So last year my city council narrowly passed a smoking ban. Since Jan. 1 this year everything has been smoke free, including restaurants and bars. And it has been wonderful. I can now go to a bar with friends without having to hold my breath when somone walks by (in case they are a smoker) or if I need to go use the bathroom or something. You see, I have asthma. Normally, its well controlled, but smoke is one of those triggers that can really aggravate it. It can start me up coughing or wheezing or worse. Plus, I just hate the smell of smoke. I don't wear strong perfumes or scents or anything-- I try to be considerate too. So the ban was passed. And it has been nice. Also if DH goes out with friends after work he no longer smells when he comes home!

We recently had city council elections. The Mayo, a piper smoker, is planning to call for a vote to immediately repeal the smoking ban. Unfortunately it will probably get repealed.

I think this is very silly for a couple of reasons. No. 1: My state is waiting on a signature from the govenor to pass a Statewide smoking ban starting in Jan. The Gov said he will probably most likely sign. No. 2: If the buisinesses and everyone had six months to prepare for going smoke free, shouldn't they have six months to prepare to go back to smoking? And since it has been five months, aren't they used to it by now. They claim it is hurting buisiness, that smokers are going elsewhere. Maybe a few people-- I don't see that when I go out. Places look just as crowded to me as they always did. Besides, we only have small towns immediately around my city (pop about 180,000) There aren't many other places for people to go unless they are willing to travel.

So what are they going to do, repeal a ban so they can smoke for six more months? How bad is their nicotine craving? This just seems crazy to me.

Any thoughts?

I think smoking cigarettes should be illegal. i think possession should carry the same penalty as possessing other illegal drugs.

and yep i think you should spank those d@mn unruly kids too.

I think SUVs, Hummers, and the like should be illegal for they do far more to crap up the air we breathe and they burn up fossil fuels.

I think SUVs, Hummers, and the like should be illegal for they do far more to crap up the air we breathe and they burn up fossil fuels.

I have to agree with that. Who the hell needs a hummer, anyway? Go buy a freakin' minivan if you want something massive and ugly!

I have to agree with that. Who the hell needs a hummer, anyway? Go buy a freakin' minivan if you want something massive and ugly!

LOL!!!! I don't know how anyone can AFFORD to drive a hummer, unless you're filthy rich!!!! I know the gas mileage is like 12mpg or close to it and they're dreadfully uncomfortable!!!! I just don't get the hummer appeal, but someone must see it, cuz I see them all over the place.

IMHO, men with small penises and women who want penises drive hummers

Don't forget the yuppie soccer moms who want to impress all the other soccer moms.

I think smoking cigarettes should be illegal. i think possession should carry the same penalty as possessing other illegal drugs.

and yep i think you should spank those d@mn unruly kids too.

:huggie:

I think people who want even more gov't involvement than we have now should be sent with Bush packing to a country where they will gladly run their lives for them.

Of course, we should also send those responsible for telling me not to use my hair dryer in the shower should be sent with those that believe "I NEED more gov't in my life to protect me from myself".

When I wrote about the tax on crap food I was making a point. I'm starting to reconsider. I'm with you Lauren, if we don't NEED it, it should be taxed. Fruits and veggies... no tax. Dead critter... small tax. Anything with white flour or sugar should be $1.00 per carb and $10.00 per trans fat gm.

More gov't! That's what we need. Those that don't do at least an hour of cardio a day.... put them in fat prison.

You might just be on to something here!

It's always easier to point to the addiction of another and cry, "More gov't!!!" It's not so sweet when it is your own addiction. Or as you say, THAT is different. :scales:

Above post... I did it again. I meant Lizrbit, not Lauren.

When I wrote about the tax on crap food I was making a point. I'm starting to reconsider. I'm with you Lauren, if we don't NEED it, it should be taxed. Fruits and veggies... no tax. Dead critter... small tax. Anything with white flour or sugar should be $1.00 per carb and $10.00 per trans fat gm.

More gov't! That's what we need. Those that don't do at least an hour of cardio a day.... put them in fat prison.

You might just be on to something here!

