The signs display a decaying tooth, diseased lungs and damaged brain
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comJudge halts New York's anti-smoking displays
Seeded on Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:28 PM EST (msnbc.com)
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Until the government stops collecting billions of dollars in taxes on cigs, they have no right to ban their use anywhere.
I don't understand why these billboards should be a problem. They aren't curbing anyone's freedom of speech. Tobacco companies continue to spend money to deceive people into thinking that cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco use do not harm people's health, so why aren't anti-tobacco advocates permitted to advertise the truth?
Firstly, you can advertise the truth. The Surgeon General's warning is already forced on ads for cigarettes and on the packaging itself. Nobody is stopping you from putting up billboards, etc. And if they did try to stop you, I'd be the first in line to help smack them down. And I'm a smoker myself.
Secondly, you can't force merchants to display things in their stores. Like I said, they are already displaying the warning on the packs themselves, so technically you've already got a leg up. But to force them to put ads in their stores, that's too intrusive. Better to err on the side of freedom of speech, that's the position the courts have generally followed, and I agree with it.
Thirdly, is there really a person anywhere who doesn't know that cigarettes are harmful to health? Every parent, every teacher, everybody who talks to a child about smoking that I've ever heard or heard of has always emphasized the risks, the deaths, cancer, emphysema, etc. I doubt there's a person alive in the US at least that doesn't know smoking is bad for your health.
There are some things about the anti-smoking campaigns I agree with. Banning in restaurants, businesses, workplaces, seems reasonable. Banning in public places less so, since our taxes contribute to the upkeep of said places, but I can understand it. However, there was recently floated in Texas a bill that would ban people smoking in their cars. It failed, but I wouldn't have followed it even if it had passed. Next, they'll want to ban me smoking in my yard, or even in my house.
There is such a thing as too intrusive. You can try to ban tobacco in general, but then the black market will have yet another cash crop. People have to be allowed to make mistakes for themselves. That's just part of living in a free society.
Seems like a denial of free speech
Oregon past a tax on smoker's to help pay for their health care plan, then they make it Illegal to smoke. This from higher educated idiots running our state.
They should tax beer the'd get alot of money from that, deport the Illegals that are flooding our health care system. Alcohal is the number one killer not tobacco, back in the sixtie's they displayed a car all broken up in front of the high school to make kids aware of drinking, they should do that again to every school...
From the way the article is written ( no real facts on decision basis ) it appears there is just one more judge in our system that is placing personal views over the constitution. There was no " false advertising" type of issue to sue the city. So how bad is the truth ....... ? Seems a bit crazy from the way it is reported.
Uh-Duh is right... when it comes to your understanding. Where do you get that this has anything to do with -- or NEEDS to do with -- "false advertising"? The ruling was Federal Preemption but the argument went futher... about forcing speech on merchants. The store owners are forced against their will to hang these signs at counters where they have to move what THEY want to put there in order to make room. The City doesn't get free air time from networks for their anti-smoking commercials. Why should they get free space in someone's private store for the same form of commercial?
Pay close attention to a couple of the judge's words in his ruling that bias is letting fly over anti-smokers' heads: "...full protection of the law, for OUR SAKE as well as theirs [tobacco companies and merchants]." This judge recognizes that to keep legal protection in place for ALL one cannot begin to pick and choose who is to be the beneficiary of that right. Being free IS more important than being "smoke-free." For ALL OUR SAKES.
Founder, NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment (C.L.A.S.H.)
When they start posting billboards with pictures of what overweight people and obesity contributes to ill health, then I will say fine to all billboards about anti-smoking or whatever else they want. When I walk into a fast food restaurant and see a scale and a sign that says "10 lbs overweight? No super-size for you! Then I will start agreeing with all these people that wish to control my freedom of choice. I just love all the lard arses that berate smokers while they stuff their gut with crap and then reason it away because they are drinking a "diet" soda. This is still supposed to be America with freedom of choice, however ill-advised that choice may be. I am sick and tired of everyone trying to shove their beliefs down my throat. From the anti-abortionists, pro-abortionists, non-smokers, non-drinkers, anti-gun control, gun control, etc., etc.
Jeepers..... I could not agree more with your argument. It is time that we demand the same treatment of these many hypocrites out there. I for one would be in favour of families being required to present a meal card for places such as MacDonalds before they can cram that big mac, fries, large pop, apple fritter etc. down there kids throat for the 4th time that week for dinner...... TOTAL DOUBLE STANDARD and I for one am sick of it..............
In Ohio smokers paid for a stadium but cannot smoke- WTF?? This is ridiculous. As a smoker I embrace the new smoking bans. It cut me back and I am less offensive in public- BUT outdoors and bars are fair game! Tell the health fanatics to go elsewhere!!! I KNOW the damage smoking does- same as an obese person knows the facts about overweight. I get a kick out of watching obese "health fanatics" eating double cheeseburgers in a smoke free bar because they are healthier now.
