What's with this nazi-anti-smoking movement.?
410377
I don't smoke, but always did say I'd never forbid others to do so, and you're right, it's fascist, BUT my attitude changed because some other substances, much less harmful than nicotine, are also forbidden. So, now they only have to ban alcohol (well, for you Americans, it's AGAIN :)), meat (killing animals), expressing your opinion, and other liberties, and we'll have ourselves a nice little clean world where you play like a good sheep or get incinerated. Long live utopia, where all the people are happy ('cause if they're not happy, they're dead).
706721
I grew up in the 60s and 70s in a family that smoked and none of us, not even one of us has died or gone to hospital for smoking related illness.  There needs to be a compromise on this issue, but when the people with money and nothing better to do than try to force everyone to be like they are set an agenda, the rest of us pay.  Where I live, a ban on smoking was recently passed (by a 7% margin, by the way, out of only 30% of registered voters weighing in), because these whiny, holier-than-thou control freaks couldn't be happy that we already had an ordinance requiring restaurants to have separate smoking sections with separate ventilation systems.  Now all the restaurants that invested all  that money in those separate rooms and vent systems are going to have to give them up to these jerks.  Recent talk shows have aired the voices of business owners saying that their business has suffered from the bans, while cities around them report increases, as those of us who still appreciate the concept of a free country drive to less fascistic communities to dine out.  Restaurants are private businesses and if someone can't stand the chance of smelling cigarette smoke, they most certainly do not have to go into them.  This no compromise attitude is very un-American, in my opinion.  Sadly, people these days usually just roll over when new laws go through and they'll just say, "OK, you took that right from me, at least I can still smoke in my car and house."  I just wonder how long that will be true. Hail Oceania!
301764
Some people know little about common sense and need to be censored. For those people unfortunately left to their own devise the lips would sell their soul. That alone is not enough they want to make sure everyone around them goes with them, they just do not care for other peoples rights.\n\nI suppose some people would not mind if someone puffed smoke into their face? Or maybe someday called their wife or child a F'n name would it be okay then? \n\nIf this response upsets people then I ask of them, when did you fight for your freedom?  I served only to see the sad shape some fools are making America into.\n\n - They should fight for their OWN freedom and leave me out of it next time!!!\n\nREPLY: Check - you are correct! I will correct the wording.
863669
Smoking should be encouraged.  It causes stupid people to die sooner and therefore use up less of my socialist security.
784205
If it is anything like the law here in Massachusetts, It SUCKS. It is another step in our DICTATORSHIP government in becoming COMMUNIST. Please don't misunderstand me. To ban smoking in a restaurant is one thing. I say this as smoking CAN affect the taste of food and for a NON-smoker to have to sit there and try to enjoy a meal and be forced to breath the smoke from my cigar, well it isn't right. BUT Cigaretts and Cigars, and Pipes go with coffee or drinks. And to tell a person YOU can't SMOKE when you are in this bar is NOT RIGHT. I say put this question on a ballot and let the voters decide. WE the PEOPLE, should be able to say WE want smoking or WE don't want smoking. If WE the people decide what WE want or don't want then I could except the law if it passed. BUT for our DICTATORSHIP government to just make these laws and FORCE them down OUR throats I say again it is WRONG. Oh I don't even want to hear that the BAR-tender is being forced to breath second hand smoke. Thats is a BIG CROCK of chit. I mean if you are bothered by fire, then why would you become a fire-man. If you are bothered by guns, then why would you become a police man. The same applys to bar tending. If you are bothered by second hand smoke WHY become a bar tender? Sorry to have run off so long but this issue goes right up my backside.
1089689
Your comment has merit. The heavy handed approach, seems to do little more than spawn new generations of anti-Israel kids. To call them Nazi-like will earn you score and reproach. I would simply say that their approach does not seem to be working.
205287
yep.  I really think the liberals are getting completely out of control.  Abortions for all, cigarettes for none.  Hey, there is one town near mine that wants to ban all SALE of cigarettes...and gas stations/little corner marts are like, listen....we will go out of buisness if we can't sell cigarettes. \nIf by you is anything like by me...as they take away smokers rights...they also keep raising cigarette taxes to fund state/counties.  Isn't this a bit hypocritical.  Don't smoke here, but please buy smokes so we can pay for highways?  It's all a bunch of B.s
72551
It's a sign.STOP SMOKING!!!!!
698828
OMG LOL LOL yes ,,,,,,,that would be great if you could organzie it,,,,,,,instead of folks all lighting a candle, you would be lighting a ciggie,,,,,,,,, sure would drive the smoking nazis insane!!!!!!!!! DO IT!
