God Bless America!

[pir8fan]

I have been wrestling for quite a while now with the transition from who I have always been, to who I have become! I saw a blog a few minutes ago that stirred something in me! So I have something to say that may upset you or it may make you stand and cheer! I am not expecting a whole lot of neturality on this one!

I saw a blog a little bit ago in which the writter seemed somewhat surprised that you could choose smoking or non-smoking in a St. Louis restaurant. Many of you know that I have been quit for 194 days now and that I will do anything I can to help others quit as well. That being said, I must also say Thank You St Louis!!!!!

It is good to know that Socialism has not completely taken over the country that I love! While I totally agree that everyone should lay down their cigarettes and walk quickly away, I will defend until my final breath the right of all to kill themselves in any damnfool way that they choose. This is America! The greatest country to ever exist, without question. We are the one that have made life better for all the world (except when we banned DDT). We are the most charitable people ever to exist! We became great because people are free to make their own choices here. Yet everyday we see an all out assault on those freedoms. If you check with federal law, smoking is still legal in this country! Yet private business is told " You may not allow a legal activity in your place of businees". It is my belief that if a person risk his capital and opens a business, and creates jobs, and engages in something legal, then it is nobodys business what he allows or disallows.

The difference between Freedom lovers and Socialist comes down to this! If I see something I do not like and do not want to be around, I get away from it! If a Socialist see something they do not agree with, they feel compelled to ban it to everybody! It takes a lot of arrogance to think no one is ever right but you!

I will forever regret that I choose to smoke for a brief 44 years. I will never condemn the fact that I had the right to make that poor choice. Nor will I condemn the fact that I have the right to quit! I like my new choice better!

Just a little food for thought!            Tommy

[choptrice]

Totally agree with you  good way to start the day thanks  lesa   Congrats on 194 days  thats way cool 

[kathys]

You are correct Tommy. Every person should beable to choose what it is that they choose to do. There is only one thing that should stand in their way. That is, what they choose should not harm others in their process to choose. If they want to smoke, I say go for it as long as they dont share their smoke with others that dont ask for it or want it.

[anacondahead]

I respectfully disagree. What about the workers in the retaurant who are forced to live with the choices that the patrons make? Where is their freedom and their right to a healthy workplace? They are people, too, right? Everyone has the right to sit in a closet and smoke their brains out but you have no right to inflict your smelly smoke on my breathing space. 

[pir8fan]

A person has a choice to take the job or not! A person that does not want to be around smoking has the right to stay away. The person that does want to smoke has the right to stay away from non-smoking places!

[bobbi9]

Hmmm. That IS food for thought! There should be a choice on the business owner's part. Either allow smoking in the entire establishment or not allow it. That way the people can choose which establishment they wish to do business with. If there is an argument with whether or not tobacco should be used at all, then maybe the stuff shouldn't even be legal. Like you said, the smoker has the power to choose. Why shouldn't a business owner have that same right? Good topic!

[exekex]

We have become a "nanny state" and there is a lot more to come. If we let our government "take care of us" then we give that government the right to restrict our freedoms. Taxes on tanning salons is the latest. I'm with Tommy, I'll never smoke again, but I should make that choice, not have it made for me.

[james41]

It's allways interesting to me when folks who smoked for years all of a sudden become advocates of no smoking period.  I agree  that America should stay America.Home of the free. Thanks great blog!

[brenda61]

I think both sides should respect the rights of the other side.  Just don't blow it in babies or animals faces.

[dawn4]

Amen!!!!

[gafan]

I am on the fence. If they have sections (smoking vs. non-smoking) the non-smokers can still smell it so it really makes no sense to call it a "non-smoking" section. So banning it all together makes sense, if that is your choice as a business owner. As long as you make outdoor accomodations for people that do smoke. It kind of reminds me of work. I have to be here to make money, but I can't smoke inside if I wanted to, so I simply just go outside to the appropriate area, put my cig out in the outpost, and walk back into work. Most corporations you aren't allowed to smoke in, so it being banned in other places really doesn't bother me, as long as they don't give me flack for going outside and doing it. I guess I just don't understand it more in bars, as they are a stronger social environment than just food establishments. Bars, I do not feel it should be banned, because 80% of people you see drinking at the bar also smoke. You would probably lose a lot of business if you didn't allow it. Most people drink, watch a game, smoke, eat something, etc. So that's my long speel as to why I am on the fence. It is illegal to smoke in bars in Downtown Charleston, just so you know if you are ever in the area. They passed that ban I believe last year, along with the 2:00 closure statewide.

[Bee_Jay]

Well Tommy, I'm a left wing,do gooder,union member, from the North that agrees with you 100%.

[pir8fan]

That is great Bee Jay! However if you agree 100%, you might want to take another sniff of that wing you are under!

[Bee_Jay]

We are a strange bunch here in West Virginia!  You would have loved my dad. He cut those damn seatbelts out of his truck and car,because they drug on the ground while he was driving!

[hwc]

"Either allow smoking in the entire establishment or not allow it. "

-------------------

Yep. That's how I would do it. You would then have restaurants/bars for nicotine junkies and restaurants/bars for normal people.

[pir8fan]

I do not have a problem with that! My point is simply that the government has no role here! As long as it is legal!

[Strudel]

HWC - Ain't it grand to be one of the "normal people"!!! Love it! (Tommy - I'm not weighing in on this issue - too polittical for me!! Great debate though!)
Kathy

[gafan]

It does feel GREAT to be a normal person...LOL

[aztec]

here here, I love the consittution and my rights under it. May we be able to keep this republic, All in favor say ya!

[Sootie]

Tommy--As always GREAT BLOG and I totally agree---LAND OF THE FREE!  The problem with starting to legislate morality or legislate health is that it is a slippery slope....do one---why not the next? For those of you who disagree with Tommy---consider this---would you like to go into Dunkin Donuts and have them say "I'm sorry, you are too fat for a donut".  Ben Franklin said "Those who would sacrifice freedom for safety and comfort do not deserve freedom" and I stand with Ben....and Tommy!

[bjmarks]

What Sootie said!!

[bjmarks]

What Sootie said!!