The Piercing Truth

This is right from the dictionary and seems to describe Albuquerque, Berry and Schultz. Fascism (f ash ,izem) noun An authoritarian right wing system of government and/or social organization. (in general use) extreme right wing, authoritarian, chauvinistic and/or intolerant views or practices. Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one group over another, national, ethnic, especially social strata or monetarily; a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach. Compliments of one of our Eyes

Jun 20, 2007

Dangers or Dollars

The smoking ban went into effect Friday... the first exemptions went into effect by Tuesday. Mayor Marty decided that smoking was no longer dangerous on the city's public golf courses. In an interview with KOB's Stewart Dyson, the mayor said "I’ve retracted that part of the order because that’s consenting adults away from kids where others aren’t going to be impacted.” The Almighty One went on to say that since there's plenty of space between smokers and other golfers, there's plenty of space for the smoke to dissipate.

We've been concerned about this from the beginning. The implications of government stepping in to save you from yourself, your habits, your choices, are absolutely staggering. (Read our take here.) In fact even anti-smoking advocates have been somewhat tepid in their reaction to the mayor's executive order.
Nathan Bush of the American Cancer Society said Albuquerque's ban "is the broadest measure that I've seen in New Mexico that addresses outdoor areas." - ABQ Journal (Subscription Required)
Bush went on to term the ban a "prudent step." Prudent step?! You'd think that the Cancer Society would be jumping for joy! Perhaps they understand that from a public perspective banning outdoor smoking is going too far; taking away one too many freedoms.

But let's assume for a moment that the mayor is right... that it's possible to harm another's health by smoking a cigarette or a cigar while outdoors. Why would you exempt any outdoor public spaces regardless of how fast the smoke dissipates?

The answer could be simpler than you think. Golf is an expensive sport. The city makes quite a bit of money from golfers playing the city links. The nature of the sport also dictates that golf devotees (or addicts) have large amounts of expendable cash. Could it be that Marty is exempting those who are most likely to write a check to his campaign?

City parks, the zoo, and even Civic Plaza, are not all that different from any golf course you care to name. Most of the time, they're not crowded so dissipation really isn't an issue. However, the mayor probably doesn't get all that many checks from Summerfest attendees.

All of which makes us wonder... is this really about dangers or dollars? The mayor is obviously currying favor with the vociferous anti-smoking crowd. Yet he's not quite willing to anger a demographic that by definition, has a lot of potential campaign cash.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The zoo has always had the no smoking policy because of the cigarette butts and the animals eating them.
I wonder if the mayor is going to exempt himself from smoking his stogies on the roof of city hall? He smokes out there all the time, will that still be ok?

Anonymous said...

I guess, as long as he doesn't take one of his office"Monica's " up there with him.

Anonymous said...

"stogies"? - you mean "reafers" I believe....

Anonymous said...

I think you mean "blunts"

Anonymous said...

NO, no, Monica's, like Lewinski's. Broads, chicks. Dah !!

Anonymous said...

He was close, but there was no cigar. LOL

S Pyke said...

Thank you Eye, I did not quite know how to state this on my blog but you did it perfectly. Do you think we should make George Orwell required reading in elementary schools?

Anonymous said...

Elementary school might be too late...start reading it to your babies in the crib! :)

Anonymous said...

Went to an organizational meeting tonight. This group of determined victims of government fleecing, may not reach the 21,000 signatures
needed for recall, but with 100+ people with clipboards in attendance, they may get enough to convince most that Marty should not be elected again for any office.

Anonymous said...

"Group of determined victims of government"? Who else besides Pike, Geraldine and Mr. Schrader (The Naked Man who drinks his own warm urine) were there? Yupp, if were the Mayor I'd be scared.... hahahahah Oh, don't forget to invite Mike Kaasabge the dog abuser. What a bunch of clowns, get a life!

Anonymous said...

None of them were there

Anonymous said...

Yeah right, I think you guys should go back to drinking piss with Don and discussing the Federalies and the corrupt banking system with Geraldine...

Anonymous said...

And you should get back to being T-BAGGED and CORNHOLED by the Mayor and the Chief ........! Your breath probably smells like The Dictator (Chavez) NUT SAC .....!!! hahahhahha

Anonymous said...

Looser !

Anonymous said...

Takes ONE to KNOW ONE .......! BIATCH .......!

Anonymous said...

hahahhahha that's FUNNY ......! I wipe MY DIRTY DICK OFF with your pillow case. How does my sweaty NUTS SMELL MARTY ....? P.S. SANCHO sends his regards ......!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Damn, everyone is attacking this poor soul Pike...What's up with that? Who the heck is he?

Anonymous said...

People are talking about his mother & wiping dirty stuff on his pillows....Man I'd hate to be him or his mother.....