intelligent than the vegetables who are ruling at the moment!
Sorry Vegetables – didn't mean to be insulting.
I don't think I can add anything meaningful to that post, GD, apart from seconding it.
You're right! It's all about control! They want to control you and prosper from your efforts. Minimum pricing?! It cost me $7 US for a pint of Guinness five years ago! I'd hate to see what it is now in Dublin city centre. I can get a pint of Guinness here for $3.50/€2.54. Mind you, Guinness here is shite. 🙂
You should try a pint of the imported dark brew in Shanghai or Hong Kong. It will set you back the equivalent of 11 – 14 euro. I pay up in the interests of economic patriotism.
And here in the UK too Grandad. There was a thing on the Beeb website just the other day "50% of children have seen their parents drinking". Shock, Horror – of course parents should hide in shame whilst drinking…
PS: great blog, for an oldie 😉
Welcome Gareth. I saw that figure and thought it was a bit far fetched. Surely it must be nearer 80% or 90%? And who gives a damn anyway? I have seen many things in my life and would be dead twenty times over if I tried a fraction of 'em. But then I suppose the Little Preciouses have to be so protected?
"great blog, for an oldie" Thanks! 😀 [*fucking cheek*]
As the pious saying goes, The Family that sways together stays together.
Cue minimum pricing for coffee because it is addictive, a ban on environmental diesel fumes because it has been shown to be carcinogenic,a complete ban on contact sport of any kind and Doctors to be conferred with a 'special status' that makes them exempt from all of it.