Why Nobama

[js207]

I am not sure the the smoking ban is strickly a Democratic thing, plus if you were a non smoker, would you want those who do to smoke around you?? second hand smoke is a legthal a smoking yourself, and I am a smoker and i have learned non smokers and reformed smokers do liketo be around anynow that smoke, be it cigs, pipes or cigars

That doesn't justify absolute smoking bans even outdoors - I can understand not wanting to be in a confined space with a smoker, but banning them even in dedicated smoking areas or outside? That's just draconian.

[DesertDom]

That doesn't justify absolute smoking bans even outdoors - I can understand not wanting to be in a confined space with a smoker, but banning them even in dedicated smoking areas or outside? That's just draconian.

Its the slippery slope.

Once people willingly allow some freedoms and rights to be taken away, there is continual pressure by social reformers or those with agendas to 'improve' , close 'loopholes' or otherwise adjust the current version to protect more of us.

On the smoking thing, there have been attempts by cities to ban smoking within the complete city limits.

Sometimes you just got to wonder when it is all going to stop. George Orwells book '1984' was incredibly prescient.

[mkemse]

That doesn't justify absolute smoking bans even outdoors - I can understand not wanting to be in a confined space with a smoker, but banning them even in dedicated smoking areas or outside? That's just draconian.

True but most places I have seen that ban smoking outside are Governement Funded and it was a Federal Mandate not State
And Most if not all Major Corporations now prohbit and have for years prohbitied smoking within 50-100ft of their property
If you look at places like Abbott Labs, Baxter Labs, ect they banned smoking within 50-100ft of their property long before it was mandated to do so saying it was a health issue with 2ns Hand Smoke and I nkow of 1 Corporation (sorry I do not recall the name right of hand) that has exteneded no smoking beyond their property, they will not hire smokers (health insurance reasons) or allow them to even smoke in their homes or cars, but when you think aboutthat, a person apllying to wor there knows that before they are hired, so they have no reasonto complain about that Corporate Policy

[Thorne]

I nkow of 1 Corporation (sorry I do not recall the name right of hand) that has exteneded no smoking beyond their property, they will not hire smokers (health insurance reasons) or allow them to even smoke in their homes or cars, but when you think aboutthat, a person apllying to wor there knows that before they are hired, so they have no reasonto complain about that Corporate Policy

That's true, but the other side of the coin should also be considered. To my, admittedly uncertain, knowledge, it is illegal in most states for any business to declare themselves a smoking establishment. You cannot post a sign on your door that says "Smokers Only". And the same rationale applies: anyone wanting to work in that business, or enter the business, knows beforehand that smoking will be occurring, and shouldn't have any complaints because of it.

And for the record, I am a reformed smoker, been smoke free for over 17 years now and I'm glad of it. But I still don't like the idea of discriminating against smokers. I would venture to guess that more people die of second-hand alcohol related causes (victims of drunk drivers, for example) than do of second-hand smoke.