9th June 2003, 7:35 AM
Quote:Yes, I want more government restriction over my life! Way to go, totalitarianism! Nothing better than losing my rights because a small minority of people are offended!
Here's a better alternative: If the smoke bothers you, DON'T GO WHERE PEOPLE SMOKE.
Like I said, I can't stand smoking, but that doesn't mean I want to infringe upon others' enjoyment. It doesn't bother me THAT much.
Agreed. I actually used to be for stricter tobacco laws when I was younger, mostly because of influence from my mother, but I definitely agree with this (I thought I'd point that out, as me agreeing with Weltaii doesn't happen very often in these arguments ;)). Who am I to tell another person what he/she can do to his/her body when and where? Smoking may be obnoxious to some, but segregation takes care of that.
I remember that my mom used to make this analogy that she read somewhere, "Well, that's just like having 'Peeing' and 'No Peeing' sections in the public swimming pools." That's silly, though... only anti-smoking zealots are offended by the notion that somewhere, someplace nearby, someone is enjoying a cigarette.
Quote:Maine's expanding its antismoking in stores law to include bars... up to now any bar who doesn't let people under 21 in could allow cigaretts (as opposed to restaurants, where it isn't allowed anywhere), but not anymore. Now just private clubs and the like can allow it... which is great! The more they restrict it the better.
It should be up to the establishment whether smoking should be allowed inside or not, not the government. IMO, the most the government should be able to do is force the implementation of smoking segregation in *public* establishments.