Alicia Keys Disses Philip Morris International

   Yahoo News reports:

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Alicia Keys’ Indonesian concert just slapped on the patch.

Philip Morris International, the original sponsor of the Grammy winner’s gig in Jakarta tonight, pulled down all its promotional billboards and posters after the singer spoke out against the tobacco company’s sponsorship of her show.

The article concludes:

Whether Philip Morris’ financial support of the gig has gone the way of the ads, however, remains unclear.

“Whether tobacco sponsorship of music events leads to youth smoking is a matter of serious debate,” the company said. “Having considered the facts in this specific instance, we have decided to withdraw all branding associated with this concert.”

Consider that partnership snubbed out.

Tobacco companies should be able to advertise like any other legal business.  Society needs to stop using tobacco companies as contemporary scapegoats.

Trenton-Imposed “Fire-Safe” Cigarette Technology

   The unilateral actions of Trenton politicians are plain wrong.  Government needs to stop diminishing our liberty.  Businesses will develop and implement “fire-safe” and other innovations in their given fields.  Government intervention hinders ingenuity. 

   The Press of Atlantic City featured our work:

The new law in New Jersey goes too far for Jesse O. Kurtz, of the Smokers Rights Association, an opponent of Atlantic City’s smoking ban that begins in October on all casino gaming floors.

While he’s not against fire-safe technology and manufacturers using it, the requirement that all cigarette sellers must now carry those types of cigarettes is alarming, Kurtz said.

“If cigarette companies want to do that on their own, more power to them,” he said. “But I’m against the bureaucracy in Trenton imposing these ideas on the free market and free citizens.”

Imposing fire-safe technology is another instance of government injecting itself where it does not belong.  A new crop of legislators are needed to repeal both this act and the NJ Clean Air Act.

Government Success in Controlling Our Lives and Property

“The new puritans have been highly successful. All of the preconditions for new prohibitions on alcohol and tobacco are in place. … Indeed, the future agenda of the federal government has already been established to outlaw alcohol and tobacco in the near future. … If current trends persist, America will be moving toward stricter prohibitions, greater restrictions, and more centralized control over consumption. This represents an erosion of liberty at its most fundamental level.”
– Mark Thornton
Source: “The Fall and Rise of Puritanical Policy in America”, Journal of Libertarian Studies, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1996), p. 159
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Mark.Thornton.Quote.6569

   Mr. Thornton’s remarks are a good starting point for us.  Reflecting on the events of the last two weeks leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.  Atlantic City Council unanimously passed an enhanced smoking ban for Atlantic City casinos.  Not one Councilman stood up against the ban.  Not one Councilman stood up for the right of casino operators to freely run their business affairs.  Councilmen decided that they are better at running casinos than the casinos themselves.

   Atlantic City Councilmen followed the lead of New Jersey’s State Legislature.  The Legislature passed the NJ Clean Air Act.  That legislative act is an aggregeous encroachment on the rights of business operators, property owners, and personal liberty.  New Jersey politicians have decided that we are unfit to decide if smoking will occur inside our own four walls.  The state has come a long way from its founding.

   New Jersey was founded on a great respect for property rights, individual rights, and personal responsibility.  Today, state and local governments diminish more and more of our rights and deny the people their freedoms.  It is a better decision not to smoke, but it is not the government’s to make.  People must make decisions on their own.  Government, labor unions, and groups like the American Cancer Society are free to persuade people not to smoke.  The fine line that has long been crossed by an abusive and ever-growing government is between persuasion and coercion. 

   Government was established to safeguard our rights.  The power of government has now been turned against the citizens under the guise of public health.  Will politicians like Councilman G. Bruce Ward next turn their ire against artery-clogging french fries?  We are not far from seeing government propose a ban on fast food, like french fries.  They are already proposing a fast food tax.

   We are the masters of our own destiny and should be given the respect due to our dignity.  The NJ Clean Air Act must go.  The people need to stand up to the tyrannically-tinged Trenton government.  Repeal the NJ Clean Air Act. 

Reaction to the Casino Smoking Ban

   The ban passed unanimously.  Thank you for your effort in attempting to stop this poor business decision and deprivation of personal liberty and business rights.  Show your disgust for this abuse of government in The Press of Atlantic City’s online poll. 

