ban in chicago

[superman78]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/o...,5835969.story

Dear Alderman July 14/05

The bandwagon of local smoking bans now steamrolling across the nation has
nothing to do with protecting people from the supposed threat of
"second-hand" smoke.

Indeed, the bans themselves are symptoms of a far more grievous threat, a
cancer that has been spreading for decades throughout the body politic. This
cancer is the only real hazard involved - the cancer of unlimited government
power.

Loudly billed as measures that only affect "public places," smoking bans
have actually targeted many privately owned places such as bars and shops -
places whose owners should be free to ban smoking or not and whose customers
are free to patronize or not. Outdoor bans even harass smokers in places
where others’ health is obviously not the issue.

The decision to smoke or to avoid "second-hand" smoke, is a question for
each individual to answer based on his own values and judgment. This is the
same kind of decision free people make regarding every aspect of their
lives. All lifestyle decisions involve risks; some have demonstrably harmful
consequences; many are controversial and invite disapproval from others… but
the individual must be free to make these decisions. He must be free,
because his life belongs to him, not to others, and only his own judgment
can guide him through it.

Yet when it comes to smoking this freedom of choice for a minority, is being
seriously limited by a majority made baselessly fearful through massive
media campaigns often funded by tax dollars.


The real threat we face here, no matter how strongly it is denied by the
anti-smoking lobby, is the systematic and unlimited intrusion of government
into our lives.

We do not elect officials to control and manipulate our behaviour. They are
in office to serve us, not visa versa.

P.S.

These special interest groups are using the Health issue to try to lobby politicians to pass 'no-smoking by-laws'

But their true agenda is to denormalize smoking.

Passing smoke-free legislation is a big step in that direction.

Unfortunately the smokers and the hospitality sector are caught in the cross-fire

Politicians know that 75% of the public doesn't smoke and therefore these politicians try to get elected or re-elected on the backs of the hospitality sector.

What ever happened to the politicians in the 60's.."I would rather be right than President"

i live in toledo ohio ,last year they enacted a smoking ban,but since then a lot of the bars have found ways around it,smoking clubs,private parties all types of scams.I saw an article today ,it said they hav only issued 11 citations in the last year. smoking bans,and thats from someone who hates ciggarette smoke

[TheyCallMeManiX]

sadly its allready happened here in miami

[yarimurray]

And yet hookah bars are flourishing (see other thread). Just another example of the intoxicating power of politics that lures power hungry individuals into "serving others." The funny thing is that many politicians are smokers and they even are able to get Cubans without any fear of reprisal.

Land of the free? It seems less and less so every day.

Michael

[fllbrent]

sadly its allready happened here in miami

Yeah, I know. ALL of Florida has closed and gone out of business because smoking is not allowed inside if they serve any food. Shark attacks couldn't do it, Hurricanes either!

Bar after bar, restaurant after restaurant has gone out of business
... ALL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SMOKE OUTSIDE!!!

Please.

Take your tobacco outside, enjoy the weather & smoke your brains out.


Hell, if we run into each other (outside of course) you can have the pick from my otter box.





Brent