Discrimination to smokers in Mass

For years and years, politicians have always been trying to stomp out smoking in this state. We've heard all the rhetoric. I've taken my D.A.R.E. classes. We've seen the endless amount anti-smoking advertisements on television and magazines, and, now, we're seeing a $1 tax increase on our packs of cigarettes in this state. Force through taxation. How disgusting. It's probably as disgusting as the act of smoking itself.

Now, this either will motivate a person to either quit smoking all together or smoke even more because he/she is outraged by such a ridiculous increase. Whether you feel that smoking is terrible or relaxing is simply one's own opinion, but people should make their own choices and face the consequences of them. If you decide to smoke, you face the higher risk of getting lung cancer and other diseases. If you decide not to smoke... well... you still face the risk of lung cancer and other diseases. Don't ask me. Nature works in strange ways.

Anyways, I don't believe this new tax increase on cigarettes will solve anything or bring much more revenue to the state. People will find ways to avoid paying such wacko prices to enjoy a smoke. You can order cartons from out of state for much cheaper online, or one can simply take a road trip to New Hampshire once a month and stock up on their favorite brands. Some people will actually grow tobacco themselves! I can only sense backfire in this new step.

However, smokers should never be punished for wanting to enjoy tobacco in the comfort of their own homes. Gas and grocery prices are climbing oh so rapidly and now politicians want to make problems worse by making the very thing that gives (temporary) relief from such burdens more expensive. This is nothing more than abuse to the consumer.

I am a smoker, but do not recommend it in any way shape or form. It is a person's choice to smoke or not. One can beat the anti-smoking message to people, one can tax the living daylights out of cigarettes, and one can even outright ban cigarettes from the state but you will always have smokers, because like children, once you say, "You can't have that." to someone, it will only make that person more curious and want to try it even more. It's time we step aside and let people take personal responsibility for their actions and stop punishing individuals through taxation.

Now that I've got myself worked up, I'm going out for a smoke!

Benjamin Dickmann

Opinions expressed on this site are those of the relevant contributors. Not all committee members necessarily share those opinions.

Lt Gov Murray with Agawam RTC members at Volunteer Dinner.

Lt Gov Murray with Agawam RTC members at Volunteer Dinner.

Republican Caucus at OSV with Agawam RTC

Republican Caucus

McCain Delagate Reed Hillman and Robert McGovern

No National ID Card

The much-hailed 9/11 Commission report released in July of 2004 recommends a federal identification card and, worse, a "larger network of screening points" inside the United States. Does this mean we are to have "screening points" inside our country where American citizens will be required to "show their papers" to government officials? It certainly sounds that way!

We must take effective measures to protect ourselves from a terrorist attack. We might start with buttoning up our borders. That does not mean rushing to embrace legislation that in the long run will do little to stop terrorism, but will do a great deal to undermine the very way of life we should be protecting. Just as we must not allow terrorists to threaten our lives, we must not allow government to threaten our liberties. We should reject the notion of a national identification card.

A national identification card, in whatever form it may take, will allow the federal government to inappropriately monitor the movements and transactions of every American. History shows that governments inevitably use the power to monitor the actions of people in harmful ways. Claims that the government will protect the privacy of Americans when implementing a national identification card ring hollow. We would do well to remember what happened with the Social Security number. It was introduced with solemn restrictions on how it could be used, but it has become a de facto national identifier.

I am strongly opposed to the use of a National ID Card. Those who are willing to allow the government to establish a Soviet-style internal passport system because they think it will make us safer are terribly mistaken. Subjecting every citizen to surveillance and "screening points" will actually make us less safe, not in the least because it will divert resources away from tracking and apprehending terrorists and deploy them against innocent Americans!

This refers to all of us, everyone, being suspected of being terrorists, being searched without cause, being forced into lines and pens, forced to take our shoes off, to identify ourselves, to drink our own breast milk, to submit to indignities. Everyone is a suspected terrorist in today's America, including all the innocent people, and that's wrong. The terrorists have won if we turn our country into an authoritarian theocracy "to defeat terrorism".

