The new Health Minister of Norway rocks. Being a libertarian or classical liberal, she knows the value of individual freedom and choice. Heavy smoking, drinking, skyjumping, downhill cycling, head-buttin the ball in soccer, etc. are dangerous to one's health, people know that, but they do it anyway.
So long as people are informed of the dangers of their actions and inactions, of imbibing something, governments should not push being a huge nanny "protecting people from themselves."
Again, gun control, price control, fare control, wage control, rent control, smoking control, drinking control, etc. -- refers only to one thing: more state command and control.
Some news reports here.
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1. This Health
Minister Says People Should Smoke, Eat And Drink As Much As They Want
David Nikel, Contributor
May 11, 2019, 02:39pm
“I think people
should be allowed to smoke, drink and eat as much red meat as they wish”,
Listhaug told NRK. “The government can provide information, but I think people
in general know what is healthy and what is not.”
Listhaug, who
admits she is herself an occasional social smoker, also said she is
increasingly sympathetic towards smokers. “They almost feel they have to hide
away, and I think that's stupid. Although smoking is harmful, older people have
to decide for themselves what they do.”
The outspoken
right-wing nationalist is widely tipped to take over the leadership of
Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party) from Siv Jensen, Norway’s current Minister
of Finance, in the years to come.
The party describes
itself as “a libertarian party that believes in freedom for the individual,
lower taxes, prosperity and a limited government that empowers people.”
2. Smoke, drink and
eat what you want, Norway's public health minister says
FRI, MAY 10, 2019 - 10:50 PM
In a statement of
her own, emailed Friday, Ms Listhaug said, "The government believes that
people have to take responsibility for their own life, but the government has
to make sure that everyone can make healthy and informed choices."
"The number of
daily smokers has declined sharply since 2000," Ms Listhaug said.
"This confirms that the Norwegian tobacco policy and control strategy
works."
Ms Listhaug said
people who smoked felt like "pariahs" in Norway, and that she would
not be the "moral police" in government. She echoed comments made by
Austria's far right, defending freedom of choice in opposing anti-smoking
legislation.
3. Let people smoke,
drink and eat red meat - Norwegian health minister
7 May 2019
4. Go Ahead And
Smoke, Drink And Eat Whatever You Want: Norway's Public Health Minister
by Tyler Durden Sun,
05/12/2019 - 07:45
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