NAZI MAINE: House gives final OK to smoking ban in bars PUKES ONE AND ALL!

boston.com ^ | 6/3/2003 | Glenn Adams

[SheLion]

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Public health interests prevailed over warnings that personal freedoms are being eroded as the Maine House gave its final approval to a bill to ban smoking in bars and taverns.

Representatives' 95-47 enactment vote sent the measure to the Senate and put Maine a step closer to joining California and Delaware in imposing statewide bans on smoking in bars. New York's ban starts in July, and Connecticut's newly enacted ban on smoking in bars takes effect next April.

[honeygrl]

"Again the child is making his own choices"

Children don't have the same rights as adults, nor do they have the money. Adults have the choice to allow junk food or to not allow it since they are the ones buying it for the child. So the point headsonpikes made is valid.

[Gabz]

And who are you to say who is and is not fit to be a parent?

It is obviously not the Minion, that's for sure.

I'm sick and bloody tired of these dorks telling me how to be a good parent - my husband and I are the ONLY ones who know what is best for our child.

I've got a couple of real jagoffs in in Canada that keep saying my daughter will be removed from me because I smoke. I gave them the phone number for the approriate agency, more than once.

Blow hards are blow hards and will always remain that way.

Hang in there, honeygrl - you're a good egg!!!!!!

[ladyinred]

We got it first in California, and it is spreading all over the place.

[honeygrl]

"and until it can be proven without a doubt that exposure to SHs is completely harmless in all cases any parent how forces his child to breath SHS is not fit to be a parent. "

Even many vaccines haven't been proven to be completely harmless so I guess you would also call any parent who has their child vaccinated not fit to be a parent. There are children who die due to vaccine related problems. Probably more than die from SHS (since I've never actually seen a valid study, or any study at all, showing that anyone has ever died due to SHS.) Taking a bath isn't completely harmless either (many kids/adults die from accidents in the tub) so bathing children must be abuse as well. Driving is out too. Too dangerous for a child to ride in a car. DO you have kids?

[honeygrl]

"Yeah right, to hell with everyone elses rights as long as I get want I want. You smokers need to start thinking about someone besides yourselves. We don't want to breathe smoke. If you want to kill yourself go right ahead. But you don't have the right to smoke around me and my family. I know it kills you that you have to submit to any authority. But some of us have grown up and realized that we can't always have everything that we want. There are rules and regulations that we have to live with. And the best thing for all of you to do is get on with life and accpet the fact that most people don't agree with you."

Most of that post (with the exception of 2 sentences) could be said to the anti-smokers and be very accurate.

[kancel]

>>Do you really think that not smoking will keep people from going out? <<

Absolutly. I don't know what the current status of Wa. state is currently but I know that up until two years ago it was voluntary. Some restaurants caved to the smokign nazis and some didnt. We always went to the restaurants that still had smoking. I remember one time we drove an hour to a nice restuarant and ten minutes away realized we hadn't asked if they allowed smoking. We called , they didn't so we went somewhere else- even nicer (Ruths Chris Steakhouse-mmm mmm.) Hubby sent the restaurant we were going to go to a copy of the receipt from RC- and we'd gone all out, drinks, appetizers, the entrees we would normally never order cause so far out of the budget and DESSERTS- the whole shebang!! We were celebrating that night and we spent a LOT of money on dinner (for us at least) and he thought they should know what they missed out on.

We still go to the same restaurants we went to back then even though we quit smoking two years ago (which is why I no longer know what the status is.) We developed loyalty to them that has lasted even though we really are much freer to go anywhere we wnat to now that we arent tied to smoking preferences.

I think voluntary is the way to go- that way there is something for everyone. You cant go somewhere smoky then there are places that cater to you. He smokes like a chimeny then there are places that think of him and others like him. Making it a law is just plain bad. It isnt the governments job and it isnt the free market way.

When I was a teenager, before I smoked, I used to hate to go to my dad's house to visit. He and his girlfriend both smoked like chiminies and the next morning after a visit I would wake up coughing and sneezing up black stuff out of my sinuses. I'd get the most horrible headaches and sick to my stomach too- reminded me of that car sick feelign I would get when I was a kid (I got car sick often and bad.) Despite that I started smoking years later and amazingly enough the sensitivity went away (but of course were replaced by a whole slew of other things.)I always thought that was odd.

[appalachian_dweller]

Love the tagline!