It's always easier to point to the addiction of another and cry, "More gov't!!!" It's not so sweet when it is your own addiction. Or as you say, THAT is different.

To be honest, I think a "sin tax" on foods that have no redeeming value to them wouldn't be a bad thing. Make the bad foods more expensive than the good foods, and maybe low income folks would be able to feed their kids something other than white bread, chicken nuggets, french fries, and Little Debbie. I know that I personally tend to think twice about getting something expensive, especially if I have a choice between something expensive and something cheaper. To me, it would just be enforcement of proper behavior.

LMAO...

All i know..is that when i moved to a state where its banned, i was finally able to quit, and my life got better.

Oh...and god bless those losenges (commit) LOVE Those and i accredit them COMPLETELY with being able to have finally quit. I found myself addicted to them after cigarettes, then little birthday cakes after those (every thursday...if i made it another thursday, id go get another. did that for a few months).

I hated the gum, welbutrin just put me to sleep.

I will always vote in favor of banning it in any way (cigarrettes and smoking). Im sorry if it offends, you guys know i love yer smokey stinkin bottoms.

You'll just have to extinguish your smokes at the border, and i'll even wash your clothes....

:scales:

we can still be friends.

I have yet to see actual scientific proof by a neutral party that second hand smoke is bad for anyone. In fact, the original smoking experiment with dogs who smoked solidly showed no bad effects on the dogs. As a chain smoker, it's clear that this experiment was flawed since smoking does affect smokers with COPD and lung cancer. However, I have not seen a convincing study that shows that second hand smoke creates more problems in the general population which suffers from exhaust from cars as well as other irritants. I do not recommend smoking, but as a smoker, I'm getting pretty tired of the Gestapo tactics to keep us away from others. One of my former students lives in Taiwan and he said that a Swede there pointed out that people in the U.S. can't smoke in bars. Taiwan is more liberal that we are. I'm sort of tired of a few people deciding what all the people will do. If you don't like to be around smokers, go someplace else. Don't try to force your opinions on others. That's not true democracy. That Hitler's Germany. Clearly, I'm an unrepentant smoker.

I'm trying to take your side seriously and respect the fact that you smoke. I use to smoke so I understand that hankering for a beer and a stogey. The core problem with allowing someone to smoke in an establishment is there is no choice for anyone who doesn't smoke. They can choose to stay away from the smokers but it still filtrates throughtout the room. You can't even sit in another section of a restaurant even on the other side of the building without smoke permeating the room. The ventilation ducts typically act as conductors for smoke. Fair to me is go outside and lightup. Plenty of people do this.

No clear evidence. Okay here is a story. My Aunt had heart surgery. My uncle George smoked unfiltered camels. They were married for 40 years. She never smoked a cigarette in her life. When she died from complications, the doctor said she had the lungs of a pack a day smoker they were so black.

A reasonable conclusion would be that unfiltered camels were inhaled by my aunt causing disease to develop in her lungs.

.................................................................................

Laurend I have told people with B.O. they have a "funk thing going on". I didn't really expect a response. As for the girl who stunk like smoke, if it is a trigger for your asthma, I hope you sat as far away from her as you could. Otherwise, I really wouldn't say anything to a person who smells like smoke. They probably already know this because they just got done having a cigarette.

Laurend I have told people with B.O. they have a "funk thing going on". I didn't really expect a response. As for the girl who stunk like smoke, if it is a trigger for your asthma, I hope you sat as far away from her as you could. Otherwise, I really wouldn't say anything to a person who smells like smoke. They probably already know this because they just got done having a cigarette.

I tried to stay away from folks like that, but the smell fills the room. Smoke-smell doesn't bother me that much, as long as it is light. If someone has just finished a cigarette, I don't like how they smell, but I can tolerate it. I just can't tolerate the really heavy stale smoke smell that chain smokers have.

stinky smelly smokey people.

stinky smelly smokey people.

Yep. That's about it.

I quit three years ago and they are right - there is nothing worse than a convert. I could care less about "smoker's rights". I think my right to breathe in a public place trumps that.

Until I quit I never realized how nasty it smelled and I absolutely hate to have to run the "gauntlet" to enter a public building.