Anti-Smoking Movement is Anti-American

   There is much noise, yet little substantial debate on the public smoking issue.  Proponents of government intervention in private business offer polemical rants on the public health aspect of the issue.  The anti-smoking activists classify smoking as America’s top social ill.  An unholy alliance of labor unions, do-gooders, the American Cancer Society, and SmokeFreeAC have combined to make smokers second-class citizens, deny the rights of business owners, alienate a sizable base of casino patrons, and damage an already precarious casino gaming economy.
   America was founded on the principle of free-flowing ideas, healthy debate, and rigorous discourse.  The freedoms of speech and the press were codified in the Bill of Rights to ensure that even minority opinions are guarenteed a place in the public square.  The Founding Fathers were afraid of the day when government or an unruly mob would tyrannize the public debate and preclude contrary opinions.  Not by overt government tyranny, but through the loud throng of anti-smokers, the silent apathy and inaction of smokers, casino owners, and average citizens has the smoking debate been one-sided.  We have heard claims – without scientific validity – that smoking endangers the lives of every worker on the casino floor.  Yet there has not been even one lawsuit awarded for someone inflicting cancer or another ailment through second-hand smoking.
   Atlantic City’s Council discussions have successfully left-out any mention of the rights of casino owners to establish whether their businesses will permit smoking, partial-smoking, or no smoking indoors.  City Council may feel good vanquishing the social ill of smoking from all gaming areas, but they should be concerned that this smoking ban will harm residents’ job security.  The partial smoking ban has not helped casino gaming business.  Atlantic City is suffering from unheard-of declines in profit.  Declining casino profit means less employment opportunities with our region’s economic engine.  If layoffs occur, former casino employees will dream of again working in a “smoke-filled” gaming area.  Casino relationship marketing will tell you that a targeted and loyal customer base is those who enjoy smoking while gambling.  City Council, why alienate existing casino patrons during an economic downturn?
  The anti-American aspect of the anti-smoking movement is found in comments like, “smokers have no rights.”  Americans have rights.  Many Americans smoke.  Anti-smokers maintain that Americans sacrifice their rights by smoking.  Anti-smokers feel increased self-worth through denying a social outlet to smokers.  No one, not even smokers, want smoke blown in their face.  Why is it that the smoking discussion begins with the assumption that all smokers have no manners?  The American way is that a business owner has the ability to designate his property as a place where smokers may congregate and enjoy smoking.  Anti-smokers can stay away from that property like the plague.  But such a scenario is not acceptable to our confused brethren.  They must control all buildings and prevent people the freedom to associate as they please.  The band of anti-smokers are eroding our civil liberties and refusing the opposing viewpoint any validity.  In the Atlantic City casino “discussion” all parties refuse to even consider the principles of property rights, smokers’ rights, and the idea that if one does not like a smoking place they can leave or terminate their employment.
   Unfortunately, not one Councilman has spoken up for liberty and the American ideas of freedom and personal responsibility.  Not one Councilman looks out for the rights of casino owners and smokers.  Not one Councilman is making a stand for civil liberties.  It is a sad day in Atlantic City, a sad day in America.  It looks like Wednesday, 23 April’s City Council meeting will unanimously assent to Councilman G. Bruce Ward’s scheme to erode business rights and civil liberties.  And I thought Atlantic City was part of America … silly me.   

The Militant Anti-Smoking Agenda

   The anti-smoking crowd has been very effective.  They forcefully push a one-sided presentation of the need to eliminate indoor smoking.  Unless there is a miraculous change of mind by Atlantic City Councilmen, or they grow fortitude and an understanding of the role of government in a free society, smoking will be banned by the government on 100% of the gaming floors.

   The anti-smoking movement has garnered a religious-like adherence to the belief that government should dictate to businesses whether they can allow smoking, partial-smoking, or no smoking in their establishment.  The anti-smoking movement has sparked a fanaticism in people as anti-smokers harness and abuse the power of government to smokers the ability to patronize pro-smoking establishments.  In this anti-smoking climate, there can be no choice, no freedom, andno civil liberties in public for both smokers and business owners.

   The sad part is that a good thing – namely, the promotion of health – is being distorted to create an evil outcome.  In other words, UAW casino labor union, American Cancer Society, and many do-gooders are trampling to the rights of casino owners and patrons in the name of health.  There is more to the health component in this circumstance of government-imposed smoking bans.  There is the question, “will America continue to be a free society, comprised of a free people taking responsibility for their choices?”  in Atlantic City, the answer is most certainly and unfortunately ”no.”