[Leisler]

Massachusettts is getting 300mil for the tobacco shakedown. This year is plans to spend less than 1% on tobacco education stuff. The other 299 mill is going right into the black hole of the state. Naturally all the local do gooders are up in arms as the state is now done with them and the do gooders are not going to get cut in on the cash. I suppose they could waitress/bartend...oh...nevermind.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The idiots think that a building is inherently fun..

[Conspiracy Guy]

I've made the mistake of debating the stump before. Minion is a chanter. Say something over and over and it becomes true. Say it loud and it becomes true quicker. The human race is doomed by the vast left wing of stupid. Makes me glad I'm almost 50, I'd hate to be a young man facing the future, whatever that will be.

[Conspiracy Guy]

That would be better bu it's too wordy for the lefties to read, ADD you know.

[metesky]

BTTT

[Conspiracy Guy]

Addiction to tobacco is a load of crap used by the vast victim conspiracy. Smokers smoke because they like it. Anyone who says I can't quit doesn't want to.

[Just another Joe]

"I understand how supporting compulsive behaviors might be important to drug addicts,"

And with that statement you are implying that all smokers are drug addicts.
I can read your mind so don't deny it.
So don't go all sanctimonious on us, just admit that is what you meant and we can then class you with the other anti-smokers.
If that's NOT what you meant, you need to start looking closer at your posts to see the implications that are there.

[Just another Joe]

I am of the opinion that a small percentage of people might be the victims of extreme damage from SHS, and until it can be proven without a doubt that exposure to SHs is completely harmless in all cases any parent how forces his child to breath SHS is not fit to be a parent.

What a STUPID statement.
Prove to me, without a doubt, that exposure to ANYBODY by ANYTHING is completely harmless.
Don't waffle, different people are allergic to many many things.
By extrapolation of your own statement you're not fit to be a parent.

[CSM]

I'm down south in the land of cotton

I can remember when I was stationed at Ft. Gordon, smoking was allowed in the malls and all sorts of other public places. That came as a shock to me since a lot of restrictions were already in place in The Great Lakes State. Is it still fairly open to smoking south of the MD line?

By the looks of the responses to this topic, I think that there are many posters that would be willing to join together and reinstate private property rights. Do you know of any such group (specifically pro smoking) that exists?

[Conspiracy Guy]

We're a little slow down south but many major southern cities have various bans. Off the top of my head I'm not sure if any major city down south has targeted bars yet. Shelion is part of a group in Maine. I haven't done much research for a national group. RJ Reynolds used to have an advocacy group but I don't know if it still exists.

[CSM]

To everyone:

After reviewing the posts on this board I have come to a few conclusions:

1) Minion would support the liscensing of adults to allow for children - proposed in #350.
2) The antis whine about logical arguments but then never answer any logical arguments. Instead they continue to whine and spew the same ol' BS over and over and over......
3) Most of the Freepers responding are in support of the free market and private property rights to choose. That is the good news.
4) A small group of Freepers do not support the free market and private property/individual rights. The bad news, that they are willing to give up their individual rights for the sake of convenience.
5) All smokers need to "step up" and begin to reinforce that they have rights too. Draw the line in the sand and say no more compromise. Enough is enough. In addition, start to let the business owners of the places you frequent know that this is a risk. Even if they don't beleive that it can happen in their state/city/township then reaffirm the claims with the articles that show the points. I do talk to the business owners and let them know that if it happens here and I find that they didn't speak out against it then they would lose my business. Most of them realize the impact that legislation like this would have on their business and appreciate the updates I provide to them.
6) Thanks SheLion for keeping me up to date on the progression of this elimination of rights and confiscation of private property by the governments. I appreciate the "puff list".

[CSM]

"RJ Reynolds used to have an advocacy group but I don't know if it still exists."

https://mysmokersrights.rjrt.com/SGRHome.jsp

I don't know if I will be posting the link above correctly or not, but you can go on and find out some info regarding different states. Revenue generated by taxes, different laws, etc. I don't think they keep it up to date though.

[Mears]

Minion,you are an arrogant ass!

According to you,I'm not fit to be a parent.I have five kids,aged 35-41 who wouldn't agree with you and none of them smoke.

My grandchildren love me and I have them overnight and I smoke in my home. Smoking isn't allowed in their homes and that's fair enough.

Thank God I have tolerant children and God help anyone who has to deal with you on a daily basis. Self righteousness is oozing out of all your posts.