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[altariel]

So the smoking ban is one of those things where I'm brought face to face with the limits of my own philosophy of civil liberty. Because I'd defend to the death my right to die in a ditch in complete anonymity, but I see no good reason why some b*gg*r should be smoking at me while I do it.

Someone on the news (possibly our Malory Towers headmistress health secretary) made a comparison with the seatbelt legislation that came in whenever it was. What's interesting about that is that I remember Liberty spokesgnomes being out in force during that debate, and I don't think I've heard a peep from them over the smoking ban. Of course, they're very preoccupied at the moment trying to prevent schemes like stamping barcodes on all new born babies or eradicating tedious bits of red tape like trial by jury.

Just before Life on Mars there's a programme on benefit fraudsters that I keep on missing. Has anyone seen it? Is it all: "Remember! Responsible citizens shop their neighbours to the authorities!" I'd like to see a jolly and informative programme that says: "Remember: Reponsible citizens groove at the political process!" That would surely be a challenge for a documentary maker.

Comments

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

I can't seem to find it on the SMH's website, but I'm sure one of the news bulletins broadcast on Triple J this morning said that one of the Australian political parties is calling for a ban on smoking in private cars when there are children present, and that police should have the power to pull over cars where such a thing is taking place. I shall have to chase that one up...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Hm, now that seems to me to be going a bit too far, it is a private space after all. I can see an argument for not smoking at the wheel of a car, like not using mobile phones. I think I'd rather the police were policing something else.

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

Ahah. I found it here (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18165343-1702,00.html). But it's a state party branch doing the calling, and police are a state matter, so the likelihood of all states even considering it are remote. (And besides, any such call is going to be swamped by reporting on yesterday's vote, without a division being taken, to strip the Federal Health Minister of his powers of veto over the drug RU486, and allow the Therapeutic Goods people the right to judge whether a patient should have access to it. There'll be several days hullabaloo over that...)