Cafe business up in smoke (smoking ban closes restaurant)

The Citizen Auburn NY ^ | Friday, December 20, 2002 | By Mary Bulkot / Staff Writer

[VRWC_minion]

Is your point that you don't like smokers?

Some of my best friends are smokers and I even hired a token one this year.

[Protagoras]

Some of my best friends are smokers and I even hired a token one this year.

Goody, now what is your point?

[VRWC_minion]

Smokers are a minority, but smokers plus the number of people who are beginning to understand the fragility of our freedoms are, thankfully, a majority.

Something like 74% of nonsmokers in some Texas city wanted a town wide ban. I don't think there is anywhere nears a significant minority to support these smokers. They are politically toast. I believe that if the smoker managed to actually win a SC ruling on the property rights issue, that the people in the US would support an ammendment to the constitution.

[johnb838]

Then after they kill the local economies they will blame it on Bush.

[zoyd]

Faux conservative.

[VRWC_minion]

I outlined the concept of government deriving it's power from the people and that's that's your retort?!

Give me one case that shows your analysis that the gov't doesn't have the power to regulate smoking in a restaurant. Just one, then we can discuss the legalities.

[VRWC_minion]

One case. Just one.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

"So don't go on your moral high ground trip until you feel comfortable physically accosting smokers" Ahhh, we have found the cusp of the smokers fury...they feel morally inferior to non-smokers and are daily seeing their choice to smoke looked down upon by society (ie, the smoking bans) and are at their last gasp to feel normal within society.

Hahahah

Look sparky, would you feel confortable approaching a woman on the street and ripping the cigarette out of her mouth? Is that the type of guy you are? Or perhaps you would rather take mine?

I'm assuming that you'd say "No, I wouldn't do that. I don't have that right." However, people like you feel entitled to confer a right to government that you don't acknowledge you have. This is the ultimate in shrill cowardiss.

Or perhaps I'm wrong and you actually do take cigarettes away from people on the street. (As well as being on a first name basis with EMT physicians)

Certainly you're in the minority if that's the case. I don't smoke in restaurants, but have in bars and other adult venues, etc. I've never in such an establishment have had ANYBODY even ASK me to refrain from smoking. Yet you piously stand from afar and advocate these things.

Charming.

[VRWC_minion]

I don't need to win my viewpoint in the market place. Smokers do.

[johnb838]

But on the contrary, I fight for peoples property rights 24/7. These regulations are wrong. Much as I like the outcomeI disagree with them. .

In all honesty it sounds like you're making progress with ol VWRC. Earlier this week he was on the fence, now he agrees the regs are wrong.

[laredo44]

The true measure of addiction is how the individual acts when in the ABSENCE of their addictive substance. I think it is clear some on this thread are feeling afraid that that they may need to put the cigarettes away for the duration of a meal and are experiencing the waves of withdrawal even now just thinking about it

And I think it is clear some on this thread are feeling afraid that that they may need to put their tyrannical natures away for the duration of a meal and are experiencing the waves of withdrawal even now just thinking about it

[Protagoras]

As I have told you time and again, it's not about power, it's about LEGITIMATE power. Now go away, you made your point, that you hate smokers and are willing to excuse government for trampling their rights under any number of nonsensical reasons.

[Wolfie]

However, people like you feel entitled to confer a right to government that you don't acknowledge you have.

Heck, that's the American way. People without the cojones to go one on one let loose the force of Government all the time to stop others from doing things they don't like.

[Just another Joe]

I don't need to win my viewpoint in the market place. Smokers do.

No, you need the govt to ENFORCE your viewpoint using junk science, lies, and sheer audacity.
If left to the market people like you would be hunting for a non-smoking restaurant till the sun didn't come up again.
Either that or people like me would be looking for a smoking allowed restaurant for the same amount of time.
I'm happy with it either way as long as the BUSINESS OWNER chooses and not let the govt step in doing things that they should have no business (pun intended) doing.

[Protagoras]

In all honesty it sounds like you're making progress with ol VWRC. Earlier this week he was on the fence, now he agrees the regs are wrong.

Tomorrow, he will be back here championing government intrusion again.

[Bella_Bru]

Mandated reporters like teachers and clergy will be required to advise DCF and you will get a visit. Ex-spouses will use your smoking to show your an unfit parent. This is the natural progression of the current events

And I bet you'd support them.

[Bella_Bru]

Personally, I like my air as clean as I can get it, and so do millions of other Americans.

Then you should have no issue with taxing heavily polluting vehicles either.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

Give me one case that shows your analysis that the gov't doesn't have the power to regulate smoking in a restaurant. Just one, then we can discuss the legalities.

I concede that socialist have eroded freedom to where someone can't have the kind of restaurant they want. These people have successfully argued that a private restaurant is not private at all, but "public".

I maintain that this power is illegitimate. I have proved it to you by my "calling you out" to act upon this agenda in person by accosting smokers on the street.

Just because a law or power to regulate exists doesn't mean it's right. Of course, this is entirely lost on pinkos and other blue-nosed lefties.

[Protagoras]

Make all your points on one post, then people can see where you are coming from instead of playing your fifth grade game of "guess my postion".

Then it can be discarded by anyone who chooses.

[cinFLA]

The couple opened the diner in August 2000, after a string of businesses failed at the same location.

Plus a recession.