No Smoking in Public Places in Ohio (appointed, schools)

[paintballer1708]

I agree, htlong. Hopefully more business owners would push for non smoking. People have to realize the majority of the population does not smoke.

[box42]

LCCC SIFE college students hosting a debate focusing on the business owner's right to free enterprise against the ethical obligation to employees and customers

Ohioans passed the smoking ban by 58%. Was it the right decision?

• Who has the right to tell private American Business Owners how to run their own establishments?

• What about the rights of the nonsmoker to enjoy a safe smokeless environment?

This issue affects us all come and see our business and political leaders debate the topic and hear from both sides.

WHAT; March 22nd at 7 pm these issues will be the focus of a debate moderated by WEOL’s Larry Wright


WHERE; Lorain County Community College Stocker Arts Center

DEBATERS; State Representative Matt Lundy, Dr. Douglas McDonald Lorain County Health Department, Commissioner Kathy Boylan from Elyria Health Department, John Miraldi Personal Injury Lawyer, Sandy Laubenthal from Moss’s Restaurant, Phil Tollett owner of Legacy Foods –WATCH for more debaters to be announced

TICKETS: $5.00 general admission & $3.00 with College ID- for tickets
call The Box Office at (440) 366-4040 OR (800) 995-5222 (ext. 4040).

[wpd]

Why shouldn't the government tell you where you can and can't smoke? They tell you where you can and can't drink alcohol.

I think this law is great, but I wish it would extend to doorways of public buildings. There is nothing worse than having to walk through a cloud of smoke in order to get into a restaurant.

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by wpd

Why shouldn't the government tell you where you can and can't smoke? They tell you where you can and can't drink alcohol.

What a fine idea! There should be no drinking of alcohol in public places in the entire state of Ohio. With 1,323 alcohol related accidents (SOURCE: http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics-ohio.html) (broken link), we're all just safer that way.

Once that's approved, we should look into the use of SUVs and Light Trucks in public areas.

"SUVs Emit More Air Pollution Than Cars

Nearly 117 million Americans live in areas where the air is unhealthy to breathe, according to the American Lung Association. Light trucks, which can spew up to three times more smog-forming pollution than cars, magnify this growing health threat. The increased air pollution can lead to more asthma, bronchitis and other health problems."

SOURCE: http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarm.../pollution.asp

I'm starting to get worried here.

After that, we could look into banning the consumption of fatty foods in public places too!

Moral of this satire: You can't save people from themselves. Not now, not ever.

The way I see it is this: the "majority rules" mentality is ganging up on one specific vice while turning a very hypocritical blind eye to the others. Why? Because then they'd be losing out, and that's no fun. After all, who wants to lose their privileges?

A Modest Proposal: Either the majority of Ohioans in favor of the smoking ban start changing their destructive habits for the betterment of the whole (like their whole complaint about smokers) or get off the backs of the smokers. Until that time, I use the age-old cliche "smoke 'em if ya got 'em."

[LancasterNative]

Gee whiz...isn't it the government's job to socially engineer a country of non-smoking, physically fit teetotallers? And shouldn't public health bureaucrats always place limits on unhealthy foods and social drinking, provide us Universal Healthcare, tell us when to brush our teeth and how to wipe our ***es, and force us to be healthy whether we like it or not?!

Oh wait-a-minnitt, you mean this isn't the Fourth Reich?

</sarcasm>

[box42]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

Gee whiz...isn't it the government's job to socially engineer a country of non-smoking, physically fit teetotallers? And shouldn't public health bureaucrats always place limits on unhealthy foods and social drinking, provide us Universal Healthcare, tell us when to brush our teeth and how to wipe our ***es, and force us to be healthy whether we like it or not?!

Oh wait-a-minnitt, you mean this isn't the Fourth Reich?

</sarcasm>

The LCCC SIFE college students were approached by the business owners of ELyria to host the debate because the right to free enterprise has become an issue. We are still in the process of acquire all 12 debaters and are inviting the smokefree organization and the group that started the petition online to sign an appeal. So if you are interested in the topic come and check it out;

March 22nd at 7 pm these issues will be the focus of a debate moderated
by WEOL’s Larry Wright

WHERE; Lorain County Community College Stocker Arts Center

DEBATERS; State Representative Matt Lundy, Dr. Douglas McDonald Lorain County Health Department, Commissioner Kathy Boylan from Elyria Health Department, John Miraldi Personal Injury Lawyer, Sandy Laubenthal from Moss’s Restaurant, Phil Tollett owner of Legacy Foods –WATCH for more debaters to be announced

TICKETS: $5.00 general admission & $3.00 with College ID- for tickets call
The Box Office at (440) 366-4040 OR (800) 995-5222 (ext. 4040).

