Public Smoking Ban (Ames: environment, work, health)

[Chicago60614]

We just went smoke free in Chicago (Illinois) last month and everyone seems to LOVE it.

I'm even a smoker and I'm very excited to be able to go out to the bars and not come home smelling gross 4 nights a week. I was in Amsterdam last weekend and I about puked this morning when I put my coat on - SO smokey.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by metro223

I hope so too. Just to add to that - I'm conservative and I'm welcoming it, I know many conservatives who feel the same way! (glad to say) So I'm not sure whether conservative or liberal would sway a person's opinion on that or not... but idk for sure.

Well...with all due respect, you are a conservative with an asterisk(*) than if you are for the ban. There is nothing about nanny state laws that inhibit privately owned businesses from offering an environment based on what his/her clientele desires (or doesn't) as opposed to allowing the marketplace to dictate the winners and losers that equals being a conservative.

I'm afraid I'm here to inform you that you are required to forfeit your conservative card as it has just been suspended for 30 days.

[DMRyan]

Politics is being brought into this now?

After 9/11, a new type of conservative seemed to evolve, one that is more than willing to intrude into the personal lives of Americans to tell gays and lesbians they can't form civil unions, or that Christianity should play a higher role in everything from education to raising children, to setting the standard for what they think is morality, or infringing on people's liberties in the name of national security. This seems to conflict with this approach of keeping legislation out of privately owned bars and restaurants for something like a smoking ban (which undeniable can have an impact on the majority of people, whether it's their choice to patronize a bar or not).

To me, simply saying "conservative" doesn't evoke thoughts of fiscal conservatism or hands-off government anymore. The far right has changed the term conservative in my mind. I now attribute the term liberatarian to sum up the views of those wanting less government regulation and more free market decision making.

I respect people's viewpoints on issues, but hanging on to the idea that a statewide smoking ban won't be implemented in the near future is not a winning position, and even the smoking ban dissenters have to admit that.

[zz4guy]

Funny how Chet and the Democrats in this state are 100% behind banning smoking in private businesses, but low and behold this bill WILL NOT APPLY to state run casinos.

Anybody care to guess why that is??

[Iowagirl566]

I'm totally in favor of a smoking ban. Ames has had one for a couple of years that there is no smoking until after 9pm if they serve food. Cigerette smoke gives me an instant headache but at this one store that has a no smoking sign outside there entrance the smokers sit right under the sign to light up. Everyone walking into the building has to walk right thru the smoke. And I notice that the sign goes missing about once a month(it's screwed into the wall about 4 feet over the bench). I think all business should ban smoking on there premises. Here's my other beef with smokers. I use to work at this business where the smokers got to take a smoke break about every hours(usually 5 to 10 minutes). So everyday they got to take an extra 25 to 50 minutes of break time that I had to work!

[sassyone]

Well, if you think they will just stop at the smoking ban, hold onto your shorts. Have you noticed any places where you cannot wear perfume or cologne yet, well I have. When will they ban flowers because "some" people are allergic to them. It does not seem to bother anyone until Big Brother wants to control something they enjoy. If you don't think we are slowing losing our rights in this country, just stand back and watch.

[zz4guy]

I'm one of the evil smokers that you all hate and I really think this smoking ban is going too far. You are robbing people of their right to do what they want on their own property. This is NOT public property that people have to be on to get their drivers license or some other mandatory affair.

There is nothing like relaxing after work with a cigarette and a beer and socializing with some friends. If YOU are offended go open your own non-smoking establishment. This is America. Remember, "home of the free..."?

[metro223]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

I'm one of the evil smokers that you all hate and I really think this smoking ban is going too far. You are robbing people of their right to do what they want on their own property. This is NOT public property that people have to be on to get their drivers license or some other mandatory affair.

There is nothing like relaxing after work with a cigarette and a beer and socializing with some friends. If YOU are offended go open your own non-smoking establishment. This is America. Remember, "home of the free..."?

I don't recall anyone saying you were evil, or that they hated you. That is taking things way out of proportion.

Now --- if we're going to go with you're last statement, that this is land of the free, then why not smoke pot in public too?

The only reason I ask this stupid question, is because "Land of the Free," is such a vague statement that people think they should use it as an excuse anytime they want to do anything.

[sassyone]

Originally Posted by metro223

No I don't think I see where this is going. I think it will stay in public places, the only reason they're doing it is because it's such a huge health hazard.

And yes, actually I believe Des Moines is doing something about how loud you play your music after a certain time at night now, they don't want people going through neighborhoods at 2 am with their bass cranking. Makes sense to me.

Where did you pull out that they are going to dictate what music you are listening to?

Originally Posted by zz4guy

I'm one of the evil smokers that you all hate and I really think this smoking ban is going too far. You are robbing people of their right to do what they want on their own property. This is NOT public property that people have to be on to get their drivers license or some other mandatory affair.

There is nothing like relaxing after work with a cigarette and a beer and socializing with some friends. If YOU are offended go open your own non-smoking establishment. This is America. Remember, "home of the free..."?

They tried to pass a smoking ban in Oregon in your "own" home with your windows open in case your neighbor might smell the smoke and be bothered by it. It did not pass, but it did not stop the anti smoking group to try.
Why is it that you don't hear anyone up in arms about drinking? With all the drunken drivers on the roads you would think they would tackle that one

[LINCOLNSHIRE]

Posted on the Illinois forum on a similar thread..Maybe time to spread it a little further
All Light Up (broken link)