That is so true!
Posted on 07/15/2006 7:30:05 AM PDT by SheLion
The Pennsylvania Restaurant Association has thrown its support behind a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, casinos and private clubs.
So why couldn't we find any local establishments who agree with them?
Admittedly, we used a small sample, but when staff writer Jeff Pikulsky talked to owners of Mon Valley clubs and restaurants last week, he found angry opposition to the proposed ban.
Monessen Elks Club Steward Marcy Zites estimated that 70 percent of her club patrons smoke and feared that a ban would be bad for business.
Those sentiments were echoed at the Foster House in North Belle Vernon, where bartender Lisa Vestrat said customers have been complaining about the possibility of a ban.
At the High Point restaurant in Coal Center, Loretta Sepesy lamented, "People like to have a drink and cigarette. They take away all of your rights anymore."
The proposal to ban smoking in public places was introduced by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, a Republican from Montgomery, and is currently being considered by the Senate's Public Health & Welfare Committee. Similar legislation in the House died in committee last month.
The ban is being offered out of concern for the health and welfare of employees who work in those facilities and are exposed to second-hand smoke. A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General brands second-hand smoke as a health risk and recommends that it be banned from public gathering places.
We understand the concern of the state's Restaurant Association and its desire to be on the politically correct side of the smoking argument. But we think the organization should have contacted more of its members to see if they feel the same way.
It's our position that in a free society, this decision should be up to the individual restaurants, not the government. Restaurants who want to ban smoking should be welcome to do so, and customer response will determine if they are right or wrong.
"The sun does more damage to peoples' bodies than second-hand cigarette smoke," said Monessen Elks Club trustee Brian Mears. "What is the government going to do next, shut down the sun?
Shh, Brian, don't give them any ideas.
I can believe this if the person didn't have good personal hygiene. But washing the hair, brushing the teeth and bathing keeps the stink away from ALL persons.
Do you mean to tell me that just because you don't smoke, you don't stink? LOL!
I agree. Only the lower classes smoke these days anyway. It's a weakness like watching "Oprah".
I smoke, and I could probably buy and sell you so many times it would make your head spin.
Money does not equal class and you just proved it. Have a good day.
Most nanny-state advocates think this, as I interfere with their world view.
You are a meat hunter (elkfersupper) and I doubt if you care about a trophy elk anyway.
Oh, they're nice to look at, but a little tough to eat. You are correct.
OK. I personally hate most women's colognes. They make me sneeze and give me a sinus headache. How come I have to put up with that, but you don't think you should have to smell smoke?
We didn't find the elk meat tough, not at all. We weren't shooting cow elk, could be the reason you don't have any pictures. It would have been a waste of film, the cows look pretty much all alike.
"Lower class?" LOL
How old are you? 23???
Our first Lady smokes. I guess you think SHE is lower class as well!
yeah, perfume makes my head hurt too, but most of the heavy perfume wearers seem to have given it up around here. Or you have to get really close to them to smell it. I think that is the difference, you don't smell perfume 20 feet across the room.
Very classy of you to insult both smokers and "low class" people in the same sentence, as well.
Thanks for the ping.
If we were lower class, we'd still be better people than a bigoted superiorist.
Maybe YOU don't.
That is so true!
Read the book Smoke Screen by Kyle Mills -- tobacco companies decide to stop producing cigarettes -- government has tries to force them back to work.
I wonder how far his nose was in the air (or maybe his head up his A$$) when he said that. :)
Money and control is what it's all about. People's health is just a smoke (no pun intended) screen.
"I agree. Only the lower classes smoke these days anyway. It's a weakness like watching "Oprah"."
Well, I reckon that the lower class of losers suits me fine.
Most of us "losers" can at least make up our own minds, without having someone hold our hands.
Somebody must have "rok"s in their head.
And anybody who starts this "class" $hit, usually has a personality complex to begin with.
Such as their fear of being "classless" themselves.
Grow up.
for coal miners, smokings the least of their problems - leave 'em alone. Don't they suffer enough without the do-gooders?
Hey!
We need to do a scientific study on second-hand fascism immediately.
That's one smell I CAN NOT stand.
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