[Shenandoah]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

Gee whiz...isn't it the government's job to socially engineer a country of non-smoking, physically fit teetotallers? And shouldn't public health bureaucrats always place limits on unhealthy foods and social drinking, provide us Universal Healthcare, tell us when to brush our teeth and how to wipe our ***es, and force us to be healthy whether we like it or not?!

Oh wait-a-minnitt, you mean this isn't the Fourth Reich?

</sarcasm>

It's the Fourth Reich Neo Socialist Party aka Democrats forcing Big Government down our throats. Our Founding Fathers did not intend for our Constitution to be abused in this manner by these 'Progressives'. If you want to smoke, go ahead and destroy your lungs - If you don't great! It's Freedom of Choice! I am a non-smoker, but I also believe in freedom of choice. If I want to go into a fast food restaurant everyday and eat all 3 meals there, pushing my weight up to 800 lbs, then that's my choice. But, then again, no one else should be forced into paying for my after-care, rent, food, SSI, and medicaid insurance when I can't work, can't stand up, need hip and knee replacements, diabetes, stroke, etc. If after smoking, I contract lung ca directly related to cigarette smoking, then the I also should not go on SSI because it was my choice to smoke. Same with seat belts and motorcycle helmets - if I choose not to buckle up or to wear a helmet, and get into an accident, become a parapalegic, I should not be allowed to get on SSI or disability. It was my choice. What happened 100 years ago when something like this happened, before health insurance came about to make cripples and victims of us all? Family took care of family. Now, your health insurance company monitors your health, calls you on the phone, keeps statistics, etc. Yet another Big Brother is watching you.

Too many Americans are getting the attitude that the government owes us. "I deserve this!!" is the national cry of victims. You 'deserve' nothing. You earn what you get.

Back to the topic: If a restaurant goes out of business because they allow smokers - then so be it. It's the capitalistic system, survival of the fittest, if you cannot mold & change your business to fit the circumstances and times, then you go out of business. If you're a restaurant owner, slowly going out of business because smokers aren't allowed into your restaurant, then change your business. Change is constant. Ford didn't stick with Model T's, and your local Radio Shack isn't only selling electronic parts. Businesses need to adapt and change to fit the changing marketplace. If they don't, then they go out of business. BUT, these laws should never have been allowed to begin with, limiting personal freedom.

blessings, Shen

[htlong]

we have been programed starting in govt run schools to depend on govt, this allows politicians to take money from one segment and give it to the "less fortunate" and in return the less fortunate vote for them.

why not let the public decide , its not the govt job to tell a person what he can do with his private property, if smoking is so bad don't go ,if no one goes he will make the choice whether to allow smoke or not. heck in Akron city council passed a law that your child be he 16 yrs old or younger must wear a Helmut?
its not there call ! how did we all make it to adult hood?

i don't smoke, and it does bother me.... but not as much as these whiny people who cant do for themselves and run to the elected officials ! the schools did a good job on you!
may i add that the only fortunate thing that happens in ones life is being born in America, after that it is all about choices and hard work so don't use the word filthy rich, any more than one would say filthy poor!

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by shenandoah

It's the Fourth Reich Neo Socialist Party aka Democrats forcing Big Government down our throats. Our Founding Fathers did not intend for our Constitution to be abused in this manner by these 'Progressives'. ... these laws should never have been allowed to begin with, limiting personal freedom.

Thanks, Shenandoah! I could hardly agree more with how you summed it all up.

I don't smoke either, but the anti-smoking jihad by Nanny State do-gooders just disturbs me on many levels. To people who demand the government "do something about those iccky smokers" I would ask...what happens when intrusive bureaucrats decide to go after a vice you do like?!?

It's already happening, with lawsuits pending against the food industry ("oooh scary trans-fats!") and soda-pop companies, and who knows what else. We've already got the environmentalist nutjobs whining about SUVs, flush toilets, franklin stoves, home fireplaces, light bulbs and BBQ grills!

Seriously, a great point you made about our Founding Fathers. They would all be appalled at today's meddlesome, control-freak busybodies using the power of government to coerce personal behavior!

[punky_1996]

Hey guess what? Do the government officials telling me not to smoke follow the laws? Heck no, I see on the news everyday about someofficial getting caught embezzling money or some other dirty deed. Stay out of my buisness I say! And as for going outside to smoke? Cant do that anymore either. I don't smoke with my children in the car, and I don't make them sit in smoking sections. I either smoke before we leave or when I get home. I smoke only in my garage or outside, and I sure as heck am not blowing smoke in anyone's face. And yet people who have multiple dui's get to keep on driving putting my kids at risk. Why doesn't the government try taxing them out the yin yang? Well just thought I would toss my two cents in, hope I did this right, too busy lighting up to pay attention.