Sun, sea and (passive) smoking
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 
My children are reasonably good swimmers. Despite this I was (and still am) a bit nervous about going to the beach, especially a crowded one where it's easy to lose sight of people, in or out of the water.
The smallest distraction and, when you look back, they've diappeared. Even now I find it a bit unnerving and it's one of the reasons why I don't enjoy a beach holiday.
For most parents the thought of a small child drowning or being abducted is enough to worry about (even though the chances of that happening are very, very small). But no.
In the eyes of some, secondhand smoke - outdoors - is a also a threat. And so Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has become the latest authority to ban people from smoking on its beaches in order to create a "safe place for everyone to breathe".
I think I'm going to be sick.
According to the local paper:
Park officials say that the public response to the proposal, when unveiled this winter, was overwhelmingly positive. So were earlier surveys of beach-goers.
That’s no surprise, adds the paper. But it doesn't explain why. The reason is simple. The majority of people no longer smoke so the majority are "overwhelmingly positive".
It doesn't matter how ridiculous or nonsensical new anti-smoking regulations are, we are in the grip of a new form of tyranny - tyranny of the majority.
Reader Comments (4)
Due to the far more dangerous toxins produced by the vehicles that the majority would use to get to the beach, perhaps they should be made to walk or travel by horse and cart instead of being allowed to drive!
If a few whiffs of ciggie smoke is deemed so damanging, then all those toxins from vehicles are positively deadly!
"tyranny of the majority."
AKA 'Democracy'
A great concept - so long as The Majority consists of intelligent individuals dedicated to the ideals of Freedom, Truth, Justice, and a Creative Life for all.
But what happens when it consists of dumb, apathetic, ill-informed but easily-persuaded individuals whose fears and weaknesses make them ripe for exploitation by the Wicked Few ?
Just look out of the window, switch on the telly, or glance at any newspaper.
Isn't it time we invented a NEW word to describe the kind of Society and Government we REALLY want ?
'Democracy' just doesn't cut it any more........
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
http://www.hikercentral.com/parks/whis/
Oh !
It's in the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia.
Expect this latest symptom of the desease to cross the Atlantic then.
646 muppetts will agree or be forced to agree by their true masters.
Mind you who wants to freeze to death on a British beach anyhow ?
The biggest threat is death by hypothermia.
The med for me ,warmer.
They let you smoke too.
Gordon Brown's mantra in his election speech "A Fairer Society For All"
What a load of Tosh! All bar smokers, drinkers and the obese, I presume!