Tobacco Punks

With all the problems that abound in Southeaster and Eastern Kentucky, you would think that 120 high school students from six different high schools could find more and better things to do with their time than circulate a petition aimed at ending smoking in publicbuildings. Yet, that is precisely what this group of ignorant little fascists have been doing, and have presented the petition to the Pike County Board of magistrates, who have as of yet to vote on the matter.

I bet’cha they’re Democrats, or come from Democratic households. Even on the off chance that I might be wrong, it doesn’t really matter. Of course, a significant number of Republicans, both conservative and moderate ones, are now on the anti-smoking bandwagon, and sure, a significant number of Republican politicians, if not most ofthem, are on board with supporting legal restriction, and outright bans, on this issue of personal private behavior.

So why then should I slam the Democrats? Because this is perceived as a Democratic issue, plainly. All the various lobbying groups that are behind this anti-smoking trend, and have been for years, are for the most part Democratic Party supporters-or better yet, make that Democratic Party controllers. Sure, more and more Republicans are getting on the bandwagon, but that bandwagon has been buildt and powered by Democratic Party lobbyists and supporters. So they, as they well should, get the credit for it.

Translation: Ever wonder why, despite President Bush’s woefully low poll numbers, the Democratic Party has not seemed to benefit in regards to their own favorabilty rating with the general voting public? Well, this issue is not the main reason for that, but it is a very improtant and overlooked reason for it. Especially here in the state of Kentucky-and, by the way, Tennesse, the Virginias, and the Carolinas. And everywhere else where smokers make up a potentially critical proportion of the voting population.

It may well also be the reason I decide to vote Republican in the next congressional elections, and maybe, if so-called liberal attitudes haven’t changed by 1908, that I may vote Republican in the Presidential elections for the first time in my life. I am at least very seriously considering it. If I do so, chalk it up to a protest vote against the arrogant hypocrits who have infiltrated, and more and more have come to dominate, my party.