This is how much things have changed since I was a kid.

[rtbob]

In 1978 I walked along with a pipe hanging from my belt loop. I wore it there EVERYWHERE! My high school had a smoking area. I did not smoke cigs then. The drinking age in Iowa was 18. When we were to drunk to drive the police would make sure we got home safe. If caught with illegal substances they were promptly confiscated and dumped out on the ground. If we had alcohol it was dumped out and we had to pick up the bottles. We were then escorted home and had to face our parents. GEE I wonder why the jails are so over crowded now days? Why more kids are turned into life long criminals? Could you imagine coming to school with a 12 gauge shotgun and a 22 rifle openly displayed on a gun rack? Every day for me. If the police busted one of our keggers (1 in a hundred) they would hall us all off to the juvi detention center. Our parents were called. They would come get us. No charges were filed. Hey, let's keep on wrecking our children's future by treating them as criminals for being teenagers. Maybe we can dedicate a whole state like North Dakota as the "PRISON STATE". After all their is nothing cheaper than prison labor(oh wait slavery is cheaper) Back in the day you were given an option if in real trouble. Go to jail or go fight for your country. Ask any WW2, Korea, or Vietnam vet. The USA could compete with Mexican, India, and China if all of us were in jail, now couldn't they? Of course the rich people don't have to worry. They have enough money to pay the right people off. They can commit murder with zero consequences. The politicians (current administration included along with all of them for the past 100 years) are all addicted to MONEY! All future wars should be started with the fact that every poltician's child over the age of 18 is in the initial wave of US troops commited to the land invasion. No matter what. After these rich spoiled brats are wiped out we can empty out the prisons and show the .......s how real Americans fight! What does this have to do about vaping? Well let's see. MONEY! Do you think for one minute the two biggest lobbiests in our country (tobacco, Pharmacutecals) are going to sit buy and watch us not use their products? Dang it they might have to go get real jobs! When the time comes I'am ready. You best have a cig in your mouth when walking through Austin. My 7mm is not prejudice.

 

[D133]

I noticed your sig at the foot of your post, I've thought the same thing myself - maybe there is a Nobel prize for Medicine or Health, the advent of the e-cig will undoubtedly prolong a great many lives.

I do find the prospect of private prisons a little worrying - I do not know if they will have shareholders, but shareholders do like the growth model...

In 1978 I could leave the doors of (my parents') house unlocked, nowadays I cannot imagine doing this where I live. Burglars here avoid prison if they can prove they are alcoholics or drug addicts - ironic considering many (most?) burglaries are committed to fund a drug habit.

Several people have spotted me with an e-cig and commented that "it's not that safe though is it?" - the negative media coverage must be working, those responsible should be ashamed.

All I can do is make sure I have the e-cig hardware stocked, plus try to reduce nicotine use to a point where I can take it or leave it. I plan to keep on vaping (as I enjoy it), but I would prefer to be in a position whereby any law they may announce in future will not affect me greatly. They want a 'smokeless society' but choose to pick on the man having a cigarette at the bus stop, whilst the traffic pumping out far more lethal fumes goes on unhindered.

 

[SheerLuckHolmes]

and I could not agree with you more. The Government IS addicted to money. There is not one ounce of concern for the publics safety OR health in all of the demonizing of PVs. It is the governments concern over their tobacco tax revenue decreasing.

The next coming elections are the best way to finght Washington and the State governments. If there is an elected official currently holding office vote for the other guy or gal. PERIOD!!!!!!!

 

[River]

Ironic that we all went to school with a pack of smokes and a shotgun in the gunrack, got hammered occasionally,(lol yes i mean at school) got in fistfights with our class mates and mostly nothing too bad ever happened.

As soon as the clampdown got put on the poor kids today they start showing up for class with assault rifles and gunning down anyone that gets in their way.

Shows you how effective ever tightening controls are right?

 

[nasti]

dont give me that shpeal old man. that was your day, its gone

cuz actually... it makes me sad.

 

[Wafflestomper]

Ironic that we all went to school with a pack of smokes and a shotgun in the gunrack, got hammered occasionally,(lol yes i mean at school) got in fistfights with our class mates and mostly nothing too bad ever happened.

As soon as the clampdown got put on the poor kids today they start showing up for class with assault rifles and gunning down anyone that gets in their way.

Shows you how effective ever tightening controls are right?

I hear that!

Back home we all had guns in our truck, knives in our pockets..but NOBODY ever ever ever would consider using them against another human being.

If we had a problem, we went across the street from the school, beat the crap out of each other, and shared a beer. Granted, thats back in hicksville, but still.. murder and crime was zero.

Now days, it seems like everyone wants instant gratification, or they are to cowardly to face their problems. So out comes the gun, and BAM... sure they go to prison... for most of those guys, prison is better than what they have at home.

 

[Stephaniems]

Everyone know there is something majorly wrong in the world, esp the schools, children as young as six have been prosecuted Six year old prosecuted as an adult for lunch infraction | SeacoastOnline.com its insane. I worry that my own children are gonna do something that is or use to be considered typical kid behavior.

It scares me how off track it all is.

 

[TWISTED VICTOR]

It sure warms my heart to see some sensable folks scattered across the remnants of our country. Unfortunately, the days of crazy fun are over. Nobody can take a joke. Everything has to be politically correct. School punishment has given way to school shootings. Cub scouts are expelled and threatened with legal charges for bringing a scout knife to school for show and tell. ........the hair on the back of my neck is starting to stand up again.....somebody else take over .

 

[Wireguy]

The best thing I can say is I have a 19yo kid who seems to see the insanity. Everything is not lost. Close to it but even some of the younger ones see it.