Smoking Ban

[Country Living]

It's self-monitoring (kind of - anyone necroposting will be publicly chastised).

A logical, rational person would look at the last posting date in the thread and, if it's several days old, assume the topic has run its course. The only reasons to add to it would be to cite some law that may be pertinent and not discussed or to see your name in print.

 

[JustAPal00]

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?

There is no doubt that smoking is bad for you. According to most statistics, we all pay a tremendous price for smoking. My point is merely that if it's so bad for you, and the government has the right to regulate behavior that is harmful, then outlaw it. But we as a society have decided that smoking should be legal, so we must not believe it's that bad. I don't care one way or another about smoking. In fact I hate it. But what I hate worse is the government telling people how to live their lives. I also despise the "sheeple" who don't mind letting the government take away their rights just because it's not important to them. Some day they may come after something you do care about!

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

My point is merely that if it's so bad for you, and the government has the right to regulate behavior that is harmful, then outlaw it.

I see. So your argument is actually that smoking should be entirely prohibited.

But what I hate worse is the government telling people how to live their lives.

Isn't this a contradiction of your clarified point? You want smoking banned, but you don't want the government to tell people that they can't smoke?

 

[JustAPal00]

I see. So your argument is actually that smoking should be entirely prohibited.



Isn't this a contradiction of your clarified point? You want smoking banned, but you don't want the government to tell people that they can't smoke?

No, I don't want it banned. I don't care one way or the other about smoking. I do care about the government taking our rights away from us. I really would prefer the government to stay completely out of the social engineering business. Though there are some cases where the government needs to step in for our own protection. I feel that marijuana should be legal, but most other drugs should not. So many of the other drugs cause such bad long term problems that we just can't be allowed to use them. The problem I have with the smoking bans is the fact that smoking is legal. If I own a resturant, I should be able to decide if smoking is or is not allowed. The employees then can make the choice if they want to work there and the customers can decide if they want to frequent my establishment.