Can We Ban Banning?

Two hundred years fifty ago, Voltaire said, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Now, I want to say, "I don't care for what you do, but I will fight the government to death if it tries to ban it."

Why would I fight against all kinds of stupid bans even I am not personally involved? Even if they ban things I don't like or approve of?

An old Soviet joke answers this question: An Armenian sage famous for his wisdom is dying. Many people gathered around his bed to listen to his last words. The sage finally croaks,"Take care of the Jews."
The visitors look confused. They don't have anything against the Jews, not really. But why should they take care about the Jews? It's none of their business. Maybe the old sage's wits are finally gone, they think. "Take care of the Jews," the sage whispers again, "When they finish the Jews off, they'll go for Armenians."

Government is big and united, we are small and separated. We have to support each other against our government. Banning is addictive. Once the government gets the sweet taste of banning it just keeps going banning more and more. Like a leech, the government feeds on our uncertainty, on our moral values, on our fears, on our lack of mutual support.

The government banned smoking because it is bad for our health. It's true, smoking is bad for our health but can't we decide our lives ourselves? (A disclaimer: I never smoked and I always hated the smell of cigarette smoke)

The government saw how easy it was to ban a habit important for dozens of millions of people. The smokers didn't resist because they felt guilty. The non-smokers didn't resist because they felt moral.
The government saw how nobody resisted and it got the sweet taste of banning, of the power over the people.

The National Park and Forest Service in Sierra Nevada and Cascades essentially made it impossible for most people to hike and camp. But we don't protest it, we feel that they protect our nature. Do they really? They brainwashed us to believe that the nature needs protection from hikers and mountaineers. But does it really? The nature needs protection from the suburban development and from  the logging industry, true enough. The mountains don't need protection from American hikers and mountaineers - they are responsible and well trained people.

But the National Park and Forest Service feels the sweet power of banning. Banning feels good.

For the last fifty years the New York State Park Authority has banned rock climbing on all public lands. Tens of thousands of rock climbers live in southern New York but they could do nothing to influence Park Authority. And nobody else helped them - it was none of their business. Where were the Massachusetts and Californian climbers when the locals tried to fight the climbing ban?

When California State parks are banned to public due to the lack of funds, the New York climbers will be at home doing nothing. It's none of their business. Meanwhile the California State Park Service will have to hire more people to enforce the bans caused by the lack of funds.

The New York State Park Authority just banned kite surfing on all public beaches. Kite surfing community isn't so big or powerful but most kite surfers are responsible adults, voters and tax payers. How did Park Authority dare to ban something that is important for the part of the public? Because they knew that nobody would support the local kite surfing community.

New York City banned swimming on New York beaches after working hours. So, now people who work (and pay for all these beaches and bureaucrats who regulated them) can't swim. Police patrol the beaches and arrest people who try swimming. Oh, the sweet power of banning things.

Now, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Service is going to ban climbing on their public lands. Why? Why does a chicken cross a road? Because it can. Because nobody but a small VT climbing community is going to fight them.

Bloomberg is going to ban sugar drinks in New York City. Is it his business to decide what people can't eat or drink? What will the next New York mayor ban?

I just feel sick and nauseous.