TOTALLY DISAGREE with you on the public smoking laws! One of the best damn laws for the public good (and simply the pleasure of not having to do deal with asshat smokers). Period.Hey jockstrap, since you're off topic anyway if you see me smoking on a public sidewalk cross the ******* street.
Just because some people have a smelly, annoying, health-destroying bad habit does NOT mean we're taking any of their freedoms away. They can smoke in their car, their home, any private property. But when they smoke in a public place or office, they're affecting MY freedom.
Gents I suggest that you ease up on the personal insults and use of profanity; I see them going both ways. If you must resort to hitting below the belt you have already lost the fight and now your loosing respect. There has been a complaint filed here and I will simply remind you that there are rules of conduct here please follow them or you will be following the thread to the Arena or worse yet you may loose your posting privileges.T, reprimand deserved and accepted. While my sentiments stand, in the future I will endeavor to refrain from responding in a manner not suitable to the forum.
I fully disagree with you on the smoking ban in the workplace. Without absolute smoke free rules there will be asshats who flaunt those rules and smoke inside the building, in their offic,e in a conference room or right next to the door. There is no way a restaurant can have a non smoking area in the middle of the room and still have no smoke. Smokers infringe on my liberty and right to not be exposed to a health hazard imposed by others optional actions.
I know it is a little OT, but since I started it I figure I am allowed. We have gone through this here in San Antonio. They recently passed a law banning smoking in all restaurants. There was a big uprising against it but the politicians had to do it "for the good of the people" as if the 'people' don't know how to make a responsible decision. It is not governments responsibility to protect us from ourselves. The patrons of a restaurant can make the decision to go to it or not. If they don't like the smoke then don't go. I didn't go to some restaurants myself because of that. I am not a smoker and I don't like smoke, but I do not need the government talking for me. I make my own educated decision. I am tired of this freaking nanny state we have become. If you do not like the smoke then don't go.
So you modify your behavior (avoiding certain restaurants) in order to allow others to do anything they damn well please? Interesting take on things, especially since smokers are in an overwhelming MINORITY in the USA population.
And BTW, yes governments (state and federal) are allowed and encouraged to make laws to protect us from ourselves and from those who do irresponsible things. Public safety is the reason; making "educated decisions" may make for good personal choices, but doesn't protect you from idiots who don't care who they harm.
Otherwise someone could say: "I'm allowed to shoot my pistol in a crowded room if I feel like it, just so long as I don't hit anybody!"