Dude where's my freedom?
Since I love camping, I bought myself the most useful camping stove I have ever seen (the image to the left). It's a very simple alcohol stove that you pour a little denatured alcohol into and *poof* you have a flame that will cook anything you throw at it.
You can see the stove here
Ah, but you ask - Where is my complaint/rant today? My rant remains with my local Wal-Mart. You see, you cannot buy more than one small container of fuel for this stove (at Wal-Mart) as "some people" may use the fuel to make "weapons or drugs and it's against the law", yes this was the lame excuse used to prohibit me from buying more than one small container of denatured alcohol (ethanol). After all, they said, "it's to protect the children...if it saves one child..."
Isn't that the same tired argument used to ban guns by the Socialis...err...Democrats (and Republicans too)?
I immediately went to Lowes (a local hardware store) and asked if any such law existed, to which I was immediately told, "I've never heard of a law like that, how many gallons do you want?"
WHY do people think that they know what is best for others? I know, this is an academic question with millions of possible answers, but this is really beginning to make me wonder - just where did my freedom go?
One thing is for sure, the folks at the local Wal-Mart will never be confused for legal scholars, or even known for their mental prowess. This "happy camper" will limit his future purchases at that particular chain. However, that poses an interesting dilemma, shop at Target and support a white flag bearing anti-American FROG or Shop at Wal-Mart and participate in the great "nanny state" experiment? Guess it's time I really supported the HEART of America and checked out my local "mom and pop" stores.
Just my .02 cents.
posted by Garrett @ 12:15 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Regardless of what you think about their economic policies, Walmart's nannystatism is evil. I've gone to the place maybe ten times this year, and been carded every time. This includes for :
* A game rated Teen or up (equivilant to a PG-13 movie).
* 1000 BB pellets.
* Superglue.
* A multitool (think leatherman without a knife blade).
* Light bulbs.
Walmart is terrified of being sued for things done at their store. In some ways, that's justified - not more than three weeks ago, an Ace hardware store somewhere got taken by the United States government for providing materials to drug producers. Of course, it doesn't do much but prove the nanny state mentality when the drug producers are still on the lamb.
Nothing like hearing that the government or the corporations are around to help protect you from yourself.
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