I voted to reduce the penalty for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana to a $100 fine in November's elections in Massachusetts. Nobody voted for the Boston Public Health Commission, but it devised a penalty of $200 for cigarette smokers who dare light up in Boston's hotel rooms. Yes, that's right. Smoking tobacco in the wrong place within the city of Boston gets you a heftier fine than smoking marijuana any place within the city of Boston.

Nanny state liberalism running amok.

Once they get a nose under the tent, the whole animal is soon to follow and foul our societal abode.

And speaking of Nanny state, how about New York: 18% tax on soda, iPod tax, movie theater tax, sporting event tax, taxi tax, bus tax, limo tax, cable TV tax, radio tax, clothing tax.

Soon coming to a Republic of Massachusetts near you.

But, or course, it's for our own protection. Or is it for the children? I forget.

Your comment made me wonder what would happen if someone did a "where are they now?" segment on the people who used to call returning 'Nam vets "baby killers"....

They would turn out to be the pony tailed, gray haired, balding but bearded old hippies with the pot bellys and Obama 08' stickers on their Priuses.

Also known as now conformist taxpayers who hate George Bush because he lied and people died and he’s been listening in on their phone conversations when they order arugula.