Smoke em if you got em

It has been a long time since I have heard that phase. The other day I tried to remember when I stopped smoking. It must have been in 1992 or 1993 I really can't remember. When I smoked there were no restrictions on where one could smoke, but now indoor smoking bans all over the nation have chased smokers outside where they can been seen puffing away in a fog. I guess that is progress, protecting non smokers from the health risk of second hand smoke. The cultures entire view of smoking has changed since I stopped smoking. Now one can not smoke in enclosed places, virtually all restauants, and now they are trying to outlaw smoking in all bars. No one should be surprised that smoke free zones are growing. Smoking biggest risk has never been wisps of smoke that might touch a passerby, it's teenagers taking up the habit. Most adults who smoke took their first puff as a teen. Have we forgotten the lessons of the past when we tried banning alcohol? It was a disaster for the public law enforcement and the county. The only ones who made out like bandits were gangesters and bootleggers. It appears we are moving in the same direction with tobacco.
We have become a nation of control freaks who mind every one else's business. We don't want anyone to smoke, drink, eat meat, wear leather, fish or hunt. We might as well set in the corner like a potted plant, devoid of free will and the ability to think, except of course if we are thinking politically correct thoughts. The age old phase " mind your own business " is a good rule of thumb when one gets the urge to judge or criticize someone else's behavior. Smokers may not be popular anymore but as long as they harm only themselves that's their choice. So smoke em while you still got em.