I am a smoker & a coffee drinker. Have been for years. Tooth decay? I laughed. Not from smoking but from drinking good old coffee. I drink so much coffee the acid took the enamel right off my teeth says my dentist.
So now what? We go after coffee makers? I know I'll sue them there's no warning labels on their products. It just keeps getting more assinine!
I agree about the assinine. The logic these people who love telling others how to live and going lawsuit crazy never ceases to amaze me. Like the tobacco lawsuit a few years ago, there have been warnings on ciggarettes since 1964 so no one who has ever smoked since then can claim they didn't know about the dangers involved. That suit was pure BS. Using that same logic one could try to drive 60 mph through a curve posted at 30 mph, then when they wreck sue the state highway dept. for putting the curve in the road. When will the insanity end ? Hopefully soon with judges like this one.
So those of you that think it is ok to show these pictures to curb smoking, how about we allow them to show the graphic pictures of our solders when they are kill or mamed, maybe a few Horrific pictures from war zones would help bring our troops home.
or how about the gross abortion pics that groups want on billboards. would that be appropriate? i think not.
Tobacco was one of the first exports from the new land. Tobacco doesn't cause cancer, it's the chemicals used to "flavor" that cause them. Just remember when you drive home drunk this evening, No one has had to much to smoke and killed other drivers. For those that claim they are allergic to smoke, Horsesh!t.
I'll put down my cigarettes, when you put down your alcohol.
No you will put down your cigarettes when you die a long painful death from Cancer
Yes ! And that will be my choice, not yours or anybody elses.
IF I end up with cancer. Contrary to the propaganda the Nicotine Nazis spew not everyone who smokes, smoked, lived or worked with a smoker, or ever saw or touched a cigarette will come down with cancer. Also contrary to the Nicotine Nazi's propaganda, if all smoking were to end today people would still have cancers of all types, we would still have rainy days, and your car would still rust. Smoking is not the scourge of the earth the self righteous few claim, nor will ending smoking make the entire world a beautiful place.
All those grotesque images stress me out and make me want to go outside and smoke! In all reality anybody who does not know by now that smoking is bad for them lives in a cave! Yes I smoke, I have quit and then started again, right now smoke a pack about every 2 days (not bad, could be worse) and eventually I will quit again. And yes, I am considerate, do not smoke in my house with my children, move away from others, and stay in designated smoking areas. If they want to do this then I suggest on every bakery item and fast food item a pic of a dead, obese person should be mandatory because I too am sick of paying for obese people that just can't get up and go to work because of their diabetes.
GOOD! The judge is absolutely correct! And, just for the record, the judge should fine the company for FALSE ADVERTISING! Why? Because smoking DOES NOT cause tooth decay or brain damage!
People have been smoking for thousands of years, funny thing is we have fewer people smoking here in the States than ever before....yet....we have more than quadrupled the number of hospitals, clinics, doctors, etc. Seems the powers that be knew that once people stopped smoking, that diseases would be able to take over the body easier. Look around, why the build up in Hospitals, if the majority has stopped smoking, we should be seeing the opposite if smoking was so bad for you!!!
I agree with (Coats)....alcohol in all forms is worse than smoking...alcohol kills thousands more than smoking ever will or ever has. Also leads to a lot of bad decisions while under the influence.
Alcohol used in moderation and responsibly will not harm you or anyone else. There is no hamless way to use tobacco for you or the people around you. Places that sell cigarettes should have to display thse pictures and fast food places should have to display pictures of fat people and their illnesses. Tax alcohol, cigarettes and fast food to pay for our nations healt problems.
I'm so sick and tired of a bunch of candy a55ed whiners complaining about each and everything somebody else does or chooses to do. I'm sure that if they took a good look at their own lives they would have plenty to worry about instead of butting into everyone elses business. These types are the ones who want to tell everyone else what to do, but if someone tries to tell them what to do screams bloody murder about their rights being violated.
It's real simple people. If you don't like drinking, don't drink. If you don't like smoking, don't smoke. If you don't like being around people who drink, don't hang out with drinkers, or when the drinking starts leave. Same with smoking, if you don't like smoking don't hang out with smokers, they don't want to hear your bitching anyway. If you go into a place and the music is too loud you don't demand they turn down the music, you leave and go somewhere else. If you go someplace and it's too smokey you have the option to leave, your foot isn't nailed to the floor, you however do not have the option to stay there and whine about the smoke. And for those of you who whine about the cost of taking care of smokers, I've paid my 5000% or better sin tax for over 40 years, so I'm prepaid and don't want to hear your crap.
Freedom means we have the freedom to make our own choices, not just the ones someone else approves of. Good for this judge ! He actually has a grasp of what freedom means and how it applies to EVERYBODY.