Did you hear on the news last eve that a trucker, here in Ontario, has been fined $150 for smoking in his own truck? What nonsense.
The rationale put forward by big government (add intrusive) is that the truck is his "work place" and hence, he is forbidden to smoke in it. From what I know about big trucks is that they are also the trucker's home when on the road.
This is just one example, among countless, of governments invading the privacy of individuals when those governments get too big for their britches.
The other day I was walking past the local Legion when I noticed 4 - 5 older legionaires sitting on the main steps smoking. I took a moment and went up to them to commisserate on the fact that as veterans they are not even entitled to smoke in their own private club.
They agreed with me but voiced the opinion that there really isn't anything that they could do to change it. I didn't disagree, but told them that in my opinion the Royal Canadian Legion had let them down by not negotiating an exemption for Canada's veterans. They nodded their agreement and went on puffing away.
In the case of our veterans you have a history of our government handing our free cigarettes to our troops during war time and then making them available at very favourable prices throughtout their military service generally. Then when they are older and good and hooked on the weed, they make it illegal for them to enjoy a smoke in the comfort of their own premises. How low can one go?
And it is not due to the deleterious affect of second- hand smoke. Smoking rooms can now easily be equipped with proper ventilation. Rather it is once again due to Big Brother Government believing it knows best for its children - I mean citizens.
I remember at the start of the government's campaign to target smokers telling my wife Anne that the day will come when Big Macs will also come within their sights. I really thought to myself, it quite unlikely - but the day did come.
In my mind, it all started with seat belts and it has been down hill from that time forward.
More lately, government is looking to regulate the amount of salt in our diets. We'll soon have the Salt Police. Here in Ottawa, we are prohibited from cutting trees on our own property without a permit - a permit that requires an arborist's report. Herbicides to control weeds on our own lands are forbidden. Vasts tracts of property can be rendered worthless by various environmental designations with the land owner receiving no compensation but still expected to pay realty taxes on the useless property. The list goes on and on.
What will they target next? Alcohol? Probably. But when that's accomplished, there will be something else and then something else again.
This is all being done in the guise of Big Government protecting you, the helpless individual.
We have all heard of the 'bubble child" - the child who has so many allergies that he or she cannot leave their homes without being wrapped in some protective bubble. If we do not start to push back soon, the day will come when we all will be placed in bubbles by our government for our own protection of course.
A novel thought to leave you with - who is better placed to protect you, than you yourself.
As I see it.
"Galagher"
