Lexington Smoking Ban Upheld

Post by **Uncle Big Green** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:28 pm

let's go over this again. though Climbhigh hit the nail on the head, several you failed to comprehend.

First, who is forcing anyone here to go into a smoke-filled bar or restaurant? that's what I thought. Next, if someone owns such an establishment (that means it's THEIRS and NOT yours) and wants to have smoking contained within its walls, then that's their decision not yours. It's pretty simple - if you don't like it don't shop or work there.

Instead, many of you fail to grasp what rights are (you only have one - the right to your own life, from which other 'rights', like property are derived). You're glad to get the govt. to use its monopoly on force to get others who are not violating your 'rights' to act the way you want. That's not nice.

Finally, for those of you who are stuck on the idea that America is supposed to be a democracy, tell me 2 things:
1) where in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence or any other founding documents is America defined as a democracy?
2) why do you think democracy is a good thing?

Post by **Spragwa** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:33 pm

Okay, it may not be a democracy. Then you should suck it up and realize that the majority is standing up and telling the minority NO, bad dog, don't smoke near us.

BTW, I tried to lighten it up with my right to "bare arms" and no one got it. Damn, y'all are too serious today...oh wait, piggie isn't here.

Post by **Spragwa** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:36 pm

"I might be a non-smoker, but shouldn't I have a voice in the fight if my tax dollars are going to fund those medicaid/care patients I see outside the hospital stealing a smoke while their hooked up to an oxygen tank?"

Steve hit the nail on the head here. Maybe we don't want to pay for your lung transplants, heart transplants and cancer treatments either. Alcoholics have to go through so much to prove that there is a greater probability than not that they won't drink again before they can get a liver transplant. So why the hell should smokers get more of a break?

Post by **Uncle Big Green** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:39 pm

thanks for replying Spagwa.

I think a better description (than "bad dog") is that the 'majority' (this is questionable) is persecuting a minority and pissing on their property rights. Might does not make right.

Post by **Spragwa** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:13 am

I agree that might does not make right...I am actually a member of a protected minority

However, I just try to be helpful and explain things to people how they'll understand....just funnin, let's not have a fist fight.

But the smoking ban still rocks!

Post by **the lurkist** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:06 am

Here is my two unpoplular cents.
Alexander Hamilton said "The masses are asses".
In my experience people individually act in their own self interest and usually in a self gratifying way- that is, they eat to excess, are lazy, and satisfy their urges without much forethought as to how it effects others.
Smoking is one of the most addictive drugs we know. More than cocaine, crack, alcohol, etc... It is very hard to stop smoking. Gretchen, for instance, chooses to smoke (I am not attacking you Gretchen/Brian). Most likely it is because it is so difficult to quit.
While I know Gretchen and folks like her typify the ettiquette to not smoke around others, many do not, especially in bars where it has been implicitly ok to saturate the air with tar and carbon monoxide and explicitly legal. This has all of the morbidity on restaurant workers , patrons, etc...
So, I for one am pleased that our government is stepping up and telling all of you stupid fuckers (me too) what is good for you, and leading you to do the right thing. because we sure can't figure it out for ourselves. With this law, I hope it will be a nail in the smoking culture coffin (no pun intended) of Kentucky. FYI for those of you from else where, everyone smokes here.

Post by **ynot** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:08 am

The very same goverment that buys all the leftover tobacco and stockpiles it and makes tons of money taxing tobacco,it's obscene how much they make. Yup theyre doing us all a favor,protecting us from ourselves.

Post by **Wicked Tribe** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:06 am

Uncle Big Green wrote:the 'majority' (this is questionable) is persecuting a minority

No, the minority is persecuting the majority with their smoke. Smokers invade the lungs of non-smokers against the will of the non-smoker. You can't stop breathing and have an enjoyable life, but you can stop smoking and have one.

All I'm talking about is manners. Its good manners not to force others to be second hand smokers. Some people are just rude and inconsiderate when it comes to smoking, and more than likely when it comes to day-to-day life too.
Having said that, I know many smokers who are very considerate and always take into consideration the personal space of those around them before lighting up. For those of you that do I appreciate it.

Post by **Wicked Tribe** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:18 am

Oh, and the othe thing about this ban. A lot of you people say, "If you don't want ot sit in a smoke filled restaraunt then don't go to them." So which restaurants don't allow smoking? Are there more that do or more that don't? Probably more that do. And you're telling all the non-smokers out there that they have little choice but to go to the handful of non-smoking establishments while smokers can enjoy just about any place they please, just because they choose to involve themseves in a nasty and unhealthy habit.

If there are such things as rights tell me this: Which would be more of an inalienable right- BREATHING or SMOKING? Which is necessary and which is not?

Post by **gulliver** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:37 pm

I wouldn't defend smoking , it's bad for you . I would defend smokers from harrassment and unreasonable censure. Too many people smoke in all states, while KY will lose a slightly larger % of it's citizens from their own smoking, what I'm hearing is concern about 2nd hand smoke. So if ohio has 2.25 x the smokers of ky, hmmmm.... we are talking about a cloud aren't we? The health concerns of employees make this ban good law. When you mention cig. butts, think litter bug . How do you react when you see a Mt. Dew bottle in the gorge? 'Fukin SOda Drinkers!!'. Recently a Ca. community banned smoking on the beach, their (lame) argument , kids were putting the butts in their mouths'they could choke". Well they have litter laws and they work about like they work everywhere else. The same parent who should be there to keep those kids from choking on a shell or a stick or eating a seagull turd , should step up to the plate for that butt also. mean people suck