New Smoking Ban Sweeping America

[Der Nister]

The way I see this topic is like this, our government is truly hypocritical. On the one hand they are more than willing to over tax a product and enjoy the money they get from it. On the other side they are trying their best to "out law" it from not only public places but private places as well. If these lobbyists are that concerned with the health and well being of children then why not go the full nine yards?

It has been proven that alcohol consumption is harmful to those that do not drink. We have numerous cases of abusive adults towards children in which these 'adults' would physically abuse children while under the influence.Now some would say you can't ban everything that might be harmful but hell, I ask why not? If the true goal here is to protect innocent children from the effects of a harmful product then let's put everything on the list.

But the reality is that that is not at all possible (the alcohol ban anyway) because prohibition proved how dangerous out lawing that product can be. Also, what this country needs right now is not more laws to save us from ourselves but rather a government that needs to scale back as they have intruded to far into our private lives. From what I read a year or two ago in Texas law makers tried to pass a law that mandated surveillance cameras to be installed in the homes of private citizens. Their reason for this law, to stop illegal activity from taking place. People, if this doesn't prove how much those in office want to control the population then I pity you.

Thankfully from what I'm reading in this thread are people with common sense that realize more laws and more regulations are not the answer.

[Msterbeau]

I think the key thing here is that people should be allowed to do what they want in the privacy of their home but need to accept that other people may not want want to share their smoke in public places. A car moves about in public space and driving one has a lot greater risk of doing harm then a house does so greater scrutiny comes into play about what you should or shouldn't do in one.. Personally I could care less if people smoke in their cars... although I wish they'd keep their cigarette butts inside.

The problem I see with some people's attitudes here, and with the population at large, is that they want "to do whatever I want" but seem unwilling to also shoulder the responsibilities of their actions nor do they seem to care much about their fellow human. You wonder why we have so many laws? Probably because so many people need them. I suspect that without them we would have either ruined the earth long ago or extincted ourselves. Until we learn respect and tolerance for others, as well as the planet we live on, I think we're headed on a path to self destruction.

[BrassFusion]

I think the key thing here is that people should be allowed to do what they want in the privacy of their home but need to accept that other people may not want want to share their smoke in public places. A car moves about in public space and driving one has a lot greater risk of doing harm then a house does so greater scrutiny comes into play about what you should or shouldn't do in one.. Personally I could care less if people smoke in their cars... although I wish they'd keep their cigarette butts inside.

The problem I see with some people's attitudes here, and with the population at large, is that they want "to do whatever I want" but seem unwilling to also shoulder the responsibilities of their actions nor do they seem to care much about their fellow human. You wonder why we have so many laws? Probably because so many people need them. I suspect that without them we would have either ruined the earth long ago or extincted ourselves. Until we learn respect and tolerance for others, as well as the planet we live on, I think we're headed on a path to self destruction.

The funny thing is, just ONE natural predator would balance the whole equation. Like velociraptors.

[Msterbeau]

The funny thing is, just ONE natural predator would balance the whole equation. Like velociraptors.

In that case... we wouldn't have time to worry about what Paris Hilton is doing, or what size big screen TV to get. We'd be fighting for survival. Laws kinda go out the door under those circumstances...

[torn asunder]

The funny thing is, just ONE natural predator would balance the whole equation. Like velociraptors.

nah, we'd just hunt them to extinction like everything else...

[BrassFusion]

In that case... we wouldn't have time to worry about what Paris Hilton is doing, or what size big screen TV to get. We'd be fighting for survival. Laws kinda go out the door under those circumstances...

nah, we'd just hunt them to extinction like everything else...

i mean more like, if the velociraptors got the upper hand early on while we were in the early stages of civilization. they could just thin the herd, y'know.

[phee]

i mean more like, if the velociraptors got the upper hand early on while we were in the early stages of civilization. they could just thin the herd, y'know.

People are trying sooooo hard right now to thin there own heard... don't you think?

[Msterbeau]

So we're at one of those "thin the heard" times then?

Looks like I picked the wrong century to have children...

[BrassFusion]

So we're at one of those "thin the heard" times then?

Looks like I picked the wrong century to have children...

Well...

most of our problems today can be directly linked to population density, or global overpopulation in general. technology might save us from the negative effects of that, though, if we actually utilize it

[AstralCrux]

I wouldn't worry too much, we still can't entirely get ahead of our plagues. How many people die of cancer and aids alone? But, we have been getting some upper hands in our ability to at least slow things down once we get a good grasp of the situation. If ebola breaks out hardcore here though, it'll spread like wildfire. Something naturally comes along- our predators are virus.