I don't want to be a Global Citizen, I want to be a Free American!

Meet Benjamin Dickmann

Here is Ben's Delegate speech in it's entirety:

Hello, my fellow Republicans! It’s really great to be here. My name is Benjamin Dickmann, I live in Agawam, and I have been a resident of Massachusetts my whole life, so it is a relief to be in a room filled with Republicans, seeing as that is a rarity in this State. I was raised in a Conservative family, was taught to work hard and what it means to earn the things that you want in life, and would like to carry these cherished principles of mine to the Republican National Convention.
Growing up, I was constantly reminded by my father to never take for granted the freedoms that this wonderful country has to offer. As a child I never understood why he always put these ideas into my head. But as I got older I started realizing that he didn’t have the freedoms and luxuries that I was born with when he was growing up in Indonesia. He is a proud citizen of this country, but, unfortunately, him and I and many other hard working Americans have been noticing a decline in this country’s direction. Here are some issues I’d like to address:
The Second Amendment: I believe that any law-abiding American citizen deserves the right to keep and bear arms, and to protect their homes, family, and themselves. It does not make sense to me that people in inner cities are restricted a gun licence for all lawful purposes when it is those people who are exposed to most violent crime. This amendment should never be tampered with, as it is the protector of all of our other rights, as well. As a gun owner, I do not stand for any legislation that prohibits any responsible American from exercising this important right.
National borders: If we are going to fight a war on terrorism, then why are our borders left wide open? Borders should have been up immediately after 911. We cannot defend this country properly from our enemies when our doors are left unlocked. It’s time we lock our doors and place our soldiers there to guard this house. Not to mention to keep people from outside of this country from entering it illegally. With that being said, this brings me to the next issue:
Illegal immigration. We must enforce visa rules and deport anyone who overstays their visit. I do not stand for giving amnesty, welfare, or birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants. Government should never reward people for breaking our laws. Enforcing these rules will give illegals the incentive to come to this country legally and go through the same waiting periods as other countries. It is just not fair to people like my father who immigrated to this country, played by the rules, and worked hard to achieve what he has today.
Healthcare: Being a Republican, I know better than to support a socialized healthcare system. Emergency rooms are usually packed as it is, and instilling a socialized health system will only pack them even more. No one should have to wait an outrageous amount of time for treatment to a real emergency. We must give people more choices by encouraging a free market healthcare system and to allow doctors to negotiate with insurance companies to drive down prices of medicine and treatment. We must also remove federal regulations that restricts smaller businesses from offering health insurance.
Lower taxes: If there is one thing that makes any Republican a Republican, it’s lower taxes. Americans should keep more of their own money because individuals should decide how to spend the money themselves and not have a government dictate how they should spend it. Lower taxes encourages more spending, saving and investing which benefits the economy. Tax cuts do not hurt the economy. What hurts the economy is a government that takes money from the private individual’s paycheck and spends it on something that not everyone wants or needs. Private investing, saving and spending is what drives this economy and keeps it strong. Because of the liberal spending this government has been experimenting with, our economy is weakening and the value of our dollar is dropping day by day.
I would like to go to the National Republican Convention to share and spread these philosophies so our country can improve. This is a great country and we can make it even greater if we can embrace these ideas of freedom and economic prosperity. Thank you!



Copyright © Benjamin Dickmann, 4 April 2008
"used with permission by the author."

Minnesota, here I come!

First and foremost, I would like to thank those from the Agawam RTC that attended the Massachusetts District 2 Republican caucuses that came and supported me. Thank you Michael Daley for seconding me after I had nominated myself. I am truly honored to be a delegate and I cannot wait to get to St. Paul Minnesota and represent our party. This has been a huge learning experience for me and it will only continue. This is a very big opportunity for me and I cannot thank you all enough for your support!

Jeff Beatty and His Tank were a huge hit @ parade

Jeff Beatty and his tank were a huge hit at the St. Patricks parade.