Finland Moves Towards Banning Smoking

Finland has extended its anti-tobacco laws to include a ban on cigarette displays in shops and restricting smoking in cars with passengers under 18 years of age.

One thing is clear ... the Finnish government wants to outlaw smoking completely and is prepared to take on the might of the tobacco giants. Philip Morris is already investigating its legal options.

Do we care? Smokers do!

Not too long ago we laughed (nervously) at the idea of banning smoking in public places. Today it's a reality. People acknowledge that smoking is offensive to non-smokers and the idea of a smokers' section is now seen as about as ludicrous as offering the public a "urination" section in a public swimming pool.

So ... where's this all going and should we be concerned?

I think there's a bunch of issues here.

Freezing people out of polite society and pandering to their sense of guilt (that they are harming themselves and blighting their own kids) is seen by many as extreme. Even though that's precisely what's happening.

Why can't we appeal to responsible adults to be considerate?

And what happens if we don't arrest this dangerous headlong descent towards an Orwellian reality? First the nanny state infiltrates its slimy tentacles into public spaces. Next vending machines (which are accessible to all) are removed. People are then prohibited to smoke in their own cars.

What next?

The nanny state morphs into a "bully" state and legislates what we do in our own homes?

Hmm ... when presented in that light there is a distinct flavor of unwelcome control and invasion. Adults are no longer capable of making responsible decisions, so we will shepherd them towards something more in line with someone's vision of how society should be.

Pretty repugnant!

But let's look at the practical reality.

People are anything but considerate. At least a huge number of us. If we were all kind and sensitive to the needs of others I would be the tooth fairy and people would stop smoking in their cars with their babies in the back seat.

In fact, if we really could be trusted, people would not need legislation to buckle up, or not park in the handicapped spot, or not pee in public.

"But I smoke with the windows down ..."

Yeah lady, that mentality is precisely why our civil liberties have been quietly neutered.

It's kinda like with children. Want to live in my house, you'll have to live by my rules. It's for your own protection.

And it is!

What moron in their right mind smokes with their kid in the car, windows up or down? It's so stupid and reckless, it's horsed things up for the rest of us!

Now we do have to be told what to do.

Because we were so busy selfishly defending our own rights that we lost all reasonable perspective.

And now we're being treated like children ... incapable of responsible distinction.

Thanks a lot!

And yes, it is the height of hypocrisy and inconsistency that Big Brother is attacking smokers when alcohol is still freely available and arguably far more offensive because of the element of violence.

But because we have a track record of irresponsible consumption, no doubt that will be on the agenda at some point in the future.

Which brings me full circle ... people know, but they just don't care. On a planet built for less than 2 or 3 billion (I'm being hugely generous here, but stay with me), there are now way too many bats in the belfry.

And this makes us control freaks nervous.

To be honest, I'm not sure what the answer is. I find so many elements on both sides strange, even offensive.

I have learnt from my foray into "health" that people value their right to harm themselves even if they do have at least some appreciation of the consequences. Rubbing their noses in the facts only gets peoples' backs up.

So does acting like you are somehow "better".

So does acting "holier than thou". In fact, unsolicited selling is just plain obnoxious in anybody's book. That's human nature ... and it ain't going to change.

Stay out of peoples' private business, why don't you? Sure, if it only affects you chum!

I've also learnt that people adjust quickly.

Seat belt laws may have been an irritant when they were first introduced. But over time even naturally rebellious people have come to appreciate the importance of buckling up.

But we still get really peeved if we get caught without a seat belt, even if we are maleable.

So that fine line is moveable and adults don't like feeling stupid, or having their knuckles rapped ... or getting a fine that's just a little more painful than a mosquito.

Come to think of it, nor do kids.

And maybe that's were the problem all started? Why do we insist on treating kids like their opinions don't matter? Because we know better ...?

Do we?

Most of all though, I have come to realize that society is never more disharmonious than when we start pointing out differences between people.

Is Finland right?

You tell me. You've heard what I think.