Here's a good one from across the pond:
Former Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, recently wrote an good article in the Daily Mail in which he actually talks sense for once. Or at least, for the very first time since before that fateful day on March 22, 2020. In his article, he strongly and very rightly criticizes the government's proposal to implement a New Zealand style generational smoking ban (that is, a lifetime smoking ban on anyone born after some arbitrary point in time). He goes right to the heart of just how ridiculous the whole thing is. And of course, we at Twenty-One Debunked also strongly oppose such an idea, not least because it is essentially the most extreme version of the very sort of fundamentally ageist policies that we despise.
It basically raises the age limit (currently 18 in the UK) by a year every year, and of course we oppose 100% any attempt to set the age limit higher than 18. While Twenty-One Debunked does not recommend that anyone of any age take up smoking or otherwise using tobacco, as it is a very foolish and dangerous habit with practically no objective benefits, we still believe that legal adults should have the right to do what they will with their own bodies and minds.
Of course, the proposed ban's defenders would likely claim that Johnson is being hyperbolic in his criticism. Truly, no one is calling for the newly disenfranchised smokers themselves to be arrested or otherwise punished for smoking, right? It's only the sellers of tobacco to people born after that arbitrary date who will actually be on the hook, right? Well, as history has infamously shown with less extreme age limits for other substances and/or in other places, there is absolutely no guarantee of that, especially when the measure isn't nearly as quick or effective as initially hoped for, and the zealots inevitably begin to get impatient. And even if penalties are limited to sellers, it's still utterly ridiculous at best, and an unjust infringement of civil rights at worst.
Perhaps old Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is at least somewhat redeemable after all?
A generational ban on smoking would create a large underground market for tobacco products. Gangs and organized crime would be selling tobacco products laced with fentanyl to people who are unaware that it contains fentanyl. Currently, many ecstasy pills are intentionally laced with fentanyl pills by organized members and gangs. Increasing taxes on tobacco products is the best strategy in reducing the use of tobacco products.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. That would be horrifying!
DeleteI wonder if God intended for these laws to be as there are. For example, Cannabis legalization. God probably intends to not have Cannabis legalized at the federal level. Since this is probably the case, maybe we should both give our authority to God so that he may govern over the U.S. For it is better for God to govern than for human beings to govern in God's place. Even though I agree with this blog, I think that you should consider that the reasons why some laws never change is because God intends for those laws to stay in place. You're a good person but I think that both me and you should give God unlimited authority.
ReplyDeleteWhat I mean is that since God probably intends for some laws to stay in place, like the ban on Cannabis, then we should not try to interfere with God's authority. For it is better for God to govern than for human beings to govern in place of God.
DeleteThat same logic can apply so a gazillion other bad laws and institutions throughout history that were ultimately repealed. Think Prohibition, slavery, and stuff like that. Thus, such reasoning is ultimately a cop out.
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