Tony Rubolotta

Attacking Liberty One Puff at a Time
June 13, 2009

One of the simple pleasures of life I enjoy is to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee and a smoke. For me, it’s a time of reflection and thanks giving as I enjoy the view of the small lake and surrounding woods from my apartment balcony. Even on those days when the rain is pouring or the snow falling I thank the Lord for His awesome and marvelous creation I am allowed to imbibe with my coffee and cigar. The sunshine, the rain, the snow, the coffee bean and the tobacco leaf are all part of God’s creation that allow me to spend 30 minutes in paradise each and every morning.

It seems that a majority of my fellow citizens think I should not be allowed to smoke or if I do, I should pay homage to the government for that choice. Their concern for my health is touching, but unwanted. Nor are they compelled to be in my presence when I choose to smoke, so their concern for their own health is totally under their control. My choice to smoke is a liberty that threatens no one but me and the elitists who believe liberty is chaos and must be controlled. The elite after all, know what is best for us and how dare we defy their superior intellects.

The crusade against smoking may seem a trivial example of the assault on liberty in general, but it is not. It is part of the war against liberty in general and can be considered a reconnaissance in force. If this one liberty, as trivial as it seems can be stamped out, the path is opened for larger and more deadly forays against other liberties. The liberal elite are the ultimate control freaks and won’t be happy until they believe they have control over every human activity. The war against tobacco is a reconnaissance in force in the more insidious campaign against any personal freedom.

I’m not going to defend smoking as a harmless pursuit, but I defend it as my fully informed choice. I know the risks and have weighed those against the enjoyment. I do believe the state should forbid sales of tobacco products to minors for the very reason they are minors, meaning they are not sufficiently educated or matured to exercise liberty. That’s quite different than forcing the owner of a bar or restaurant to forbid smoking or raising punitive taxes on me. People can make their own choices about the establishments they choose to patronize or where they seek employment. Banning smoking for the "public good” treats people as children incapable of making informed decisions or exercising their liberty to do so.

The assault on personal freedom and property rights through all forms of anti-smoking legislation is merely a test case for the assault on other fronts. It has succeeded only because a majority of Americans do not smoke and see no personal stake in depriving or punishing others who do smoke. It has also succeeded because a vocal minority of anti-smoking zealots needs some purpose in life and what better than a crusade to save people from themselves.

I was enjoying a smoke outside the building where I worked several years back when a rather obese and shabbily dressed man approached me and started blathering about the harm I was doing to myself. He told me he was on his way to Springfield to join a rally in support of anti-smoking legislation. I was polite, thanked him for his concern and told him it was none of his business. I could have been impolite and made some rather stinging remarks about his eating habits and general appearance, but I didn’t. I could have told him that he should be more concerned about health issues related to his obesity, but I didn’t. I didn’t see it as any of my business as to what or how much or how often he chooses to eat. That is going to change once government grabs control of health care.

Tobacco today, eggs tomorrow with beer, wine, meat and potatoes to follow. By the way, salt is already on the table with an ironic twist in that contest. The AMA, which has come out against nationalized health care, supports policing salt in foods, even to the extent of examining and regulating restaurant recipes for salt content. It’s freedom for me but not for thee.

If you want to cheer for your victory over tobacco, go ahead. Your turn will come because there will always be people out there who know better than you what is good for you. You will be deprived of certain choices because the wiser among us have determined your liberty to choose is harmful to you, the environment, polar bears, certain species of beetles living in dank caves and their obsession for control. Right now, I’m going to enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine and a puff for freedom.