[HipsterDufus]

I think the key thing here is that people should be allowed to do what they want in the privacy of their home but need to accept that other people may not want want to share their smoke in public places. A car moves about in public space and driving one has a lot greater risk of doing harm then a house does so greater scrutiny comes into play about what you should or shouldn't do in one.. Personally I could care less if people smoke in their cars... although I wish they'd keep their cigarette butts inside.

The problem I see with some people's attitudes here, and with the population at large, is that they want "to do whatever I want" but seem unwilling to also shoulder the responsibilities of their actions nor do they seem to care much about their fellow human. You wonder why we have so many laws? Probably because so many people need them. I suspect that without them we would have either ruined the earth long ago or extincted ourselves. Until we learn respect and tolerance for others, as well as the planet we live on, I think we're headed on a path to self destruction.

Again, let me just say that free-market economy is doing a pretty good job of regulating this itself. The MAJORITY of people are non-smokers. The majority of those people don't like going into places that allow smoking. So, what do you have? Smoke-free McDonalds, Starbucks, Meijer, Wal-Mart, and a whole host of independently owned shops/restaurants/whatever that are smoke-free. If you don't like that a place allows smoking, don't go there and let the rest of us enjoy our slow, painful deaths with our friends. I have no pity for non-smokers that knowingly and intentionally go into a bar that allows smoking and then complain about the second hand smoke. You've got legs, use 'em.

edit: Oh, and might I just say, everyone who wants smoking banned in public places is going to get their way. This debate is not a question of "if" as much as "when." I just hope that non-smokers are as forgiving when everyone else decides that some habit that they do in public (say, farting; methane is bad for the environment and for humans, after all) is in bad taste and we ban it.

[Head Wreck]

think of it this way. closer your laws are to ours the better integrated you will be when america hands back sovriegncy to blighty of the states.

americans are the worst for not adapting to the culture they move to, they expect everything to be exactly like america and nothing in return, so i think these new changes will ease the integration back into british riegn

[Scary Guy]

They're talking about making trans-fats illegal in Oakland county.

The government has NO RIGHT to dictate what we put into ourselves, unless it hurts other people as well.

[sass_in_the_pants]

They're talking about making trans-fats illegal in Oakland county.

The government has NO RIGHT to dictate what we put into ourselves, unless it hurts other people as well.

NOOOOOO!!!

Bastards.

taking away my transfat. What am I supposed to eat, huh?!?!

[BrassFusion]

They're talking about making trans-fats illegal in Oakland county.

The government has NO RIGHT to dictate what we put into ourselves, unless it hurts other people as well.

trans fats occur naturally in meat and dairy. they'll have to ban cows.

[Blackmail]

I like how people think having the right to smoke in front of children is a great right that must be protected.

Second hand smoke is a real issue, just google it.

Trans fat also affects other people. Everyone who is overweight is bad for America.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-0...sity-usat_x.htm

Please stop being fat, it costs taxpayers. Thank you.

[xBrutalBeautyx]

This seriously cracks me up. In cars? In homes?? Like when you have a child? I'm a smoker. Im not proud of it but its the truth. Ever since I had my kid, I quit smoking in the house, in the car, I sit in non-smoking sections. I stand outside sucking down cancer, and either freeze or sweat my ass off. So, what's going to happen here? I know its smelly, and gross, but so are farts. Its bad for my health, but so are double cheeseburgers from Mc Donalds. Can we outlaw those? Its only commonsense to not smoke around your kids. Yes I smoke, but damn, I don't do it to spite non-smokers for christ sake! I do it because I'm hopelessly addicted. I've been to a toxicologist, a hypnotist, the patch, the gum, cold turkey......no. People say, 'Where's your willpower, just quit.' Yeah. Just quit. More like I need Smoker Rehab. *sigh* But trying to pass a law? It sounds like a way for more invasive home seaches and more reasons to pull people over. In clubs and resturants, no big deal. I just won't. Oh well. It just sounds ridiculous to go for private places as well. On the otherside, it might just give us desperate-to-quit smokers one more reason to finally kick it for good. The idea of a raid on my house because I smoke doesn't appeal.

[BrassFusion]

Oh lord, if they ban smoking, PLEASE no one quit just for that reason... if anything that'd give me a great reason to start