[CSM]

I particularly enjoyed the closing paragraph!

[xrp]

The final paragraph is descriptive of many in today's American who want to tell other people how to live their lives, including many who are FR veterans and still don't understand the concepts of freedom, liberty and self-ownership.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I don't smoke and I am very susceptible to clogged sinuses, headaches, and the like when I am in smoky environments. That having been said, I wouldn't dream of forcing bars, restaurants and the like to prohibit smoking. If I am not happy with the environment, I don't go there. That is my right. But, it is the right of the owner of the establishment to determine how to maximize his profits. If he can make more money by catering to smokers, he should have the right to do that. In a reasonable, non-nanny state, some entrepreneurs in a town might open a bar or restaurant that would serve the non-smoking public, while others would cater to the smoking crowd. I'm not a big fan of James Joyce or Dr. Seuss, but I don't object to their being available at the library.

[whereasandsoforth]

"Supporters of the ban change their rationale as often as George Bush alters his stated motivation for invading Iraq."

This line doesn't make any sense! I thought the supporters of the ban were all over the map with their reasoning. I didn't realize they were such sticklers and held so tight to their principles. I have newfound respect for these nobles in NY.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Massachusetts is considering a state wide ban.

I may open a "Smoke Easy".

[DumpsterDiver]

I particularly enjoyed the closing paragraph.

Me too.

we're going to make you chase away some of your best customers,

we're not going to spend one penny to help enforce the law we claim is so crucial to the health of you and your employees,

and you'd better like it.

[Judith Anne]

Yes, don't call the police for heaven's sake. Let the people in the bar smoke until somebody can rat out the bar and the owner faces a hefty fine--enough of those will put him out of business. Then there won't be any more of those pesky smokers and drinkers. THEN the nanny state will be satisfied--when everyone lives at the level of a 10 year old child.

[Beck_isright]

In Florida it has been a disaster for those restraunts that elected to keep their bar open and serve food. Those bars that used to serve food and quit to avoid the smoking ban are packed, while the other ones are laying off the help. So far the smoking ban is just a big cluster**** and the anti-smoking Nazis will be trying to go after the stand alone bars next. Hopefully the public will get their head out of their proverbial anal cavity and vote or get nasty about this next attempt to impose communism on them.

[The Great RJ]

This whole smoking ban thing is a sham. If health were truely the issue the government would simply ban the sale and use of tobacco. However no matter how much they say they are concerned about health and seek new ways to stop people from smoking no one will seek a ban on smoking altogether because that would cut the massive tax revenues they get from tobacco taxes. It's a fine example of hypocracy.

[SheLion]

[SheLion]

Puff

[SheLion]

Waitresses have higher rates of lung and heart disease than any other traditionally female occupational group, according to a study published by the 'Journal of the American Medical Association,'" reads the answer. "According to the same report, one shift in a smoky bar is equivalent to smoking 16 cigarettes in a day."

This is bogus and can no longer be used! I don't know what smoky "back street" bar they are referring to, but most of your bigger bars/taverns today have smoke eaters to pull the smoke and the smell out of the air.

This statement has got to be eliminated in today's high tech age.

[JennysCool]

Anti-smokers are a cult. Anyone who thinks this is about "health" is crazy. This is a big experiment in people-control, and has been since at least the late-1960s.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Would the last Free American leaving New York, please turn out the lights.

[NYer]

All the new cigarette taxes and smoking bans in New York have translated into a boom business for the state's Native Americans. Glad to see state government helping them out! (/sarcasm)

[Paulie]

"Supporters of the ban change their rationale as often as George Bush alters his stated motivation for invading Iraq."

This line is misleading at best and definitely uncalled for. I notice that whenever most newspeople critize the left they always have to throw in something negative about someone or something farther on the right. Not so when they're critical of a conservative person or issue.

[Tacis]

What a clymer. The free air legislation was never intended to increase business. It was meant solely to to prevent rude and inconsiderate tobacco addicts from contaminating the air for non-addicts.

Tobacco is so addictive that it cuts the brain power of smokers in half and they believe that others enjoy the stench as much as they do. If they can burn tobacco, why can't I burn chopped truck tires (Michelins are great after a steak).

BTW, what happened to the guy that used to scream about me owning a car as proof that he should be able to light up and ruin my meal? I hope he has not died of lung cancer.

I also like the "private property" silliness. Smoking is an offensive act. Non-smoking is passive. A business open to the public can't justify offenses against any single customer by claiming privaye property. No, this guy should stick to writing about sports.

[Great Dane]

Just came back from a little trip out of town, stopped in at our favorite little restaurant to see how they were doing, waitress said, look around, the clients are running me ragged, there were 2 of them, the place seats appr 75, keep in mind, our ban has been in effect over 2 years, things are not getting better.

[Bud Bundy]

I like the irony of banning smoking because of the health risks, but drinking a dozen beers, driving home, and having sex with someone you met a half-hour ago, no prob.