Posted on 05/30/2002 7:07:00 AM PDT by Just another Joe
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By Heidi Rauch-Webb /Oswego Daily News
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The Oswego County Energy Recovery Facility has gone the way of airlines, hospitals and most shopping malls in the country: no smoking in their facility. Deputy Superintendent Frank Visser said that though only about 10 out of 30 employees at the ERF are smokers, the issue was a serious one. "Our lunch room was also our smoking room and it's very small," he explained. "People who don't smoke couldn't get away from the smoke." Visser said that there had been some complaints to the health department and a few weeks ago Michael Rosen, Deputy Health Commissioner, and an assistant visited the facility and came to the conclusion that controlling the smokers was not feasible so they designated the building as non-smoking. "The new policy is that people who want to smoke must do so 20 feet from the building," Visser said. There were some disgruntled employees but Visser told the assembled County Department of Public Works committee last week that some of the smokers have no one to blame but themselves. "Some smokers were smoking in non-designated areas," he said. "I told them that it takes only one person to ruin it for the rest of the employees." Visser said the decision is final after the recommendation went to the county Legislature's Health committee. "It's a done deal," he told DPW committee members as they offered suggestions on how to correct the problem. "As a smoker, you have no rights. If I smoked, I guess I'd just quit." |
Many smokers are inconsiderate yet they expect non-smokers to be considerate of their uncontrollable urges. And smokers cannot understand why they are hated by non-smokers.
I wonder how annoyed the smokers would be if those who drank beer disposed of the beer residue by excreting it upon the smokers?
Many smokers ARE considerate. Should we be judged by the ones that are NOT?
Many nico-nazis are inconsiderate yet they expect smokers to be considerate of their uncontrollable urge for power. And nico-nazis cannot understand why they are hated by smokers.
Should we also legislate BO?
Mr. Visser:
After reading the article posted in the Oswego Daily News, I felt compelled to write to you.
I smoke and I vote. Your telling me I have no rights?! Banning smoking in a county owned building, I can respect that. When I worked in a government building, I, too, had to go "outside" the door to smoke. That worked for me. But "50 feet from the front door?" That's totally uncalled for!
As for the EPA's report in 1993 about second hand smoke, were you aware of the Federal Court in 1998 throwing out that EPA's bias study? Probably not.
Here is the link so you can educate yourself:
Court Rules Against EPA on Secondhand Smoke
I bet your feeling pretty smug about now, wearing your Brown Shirt and marching in time with JackBoots.
The war on the smokers IS a Rights Issue. One by one, our rights are being eroded, and it's people like you that will one day look back on America and wonder what happened.
Oh yes. How many people do you have working there that are obese? Were you aware of our Surgeon General's latest report that Obesity has higher health risks then even smoking?
Here is the link so you can educate yourself:
Surgeon general warns obesity may overtake tobacco as leading preventable killer
Smokers aren't going away. Smokers aren't going to quit. What smokers want is for Big Brother to butt out of their lives. And for Big Government to stop the taxation without representative.
And what urges do YOU have that puts YOU out of control, eh?
~here we go, where's my list~
I don't know where YOU go, minion, that your around smokers. Name one.
Do we allow an inconsiderate minority dictate the working conditions of the majority ?
Apparently this is a public building and apparently the public officials acting under the authority given them by "we the people" felt that allowing smoking to continue at this was a priviledge and that the priviledge was being abused by some. So, its not a rights issue its a consideration issue, a nuisance and a potential law suit issue from the non smokers.
No, it isn't.
Even severe BO is not 'legislated' nor will a supervisor make you leave the lunch room because of it.
Your coworkers may make you leave but not the supervisor.
I understand your point, do you understand mine?
Restaurants and sidewalks mostly. But did you read this article ? The lunch room was also the smoking room. That was dumb to begin with because the smoke and the smell stays there.
Read a few municipal ordinances. You can be kicked out of public buildings if you stink badly enough.
Your coworkers may make you leave but not the supervisor.
I wonder where--or if--you work.
I understand your point, do you understand mine?
I understand that you act on Free Republic as if you're an obnoxious twerp with lousy impulse control.
Hope you catch me on a better day next time.
You hate us that much?
I'm a Christian. Do you hate me?
I'm a Republican. Do you hate me?
I love animals. Do you hate me?
I drive an SUV. Do you hate me?
I'm a mother. Do you hate me?
I love NASCAR. Do you hate me?
I love America. Do you hate me?
I'm a human being. Do you hate me?
I'm a smoker. Do you hate me?
I don't know you but I sure hate your smoke. But what does hate have to do with the right of a town to set smoking policy for its employees ?
Thank you very much for the insult. Just goes to show, doesn't it.
Don't you mean for it's buildings, not it's employees?
And yes, I know that a ban in a building affects the employees.
And you don't demonize smokers? LOL
You are SOooo funny.
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