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Terry’s Tidbits

By Terry Gray

“The ease with which a specious theory such as global warming can be imposed on the world constitutes a textbook example of political chicanery. And once a theory reaches a critical mass of acceptance, no matter how stupid or scientifically specious, it becomes established fact.”

                                                       Andrew Hirst   

NANNY GAMES

          More and more is coming to light every day about how the Nannies play their nanny games.  Often in the past they have ignored studies that contradict their studies or if the contradictory story is bold enough they will attack it by claiming that it was funded by “Big Tobacco Concerns.”  It doesn’t matter that the studies the Nannies pray to are funded by organizations intent upon passing smoking bans.

          Maryland has just vetoed a statewide smoking ban.  In and of itself that wouldn’t be news, because the Nannies quash the story by the graces of the liberal media and regroup to take another stab at quashing freedom.  The Nannies manipulated data to reflect positive economic outcomes of smoking bans.  They do this daily, but this time they were caught red handed.  Maryland lawmakers stomped on them, sending a message that these groups need to play by the rules.

          My sources in West Virginia, where Nannies move through the state county by county, tell me that each county that falls to smoking bans is held up as a trophy and a checkmark on a blackboard.  Because enforcement is practically non-existent and the county by county bans are so new, there are no citations for non-compliance, no economic consequences, and no civil disobedience, simply because the bans are moot for the time being.  But as each county is safely put in the Nanny bag, the non-statistics for that county are used to influence the governments of the next counties, and so it goes.

          Louisville Councilwoman Ellen Call is chairing the ad hoc committee on the newest round of smoking bans for Louisville.  Two ad hoc meetings to date have seen one Louisville Metro Hospitality representative, John Dant, representing smoking ban opposition, and the rest of those speaking have been pro ban. 

          The citizens of Louisville can expect no fair representation for freedom.  The citizens of Ms. Call’s district can expect no fair representation from their council person.  Nothing changes except the names.

MORE SMOKING NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

Ø     In the middle of a city council vote in Philadelphia, just after an undecided council person cast a vote against the ban, the head of the Philadelphia smoke nannies interrupted the meeting to ask for two more weeks before a vote was taken.  In the balcony of the council chambers an entire 7^th grade class of school kids waved signs calling for a ban.  I wonder if the kids were allowed to make up their own minds and perhaps have a sign against the ban.  Any bets?

Ø     Maryland lawmakers killed a bill for a statewide smoking ban after the smoke nannies were caught manipulating economic statistics.  They lumped together sales receipts from all hospitality venues in one of their counties that had enacted a ban.  With those watered down figures they showed “only” a 1.1% decline in sales for the hospitality industry.  The true figure of an 11% decline was of course ignored.

Ø     While kids and others can purchase Valium and other prescription drugs online with a credit card, the states have cracked down on credit card companies telling them they must refuse to honor purchases of internet tobacco.  It seems that credit card companies have been caught in the middle.  Washington, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, and South Dakota are currently working on plans to tax all internet purchases, from tobacco to socks.  The feds have gotten involved as well.  The ATF added their cent and a half by saying that over $1 billion in annual internet tobacco sales goes to fund terrorism.

Ø     Corpus Christi Texas killed their smoking ban on March 19^th.  It had only been in effect for 6 weeks, since February 7.  District 4 City Council candidate drew the only applause from a city hall meeting crowd when he stepped away from the podium and patted his belly as evidence that he loves to eat out.  He said, “If that smoke bothers me, I don’t have to eat there.  We’ve got other things to worry about than the smoking issue.”

Ø     In Providence Rhode Island, a high school student was suspended after he photographed his high school principal sneaking a smoke on school property.  Smoking within 25 feet of a building on school property is against the law in R.I. and his principle likes to stand in an open door and burn some tobacco.  The student then published the pictures on his website.  He also pointed out some spelling and grammatical errors on a memo that the dean of students had distributed.  The student has been told that he can return to class if he takes down his website.  (Update:  The kid has been reinstated and the principal has apologized on the school P.A. for smoking on school grounds.  And folks, this is how we punish law-breaking public school officials.)

Ø     According to the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, smoking cessation and education programs in schools don’t work.  Well, why should these education programs be any different than other education programs in our schools?  The lead author of the study, Dr. Sarah Wiehe thinks that kids are contemptuous of these programs.  Duh!  The problem is that schools receiving money from the federal government must provide drug abuse and smoking programs under Title IV.

A letter you’ll never receive

DEAR TAXPAYER –

     “We at the IRS would like to express our sincere thanks to you for all of the years that you have contributed to the welfare of this country.  We understand that there have been many trying times, and we salute you for your patience and perseverance while we have spent your money erratically and without conscience.  We do ask you to understand that it is our right to take from you and spend without regard to the true reasons that we tax you.

     A big issue right now is Social Security.  We understand that some of you are scared and confused.  We want you to know that it is okay, and we have your backs.  The fear and confusion associated with taxation is built into the system for a reason and as you know, the IRS always has a reason for doing things.  Because you are little and simple people and what we at the IRS do is big and complicated, it is only natural for you not to understand everything.  This if fine, however, because this helps us to help you; we are not called Big Brother for nothing.

     Let us get to the heart of the matter.  From this point on, there will be no more Social Security payments taken from you.  Never again will you see this deduction from your paychecks.  This money will be yours to do with as you please.

     When you reach the new retirement age of 50, you will get $2,000 every month until you die.  This will be non-taxable and you may still work if you want.  The $2,000 is yours no matter what.

     This is our way of saying thanks for all of the years that you have been valued customers.  For all the trillions of dollars that you have given us, we are now going to give back.

     Thank you Americans, one and all.”

RAVES AND DANCING

Cops in some areas of our fine country, like Racine, Wisconsin and Flint, Michigan are admitting that they have no control over drugs in their communities.  They aren’t doing this by giving up or turning a blind eye.  They are frantically, desperately arresting or ticketing everyone at dance clubs if one person is caught in possession of drugs or selling drugs.  This is kind of like a swat team descending on Wal-Mart and ticketing or arresting everyone because one person was caught shoplifting.

To add insult to injury, in the recent Flint raid, cops conducted strip searches to include full cavity searches.

So head on down to your favorite bar or Wal-Mart and pray that another patron isn’t in possession of a joint or has lifted a blouse. (Shoplifted.  Though lifting a blouse could get one in trouble too.)  You may find yourself spread eagle with your pants around your ankles, a likely position for victims of the type of legislation that allows this.  

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