Florida: Complaints over restaurants not complying with smoking ban

First Coast News ^

[Gabz]

Don't worry, when the state coffers begin to see the decline a tax increase will be put in place to ensure that they get that money from you after all!

That's exactly what they did in Delaware. state revenue from the casinos alone was down by something like 20 percent within the fist few months of the smoking ban.

Instead of working toward a compromise to satisfy everyone, they just doubled the cigarette tax to make up the difference.

I'm so glad I don't live their any more.

[Mears]

I often feel that I've hired my own hit man with my own money via cigarette taxes,and I'm the one that's going to be blown away.

[Gabz]

I know what you mean.

Fortunately for me, we've been doing the RYO for a couple years now so the tax bite isn't as bad. But better yet - I had already moved out of Delaware before the tax increase went into effect!!!

[Mears]

I haven't been to Texas in 10 years but it sounds great to me,especially your smokey bar!

[Hot Tabasco]

middle-aged VFW member

So tell me vet, you carrying your anti-smoking jihad into your post? If not, why not? Could it be that it really isn't that much of a concern to you or are you afraid of the backlash from your fellow veterans? Hmmmmmm?

[Hot Tabasco]

I happen to care about the poor person that is serving your drinks and meals. I guess you don't.

Actually, I don't either considering they willingly applied for a job in a knowingly smoke filled environment.

FWIW, I also don't have sympathy for anyone knowingly applying for a job cleaning stables who does not like the smell of horseshit and endlessly complains about the smell........

[RightFighter]

My favorite neice does not allow smoking or beer in her house. I have never set foot inside and never will, even though she has begged me to come.

Thanks for telling us all what kind of person you are. Only a complete jerk-off would refuse to go to his niece's house for this reason. She's better off without you.

[RightFighter]

It's really sad, metesky. But I feel the same way. In order to respect their wishes, I do not go. I have lived my life long enough to feel quite comfortable at home. Saves money, too. :) Sorry about your neice. They never learn until it's too late.

And here I thought we were all reasonable people. What kind of person values cigarettes over family? That is pathetic.

[SheLion]

It's really sad, metesky. But I feel the same way. In order to respect their wishes, I do not go. I have lived my life long enough to feel quite comfortable at home. Saves money, too. :) Sorry about your neice. They never learn until it's too late.

And here I thought we were all reasonable people. What kind of person values cigarettes over family? That is pathetic.

He didn't have the nerve to include you in his comments, so I will alert you myself, metesky.

509 posted on 10/21/2003 10:11 PM EDT by RightFighter

[metesky]

Pat who owned the Pat's Pizza chain. He had shops in Orono (the original), Bangor, Hampden, Ellsworth, Millinocket and your neck of the woods, that I know of. There may have been more.

He was quite the character, well up into his eighties when he died, still showing up at all his shops once a week and working the Orono shop on a pretty regular basis.

[metesky]

Actually that was kind of a trick response on my part. You see the niece lives in Florida, I live in Maine and haven't been to Florida since 1987, long before the niece set up housekeeping on her own. She does want me to visit, but I hate the place; it's full of name-calling jerkoffs like RightFighter.

The funny part is that both she and one of her brothers were active in the fight to get medical marijuana legalized in Florida (which failed), yet both voted for the tobacco ban amendment.

Too stupid for me to visit in any case.

But thanks for your input, Mr. Know-it-all.

[CSM]

"And here I thought we were all reasonable people. What kind of person values cigarettes over family? That is pathetic."

I am sure that Metesky would welcome his neice into his home! Of course she would have to be willing to enter a home where a cig might be smoked.

Would you visit the home of a relative that smoked?

[metesky]

'Course neither one of you have ever met my family!
;O)

[VRWC_minion]

If you feel the need to have my reasoning for such a harsh response explained to you,

When your child gets emphysema at age 40, I'll listen.

[VRWC_minion]

FWIW, I also don't have sympathy for anyone knowingly applying for a job cleaning stables

Smoking in a bar isn't necessary to providing drinks.

[SheLion]

Pat who owned the Pat's Pizza chain

Oh! DUH me! Then that's the reason Pat's sold out. Understandable. Thanks, metesky!

[RightFighter]

She does want me to visit, but I hate the place; it's full of name-calling jerkoffs like RightFighter.

I think you started it in an earlier post where you laughed at my name. Ad hominem attacks work both ways. Sounds like you can't take it when it's directed at you. Please, stay in Maine and enjoy your cigarettes. It won't bother us a bit down here that way. If I run into any smokers who are upset about the amendment we passed, I'll make sure to suggest relocation to your neck of the woods.

[RightFighter]

Would you visit the home of a relative that smoked?

Thankfully I don't have this dilemma, although the answer is yes, I would visit as long as they didn't smoke in my presence. I would not, however, stay in the home overnight or even for any extended period of time. I can't stand the smell for long.

As I said before, anyone who would value cigarettes over family is pathetic. Many people enjoy walking around the house naked. That doesn't mean that if they have a relative coming to visit that relative should be subjected to it. Same goes for smoking. It's a habit that may be offensive to some people. In the case when one of those people is a family member, reasonable steps should be taken to accomodate that sensibility. Any smoker who argues otherwise has their priorities out of whack.

[metesky]

There was hardly anything ad hominum about getting a chuckle out of the hypocrisy and irony of the name RightFighter in the context of voting for a constitutional amendment that restricts the rights of property owners and citizens alike.

As for returning the name jerk-off to you, I'd say now the round-pound is even, sir.

Was it good for you, too?

At least I can smoke afterwards...