Posted on 01/27/2006 4:35:37 AM PST by SheLion
If Ohio voters are given the chance to vote on a proposed statewide smoking ban, let's hope our fellow citizens take the time to educate themselves on the big picture.
The proposed ban, unlike the local ordinance, prohibits smoking in all public buildings. It allows exemptions for private clubs, but not bars, bingo halls and bowling centers, as Toledo's ban does.
Smoking is not illegal. Unhealthy and expensive, but not illegal. If an American business owner wants to operate an establishment that allows smokers the freedom to smoke, why should their decision be overridden by people who aren't patronizing those places anyway?
In our Jan. 18 cover story, "Where there's smoke," several local bar and restaurant owners expressed their frustration with the proposed ban. Many of them described the impact of the local restrictions as "extreme" and detrimental to their business.
We also spoke with Stu Kerr, a former health commissioner in Findlay and the Northwest Ohio campaign coordinator for SmokeFree Ohio, the leading proponent of the ban. Kerr dismissed the bar and restaurant owners' concerns: "They'll bring up property rights argument. They'll bring up economic arguments ... it's bullshit."
Any group that dismisses economic arguments and property rights must be held in suspicion; if Kerr can discount these bedrocks of business so easily, he's trampling on precious entrepreneurial principles.
Sharon Kuhnle, owner of Twin Oaks Bowling Center on West Sylvania Avenue, said it best: "We live in a free society, and we're discussing a legal product. This needs to be left up to the business owner. Let the business owner run his or her business as they know it should be."
There's no argument from us that first- and secondhand smoke is deadly. Our solution is not to ban smoking from every corner of the city; our solution is to avoid places where smoking pollutes the air. That's a personal decision. That's how the free market works.
Let business owners decide this issue, not reactionary zealots.
Smokers would just as soon not be near non-smokers as vice versa.
How true. The New Utopians need not learn from ages of human experience.
They're "scientists," after all.....
now this is the kind of response I like...you know if you hate America so much..LEAVE.
The Streisand's, Baldwins, etc should take notice and LEAVE!
Ah ha! Now we know why you signed up for a third tour over there!
You should risk your hard work and money to invest in a dance club and make it smoke free. Oh, wait, you would rather complain about how others use their property and hope for the use of government force to appease your preferences while you are on their property. Just so you can enjoy a night of dancing.
How very conservative of you. When did conservatives begin sacrificing private property rights get sacrificed for enjoyable nights at night clubs?
By the way-I forgot to say-stay safe. People like you (I'm taking it you're a civilian) are about as brave as our GI's that are there, and you're doing a great service.
She's a woman, all right. I just checked her page. Cute, too!
Is that a Slick Willie doll your cat's molesting? LOL I love it.
Nothing of importance happened in the world until they were born...
53 posted on 01/27/2006 8:46:31 AM EST by Publius6961
"When did conservatives begin sacrificing private property rights get sacrificed for enjoyable nights at night clubs?"
When we passed the Constitution. If you want no limits on smoking you have to start winning some elections.
hehehe. I LOVE voluntary taxes. Next time you pick up a pack of cigs why not drop a few 20's on pick-six.
Ok let the name calling begin...
Or the physical threats...
Most of us against smoking in public, however, really just can’t stand to be around smoke.
Didn't you notice she said breathing smoke gave her a splitting headache? She doesn't hate smokers, she doesn't have time or the inclination to deal with a headache the next day. You just don't "forget about" a bad headache and then it goes away.
I was trying to be nice to her. So but out!
It's 'butt' out, but you left out the most important part like it was not important, the headache. Clothes can be clean, hair can be washed but the time lost to a migraine headache is lost forever. And yes, I could tell you were trying to be nice. So am I. ;9)
I've been screaming that question since the beginning but unfortunately I don't have the power of the press on my side.
Good Article SL
I tipped her off to it. ;)
Hi there. Welcome to Free Republic!
And you won't win many Conservative friends around here with that attitude.
You are not over at the Yahoo smoking boards. This is Free Republic! I truly hope you ARE one.
Thank you. I like to post the good articles as well. :)
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