   Those who seek to impede on the freedom and liberty of all fight tirelessly to achieve their ignoble desire.  Where are the smokers fighting for their right to smoke while they gamble?  Where are the casino owners to defend the right to set their business affairs?  Besides Donald Trump, the casino owners have deserted the cause of fighting for their rights.  They are resigned to the fact that smoking will be banned in their casinos.

   The only hope for stopping the proposed ban is for free citizens to stand up and be heard.  Please call and e-mail Atlantic City’s Councilmen.  Let them know that you will remember if they vote to ban freedom from Atlantic City Casinos.  Even if you are from out of Atlantic City, let them know that you will finance whatever candidates run against next election, if they vote to ban liberty.

Councilmen At-Large:

George Tibbitt, 609.347.5241, gtibbitt@cityofatlanticcity.org
John Schultz, 609.347.5243, jschultz@cityofatlanticcity.org
Eugene Robinson, 609.347.6491, erobinson@cityofatlanticcity.org

Ward Councilmen:

6th – Tim Mancuso, 609.347.5238, tmancuso@cityofatlanticcity.org
5th – Dennis Mason, 609.347.5233, dmason@cityofatlanticcity.org
4th – William Marsh, 609.347.5242, wmarsh@cityofatlanticcity.org
3rd – Steven Moore, 609.347.5230, smoore@cityofatlanticcity.org
2nd – Marty Small, 609.347.5231, msmall@cityofatlanticcity.org
1st – G. Bruce Ward, 609.347.5232, bward@cityofatlanticcity.org

   The smoking ban will receive its second reading and passage this Wednesday, 5pm, at Atlantic City Council Chambers.  In addition to calling and e-mailing the Councilmen, write a letter to the editor, call a talk show, and if you can afford it, take out a newspaper ad.  Also, show up in person on Wednesday.  Get there early, for the place will be packed with raving anti-smoking activists.  You may not smoke, or own a casino, but when the government takes away our rights and freedoms it is the concern of everyone.

South Park on Anti-Smoking Movement

   South Park offers a poignant and humorous commentary on the anti-smoking movement.  Most notable are the points both that anti-smoking advocates are very selective with their view of the facts and that their goal must be attained, regardless of how many lies are uttered, businesses ruined,  and liberties trampled.

   Watch the twenty minute episode – http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/713/Butt-Out.html

Call to Action

Atlantic CIty City Council will meet at 5pm on Wednesday, 9 April.  They will consider Ordinance 5-A, an ordinance to ban smoking.  You are encouraged to come out and support civil liberties and rights of businessmen.  Please come out to meeting, make signs, and tell the Councilmen to vote “no” on any increased smoking ban for Atlantic City Casinos.

Call the different Councilmen a few times before the meeting to tell them to vote “no” on the proposed smoking ban ordinnance.

Councilmen At-Large:

George Tibbitt, 609.347.5241, gtibbitt@cityofatlanticcity.org
John Schultz, 609.347.5243, jschultz@cityofatlanticcity.org
Eugene Robinson, 609.347.6491, erobinson@cityofatlanticcity.org

Ward Councilmen:

6th – Tim Mancuso, 609.347.5238, tmancuso@cityofatlanticcity.org
5th – Dennis Mason, 609.347.5233, dmason@cityofatlanticcity.org
4th – William Marsh, 609.347.5242, wmarsh@cityofatlanticcity.org
3rd – Steven Moore, 609.347.5230, smoore@cityofatlanticcity.org
2nd – Marty Small, 609.347.5231, msmall@cityofatlanticcity.org
1st – G. Bruce Ward, 609.347.5232, bward@cityofatlanticcity.org

It is not yet a lost cause.  There are four Councilmen supporting the ban: Moore, Robinson, Tibbitt, & Ward.  It would be good to support those Councilmen not sponsoring this infringement on liberty and abuse of government.  Focus on offering encouragement to Councilmen Schultz, Mason, Mancuso, Small, and Marsh to vote “no” on the proposed smoking ban.

Some talking points to consider are that this issue divides in to three parts: health, business, and freedom.  It is good to promote information about how different products and types of behavior promote or detract from good health.  It is another issue for government to come in and “protect” people from their own choices.  We live in a society that demands responsible citizens.  When we baby our businesses and citizens we will have a weaker community and business climate.

There are arguments for and against the smoking ban.  Some think that the ban will be good for business and others think it will be bad.  It is good to have these discussions and seek out the truth.  The fact remains, however, that it is a gamble to deny a significant group of regular customers the ability to smoke and gamble.  We do not know what will happen.  If anything, the diminished profits since a majority of Casino area has been made smoke-free would indicate that the government ban is bad for business.  Regardless, it should be the decision of the business owner to make decisions that have a vital effect on his ability to employ people and earn a living.

