Smoking Ban

[JustAPal00]

Today it's smoking bans. Next, it's giving a ticket to a fat person eating fattening foods! I just don't trust the government. You people who keep letting them take your rights away just may regret it some day!

 

[>Charlotte<]

Today it's smoking bans. Next, it's giving a ticket to a fat person eating fattening foods!

If I'm sitting at a table next to you eating a Whopper with cheese, it doesn't physically affect you. If I'm smoking a cigarette in a restaurant, it physically affects the other people in the room. I don't have the right to create an unhealthy or irritating environment for other patrons. That's just obnoxious. And now, in many states, it's illegal. We smokers are just going to have to accept that.

I'm old enough to remember when it was permissible to smoke on airplanes, in movie theaters--even in hospitals. Nobody questions the sensibility of not being able to smoke in those places. I don't understand why some of us don't accept the same standards for places where other people are trying to eat.

Now, can we get the "no screaming children in restaurants" law on deck?

 

[JustAPal00]

If I'm sitting at a table next to you eating a Whopper with cheese, it doesn't physically affect you. If I'm smoking a cigarette in a restaurant, it physically affects the other people in the room. I don't have the right to create an unhealthy or irritating environment for other patrons. That's just obnoxious. And now, in many states, it's illegal. We smokers are just going to have to accept that.

It may not physically affect me, but fat people affect all of us! We pay much higher insurance rates due to their health issues! Why should a person who is healthy have to pay more for insurance to help cover someone who is overweight? We should just pass a law that only allows thin people to eat junk food! If you're overweight and get caught eating a twinkie, you pay a fine!

But the issue I have a problem with is not the health issues of smoking. It's taking the rights of a business owner away. Smoking is legal! A business owner should be allowed to decide if his or her establishment will allow people to do something that is legal! If it's such a health risk, then outlaw it.

 

[cbg]

It may not physically affect me, but fat people affect all of us! We pay much higher insurance rates due to their health issues!

Balderdash. Even community rated policies, which are the minority, rarely include or even ask for the weights of other policyholders.

 

[JustAPal00]

It may not physically affect me, but fat people affect all of us! We pay much higher insurance rates due to their health issues!

Balderdash. Even community rated policies, which are the minority, rarely include or even ask for the weights of other policyholders.

Basic economics. The more an insurance company spends, the more they have to charge their customers. We spend a tremendous amount on overweight people, which is a completely avoidable condition. Like you pointed out, they don't charge fat people more thus we are all shouldering the burden.

 

[cbg]

I say again, balderdash. You could say the same about people who have cancer or drive their motorcycles too fast.

 

[Country Living]

Not that I want to get between the two of you.... I, as a non-smoker, pay the same insurance premium as the smoker.

 

[JustAPal00]

I say again, balderdash. You could say the same about people who have cancer or drive their motorcycles too fast.

Let's make them illegal too!

 

[JustAPal00]

Not that I want to get between the two of you.... I, as a non-smoker, pay the same insurance premium as the smoker.

I'm a non smoker too! I really don't care about smoking. As far as I'm concerned we should ban it. As a former resturant owner I object to anti smoking laws. I object to the government telling business owners what to do on private property. Smoking is legal. In fact my resturants(bagel shops) were non smoking. I made that choice because we had food in the open, but I got to make that choice. The government didn't pay any of my bills, in fact they did more harm then good.

 

[chrisrich]

Where I am from (BC Canada) they introduced a smoking ban years ago. It was so nice to be able to go to the bars or night clubs and be able to breathe. Most people didn't mind going outside. Now I can't imagine it anyway. More recently there was a ban requiring that you had to be more than 20 feet away from any business doors or restaurant patios, etc. As a former smoker I think this is great and I hope more places will do the same.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

But the issue I have a problem with is not the health issues of smoking. It's taking the rights of a business owner away. Smoking is legal! A business owner should be allowed to decide if his or her establishment will allow people to do something that is legal! If it's such a health risk, then outlaw it.

Why do you believe the legislature should choose between outlawing it completely, and allowing it in all circumstances? What principles are you relying on for that opinion?

 

[Country Living]

The conversation in this thread has been over for a few weeks. There was no need to resurrect it.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

The conversation in this thread has been over for a few weeks. There was no need to resurrect it.

Are you implying that posts should only be made when there is a need? Why is that? And who decides whether a need exists?

 

[Country Living]

When the post is active and the reply is relevant.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

When the post is active and the reply is relevant.

I'm not sure if this fragment is directed at me or not, nor am I clear what it means. I'll restate my earlier questions in case you didn't see them.

Did you previously imply that posts should only be made when there is a need? Why is that? And who decides whether a need exists?