Tennessee, New Bill Would Ban Smoking In Cars With Children. (Bristol: income, to live)

[bbkaren]

You are wrong in the way you said that, Eat. You might want to rephrase that.

NOBODY here is standing up for people who smoke in their car with their kids. It's wrong to do that.

And as far as the government already having their foot in the door, you're right.

It's because of mentalities like the one you're exhibiting, that allow government to take over our responsibilities as parents, (whether those parents be good or bad ones).

And we're paying the price already for that foot; but I for one won't agree to pay more of a price for more government. I'd sooner lop that foot off at the ankle and start over with no regulation.

[AlisonL]

Well, looks Maine is going to do the same thing. This should be a common sense issue, do not smoke around your kids! Howver, in some instances, politics will overrule common sense.
Karen hit the nail on the head. Once the darn government gets its foot in the door, lop it off, because who knows what they want to do next.
We all agree that children shouldn't be exposed to second hand smoke.
Are kids today overprotected? Most likely, but when they are being raised by a bunch of folks who seem to lack common sense, no wonder they turn out the way they do. (I am not pointing fingers at anyone on this board, so please do not take offense).

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Kris270

Only 38 and I remember all those things and me and my five siblings all grew up to be normal functioning adults. How did we survive?

Have you looked at the number of obese children these days. Should parents with obese children lose custody of those children because they are not feeding their children the proper foods or suppling them with a healthy lifestyle.

Only if you arrest the parents that let their kids dress like hookers.

I think the kids (generally speaking) today won't survive. They're uncompetitive weenies afraid of their own shadows, working after school or doing anything hard/dirty and they're still living with mom and dad into their late 20s and beyond. They think anything worth doing has to be completed in 20 seconds or it's not worth their while. They take their freedom for granted. But they expect entitlements (a house right after they're married, a great paying job right after they graduate, someone who has worked longer and harder than them to share the wealth/pay more taxes). They complain when Raj and Sun get the high paying jobs but that's 'cause mom and dad told them they didn't have to take math/science for 4 years in high school and majored in gender studies or multiculturalism in college. I think second hand smoke is the least of their problems.

[bbkaren]

I daresay the recent "time-out, no-spank, organic-food, hand-sanitizer, no-dodge-ball-because-it's-too-competitive" generation of overprotected kids has turned out some of the most miserable, disfunctional, hateful, lazy, undisciplined teens and adults I've ever seen.

And those kids are raised by the sheeple who just listen to the media and government tell them how to raise their kids. Like us, many parents' hands are tied. See my post earlier--for example, what if I had given my son a proper punishment (a swift bare-ass spanking and a week of grounding) rather than making him write an essay?

Personal accountability has a LOT to do with how one grows up and takes responsibility for his/her actions and life in general.

Once again, not targeting anyone in particular, and I'm NOT standing up for people who smoke in the car with kids because that's wrong.

But people do the wrong thing all the time. Government cannot control everything people do.

If you want that, you could always move to any number of countries in which government does control people's actions, and see how much happier the people are there.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Only if you arrest the parents that let their kids dress like hookers.

Good point. And take those hideous Bratz dolls off the shelf!

Just kidding.

My daughter use to beg for those hooker dolls until she just gave up. Know why? Because I don't allow my child to control me or make the rules.

Maybe we should ticket parents that allow children to dictate their lives and make life decisions for them.

See? It sounds like a good idea until it is suddently about YOU. Then it's intrusive.

If you think this post is about you then it probably is.

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

Originally Posted by bbkaren

With great rights come great responsibilities.

Some will rise to the occasion and do the right thing; others won't. It's been that way since the beginning of time.

But once we take away the responsibilities, the rights go too.

You must take the bad with the good. Want a law against smoking in the car with children so stupid people won't do it? Well, with it, you'll get "smoking checkpoints" that will tie up traffic, as well as the tax implications of enforcement.

Want to stop people from getting fat by eating junk? Then when you're having a craving and want a dozen chicken nuggets you're gonna get turned away at McDonald's. Maybe your doctor will put you on a diet you're required by LAW to stick to. How will they enforce it? Spot visits from an inspector?

Want to stop kids from being shot because people leave guns laying around? Then you may pay the price of having an inspector stop by and go through your own house to make sure you're being safe with your firearms. Or worse, perhaps they'd outlaw guns and you're completely defenseless against a criminal who comes to terrorize your family for fun.

The list goes on and on.

I'll take the rights...with an extra helping of responsibility. And plenty of butter and salt.

I think this is a bit exaggerated. We currently have seat belt laws and child safety seat laws in existence and you don't see checkpoints for them. You get pulled over and fined if a cop sees a child without a seat belt. Smoking laws are no different. You don't need extra police force or community resources. Hitting the pocketbook hard seems to be the only way people will behave humanely. That does not mean you lose control of your civil liberties.....you just don't get to be selfish and harm another human being.

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

It is sad that everyone says that it (smoking with children in the car) is wrong but no one is willing to do anything about it.

That is why the world is the way it is. Too many talkers....not enough doers.

[bbkaren]

I'm responsible for my children and my life. I do not smoke in the car with my children.

Others are responsible for theirs.

[Eat]

Originally Posted by HengyMama

It is sad that everyone says that it (smoking with children in the car) is wrong but no one is willing to do anything about it.

That is why the world is the way it is. Too many talkers....not enough doers.

Yep, everyone is concerned with the parents' rights. Got to protect them from government noses. Nobody seems to care about the kids. Bottom line is this, in this issue you can chose parents rights to raise their kids as they see fit, or you can choose childrens' rights not to be subjected to a smoke filled environment while they are growing up.

This is a fence with two sides, and there is no room to balance on the rail.

[Capt. Dan]

I'll take the parents rights to raise their kids as they see fit! If you think that the government will stop at just this one issue--then you are either very naive or very ignorant of past government intrusions into peoples lives!!!