Finally, it is an abuse of government to force all businesses (Casinos) to ban smoking in their establishments.  No one is forcing anyone to work in a casino.  No one is forcing anyone to visit a particular casino.  The individual casinos should be able to decide if they are going to be smoking, partially-smoking, or non-smoking.  People who hate smoke and smokers can patronize the smoke-free casinos.  But how pretentious is it to prevent smokers the right to have a place to socialize in public.  Are they really second-class citizens?  I thought that we lived in a land of liberty and freedom.  Yet liberty and freedom are thrown out the window when it comes to the issue of smoking.  We are still Americans in casinos and we should certainly act like Americans in Atlantic City.

I call on the people reading this to call, write, protest, attand the meeting, and do whatever is necessary to stop this further government intrusion in to our lives.

Jesse O. Kurtz
c/o SRA
P.O. Box 7289
Atlantic City, NJ  08401 

Open Letter to Atlantic City Councilmen

26 March, MMVIII
 
Councilman ______:
 
            I highly discourage you from supporting an increased smoking ban for Atlantic City casinos.  The smoking ban is bad for Atlantic City.
           
            If an employee is not satisfied with the atmosphere of his work environment he should take up his grievance with management, or find another job.  Employees can lobby casino management with a group of like-minded co-workers and/or work through a labor union to negotiate the condition of a non-smoking atmosphere in their contract.  It is not right to harness the power of government to accomplish a smoking ban.  The decision to allow smoking is properly that of private establishments, with the aid and input of employees.  Employees are free to work or not to work at a casino with a given amount of smoking.
 
            The increased ban poses a further threat to casino gaming profits, the largest industry in Atlantic City.  The economy is slowing down.  The existing city 75/25 ordinance has not helped casino gaming profits.  We do not want City Council to impose another burden on casino gaming.  Allow the private industry to make the decision of how much smoking to allow in their establishments.  Take a walk through a casino on a slow night and see that one area is busy, the smoking section.  Not everyone that gambles smokes, but smokers are a loyal customer base.  An increased smoking ban further alienates smokers, who are a substantial group of casino clients.
 
            Government at all levels – city, county, state, & federal – is ever-encroaching on the liberty and rights of citizens.  Proposed government-controlled security cameras will ensure that there is always an eye on citizens.  The laws – code-enforcement, having license plates and registration in the state of residence, immigration status, prostitution, drugs, city directors’ residency requirement – are not uniformly enforced for all.  There is too much favoritism masked under the guise of political correctness.  The proposed smoking ban has City Council join anti-smoking groups at the expense of our town’s main industry and the citizens that are employed and patronize the Casinos.  What is next?  Will you support a limit of how many drinks one can purchase at a bar, restaurant, or casino?  Will you support a government-imposed limit on the portion size of dishes at our restaurants?
 
            Our frustration with your proposed smoking ban has led to the formation, last Saturday, of the Smokers’ Rights Association.  We are already over 200 members.  We are in favor of smokers to have the right to have the right to choose to patronize establishments that permit smoking.  We are also in favor of government permitting free citizens to make the decision of whether or not their business will permit smoking and how much smoking.  Please vote on behalf of citizens’ rights.  Vote “no” on the proposed increased smoking ban.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Jesse O. Kurtz
609.334.3756
Spokesman
Smokers’ Rights Association

Smokers’ Rights Association of America is Founded

There are many anti-smoking groups in America.  These groups take their agenda and use government to force smoking bans on entire communities, neighborhoods, counties, and states. 

Small businesses are denied the ability to allow smoking in their establishment.  The government even finances these anti-smoking establishment.

Anti-smoking groups abandoned the public debate.  Rather than use the power of persuasion, these groups seize government control and use the government to bully everyone in line with their anti-smoking, anti-American thinking.

 The SRA is committed to defending the freedoms of smokers in America. We also defend the right for individual businesses to determine if their establishment will permit, partially permit, or prohibit smoking.  

We are here to fight back.  We resist intrusions of government in to our private lives.  Join our cause.  Add us as a friend on Facebook, MySpace, and e-mail us smokersra@gmail.com.

This Wednesday’s Atlantic City Council Meeting is skirmish one in our uphill battle.  Join us in protest this Wednesday.  More details to follow. …