Junk science, junk politician, junked freedom: welcome to the world of California Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh, ‘legislator,’ busybody and clown, a man who wants to make it a crime to smoke in a car containing, yes, children.

Meanwhile in Wisconsin, fifteen self-important Madison city councilors have voted through a smoking ban in that previously pleasant city’s bars. Amongst the highlights of the discussion “a parade of middle and high school students [speaking] in favor of the ban.”

At first, I was puzzled why a bunch of schoolchildren should have any say in the matter, but then, when I stopped to think about it, I understood. These bans are introduced by lawmakers intent on treating adults as children. To them we are all immature beings, incapable of making rational decisions for ourselves, so why not make the point by rounding up a few kids to give the rest of us a lecture?