Boston Tea Party, Arkansas Snuff Fest

Just when we thought the theft of our personal freedoms had added yet another level of frustration right along with our tax dollars repairing infrastructure in other countries when our own is falling apart; no guns even though you're getting robbed blind; and no place to buy products made in the U.S.A. (except Obamawear), we learn that all is not lost. America is still full of it's own particular brand of humor and just plain don't-tell-us-we-can't-do-that attitude.

Arkansas lawmakers rejected a ban on snuff.

At first glance, this might not seem like a big thing, not compared with "Get us out of Iraq," "Are we being lied to about Georgia as we were about Iraq?" or "If Americans don't allow child labor or eat dogs, how come we buy from a country that does?" but just give this micro-revolution a little thought.

Sure, it's not the same as throwing tea into Boston Harbor to protest unjust taxation (although that might not be a bad idea even today), but it is one small voice crying out "Enough!!!!" That's the old American way. We didn't allow ourselves to be pushed around then, the way we do now with everybody having to be so very correct, politically speaking. Except in Arkansas.

But in Little Rock, the lawmakers will not be forced go give up their spittoons or cans of snuff, thanks to some good, tough House of Representative members who fought back and rejected a year-old rule banning chewing tobacco from their chambers. Imagine that. A guy couldn't even chew and spit. Now that's not the American way. Never was, never will be.

It was a shame when attempts were made to ban the use of all tobacco products, when Arkansas House rules and state law already prohibited the smoking of cigars, cigarettes or pipes in their chamber. What's a congressman to do when all those rules and regulations the state has might tempt them to take a drag off a Camel or a Marlboro? After all, if you count the dead armadillos in the road between Arkansas and Virginia where a lot of tobacco comes from, it's not that far between the two states.

In Arkansas, rules prohibit food and drink in the chamber, but they do permit a day's worth of tobacco juice, which allegedly brings happiness similar to that of Dogpatch's Kickapoo Joy Juice, seeing as how they're not allowed anything else.

They did stay within the letter of the law, technically anyway, because they put loathsome pictures of tobacco-chewin' diseased mouths on the desks of all members as a last-ditch effort to win the vote to ban even a little tobaccy.

Apparently the Associated Press is interested in this little freedom as well, because they reported some of the conversations as follows:

"We need to set an example in here for all the kids who sit in the gallery and watch us work," said Democrat Rep. Randy Stewart.

Rep. Billy Gaskill, who smokes and does not chew tobacco, said he opposed the ban and suggested supporters of the restriction were hypocrites with their own health problems.

"Here we go again, telling us how to live and how to die, and the very people that are most for this amendment are about 50 pounds overweight," said Gaskill, another Democrat. "Leave us alone. ... Let us die the way we want to."

Rep. Monty Davenport, who voted against the ban, pulled out a can of chewing tobacco during an interview outside the House chamber after the vote. Davenport said he wouldn't have minded if the ban passed and said he's trying to quit using chewing tobacco.

"It is gross, and as a health issue you can't defend it. It's unhealthy," said Davenport, a Democrat.

A law banning smoking in nearly all indoor workplaces in Arkansas has gone into effect. It does not cover chewing tobacco.

Comments

[SamThornton]

In remembrance of my great Aunt Fannie, who not only rolled her own, dipped snuff, smoked a corn-cob pipe, liked chawin tabbacky, and indulged in store-bought cigarettes and cigars, when available, I'm now lighting up a cigarette and saluting the wisdom of the Arkansas brain trust. Yaa-hoo!

[2dogwoman]

Sam -- Your great Aunt Fannie sounds like a wonderful, independent, strong woman who would never take the cr*p we get from Washington today without a fight.

Sounds like you're a lot like her!

[BostonSMS]

Second-hand smoke I can understand, but the dangers of second-hand spit? As gross as I think chewing tobacco is, I am against micro-managing everyone's life. If there is worry about "setting an example for children" much bigger issues (violence and mindless consumerism, etc.) beg attention. The idea of kids being corrupted while sitting in the gallery is ludicrous. Somebody talk to baseball players!

[2dogwoman]

Thanks BostonSMS, you're a real tea-in-Boston-Harbor thinker from the good old days when Americans refused to be pushed around. If they wanted to smoke, they smoked. If they wanted to spit, they spat, and there was no mindless consumerism -- you bought only what you couldn't grow or build.

Good points!

[2dogwoman]

I agree, dexxjones, that millions of people are mad as hell. They can do something about it if they cast off the cloak of apathy.

Because there are so many new registrants, I'm hoping the tide can be turned.

I also agree with you about nancy pelosi. It's been an embarrassment to have her hawking her new book all over the airwaves, and not following the will of the people in Washington. Big disappointment.

[BenPollock]

It's a tricky libertarian/social-democrat debate, what with the dangers from second-hand tobacco juice depending on if the dipper or chewer misses his cup and it hits your shoe. Oh, and this happened 10 months ago:
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/204874 Sorry, Maggie. I'm more hepped up about motorcyclists being required to wear helmets in every state. -- Ben

[2dogwoman]

Sorry to tell you, Ben, but this is a fact-based essay, not a news story.

I appreciate the attitude of Arkansas' lawmakers to stand up for a right to spit, whether it hits someone else's shoe or the spittoon.

Hopefully, if they want to ride their Harleys and feel the wind in their hair, they can do that as well, as long as they're prepared to pay the Gary Busey price.

[dexxjones]

there was a similar situation when the music companies tried to shut overcharge internet radio. the internet radio stations went dark, their listeners went berzerk and congress was forced to reconsider.

that's the saddest thing about this continual march to total fascism- a small number of angry people paying attention can make it stop.

the right/corporatists have succeeded in marginalizing the "netroots" to the point where nancy pelosi feels comfortable absolutely stabbing democrats in the back.

the plain truth is that millions of people are as mad as hell. they will make themselves known soon enough. when that happens, many people will be looking for work, including, hopefully, pelosi.