<div style="text-align: justify;">In spite of the supercilious tone of this English piece published by <i>Der Spiegel</i>, which tries to paint a German freedom fighter as Don Quixote, it is nevertheless reported that he is one of the many who defy the smoking ban. As our own correspondents verify, hatred of anti-tobacco runs very deep, amongst very many indeed, in Germany.<br />
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<div align="justify">In Economics 101 classrooms the cigarette trade used to be used as an example of an "inelastic" market. No longer true.</div>
<div align="justify">Superstition rules the twenty-first century for the same reasons that it did in previous unenlightened times. It is time to grow up again.</div>
<div align="justify">"In 1936, the American social scientist Robert Merton wrote an article in which he attempted to formalise what social scientists have long understood, but activists, policymakers and politicians have either ignored or denied. Merton argued that both individual and government actions have effects that are unforeseen, unintended and all too frequently unwelcome."</div>
<p>The Wegmans chain of stores will cease to sell tobacco products on February 10th.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">The latest nonsense by “public health” is analyzed in this paper by Professor Patrick Basham and Dr. John C. Luik of the Democracy Institute: requiring restaurants to include on their menus or menu boards the fat, sodium, and calorie counts for all of their offerings!</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Rob Lyons, deputy director of <i>Spiked</i> magazine, reinforces what FORCES readers already know so well, but newcomers may not yet fully comprehend: the dangers of second-hand smoke are a fraud perpetrated by activists and “public health” authorities.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Mark Wernimont from Clearing the Air reports from Minnesota: as of Dec. 31, 2007 smoking bans have the dubious distinction of having shut down 151+ bars and restaurants. Mark presents the list.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It’s time for some New Year’s resolutions. If you have none of your own check with City Hall for guidance.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Here are two more articles on the economic devastation of the smoking ban in </span><span style="font-size: 8pt;">England</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;">. The rate of pub closures in that country since the ban started is 50 pubs a month.</span></p>