719434
I'm with you.  People will smoke no matter.  We all know they're bad, but we'll keep smoking if we want.  Friggin hippies.\n\nAnd i'm with the cigar thing mm...  although you can develop lip cancer.
742023
the roots of the nazi party would be a reason. I've never heard of this though.
976461
I think it was a trick question to older people ...for instant one women voted no to both opinion, thinking that she was voting for people to have the right to smoke in certain areas.The wording in the question throwed them off. So yes , I think if they got a petition people would sign it. And yes some would sign it that don't smoke, 2 people I know told me that they didn't want anymore Rights taken away from them.
396405
At this point anyone who chooses to smoke is aware of what the results are, since the warnings are on the boxes. Is it their fault that people choose to smoke anyways? (Not my argument, theirs.)
740868
Boy this forum just got polluted by anti-smokers, offering "words of encouragement", but they are just veiled statements of their preference.\n\nBar business really does hurt when bans are forced and nonsmoking is not the choice of the owner. Owners do make choices to be nonsmoking when they know their clientele demands it. It just depends on your clientele. However, at this time, there is NO CHOICE for the private business owner in this land of supposed liberty.\n\n"Studies" showing business improvement when a ban is FORCED on a business are full of cherry picked data including everything from CARRY OUT receipts to McDonald's to 5 star restaurants. There has never been a study for stand alone bars.\n\nSmokefree lobbyists offer hollow promises of "business improvement", but that is all they are. Promises. Columbus bars have taken such a hit and made many cutbacks including reduced hours and waitstaff, cutting out live entertainment, etc.. to just survive.\n\nColumbus bars also immediately built patios.What does that tell you? The clientele they want to keep INCLUDE the smokers. However, smokers resent having to go outside in the cold and being treated like some neo Jim Crow experiment and generally do not patronize bars in the winter months.\n\nIf you serve food, you may be able to salvage something concerning all of this.\n\nI am SO sorry I cannot be more positive about this, especially since you seem like a very nice person who is new to the bar business. I simply cannot and will not sugar coat the situation, though as that would not be kind either.\n\nI have seen my business drop ever since the Columbus ban went into effect, it was immediate and it has not recovered. I took my bands out of town and did well in the bars, but now that option looks very bleak also.\n\nYou will have to be creative on this one until another repeal comes up, just as I was forced to do and will have to think through yet another plan with this statewide antismoking wrench thrown in the mix. \n\nPerhaps you should consider even "going underground". The reason why not many bars have closed in Columbus is many are not following the ban and are just paying the fines. I am sure Smokefree Ohio being the fanatics they are have put in some stiffer fines knowing that a good deal of Columbus bars told Smokefree Columbus to rightfully go directly to hell.\n\nThe ones that have closed generally do not make the local papers as the media is biased toward the antismoking side.\n\nBars must join together again to get some exemptions. Don't worry antis, you will have many smokefree choices as you do now with a partial repeal of this draconian law. Forcing your will on ALL the businesses in Ohio was not wanted and was not appreciated.\n\nI hope you were aware before of this possibility of Issue 5 passing and promoted Issue 4. If not, please be informed when the next repeal vote comes up. It is your business.\nI am not assuming you didn't know, but I have run into bar owners and bowling alley owners in different areas of the state that ignored this thinking it could never happen.\n\nIt did, but with only 8%+ of the votes needed to pass. Plus the election turnout wasn't 100%. There is still hope. Get busy, talk to your alcohol vendors and see if they have a plan in place yet to help you weather the storm until Ohio wakes up and says "no" to fascism and social engineering of people who choose to use a legal product.\n\nBut you will never see an antismoking lobbyist in favor of what would really solve the problem. Making tobacco illegal would "level the playing field". As it is now, the antismoking cartel are just playing with private business owners livelihoods while gathering a comfortable paycheck. They will never favor tobacco prohibition as they would have to find an honest job.
223965
Looks like a NEO_CON Union Meeting in here? I think they should be reported for assembling don't you H-I-B. (SS) rules of engagement don't you know. Some of the Republicans really stepped off with Ports to the Enemy deal, and I loved it. Flip-Flopping off of the NAZI side is happening everyday now. Vote them out in November, and free America from these Tyrants!
568301
On the one hand I am glad that people are now taking an interest in this group and are offended by what they do. For years before the Iraq War this group went around and protested at the funerals for people who died of AIDS (again not all of them were gay...I have a friend who lost a family member to AIDS and she wasn't gay and they protested at the funeral with signs that read "AIDS IS GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR ALLOWING HOMOSEXUALITY" and stuff like that and they shouted all kinds of rude things that should never really be shouted at a funeral). \n\nOn the other hand, while I am offended by both their protesting funerals in general, but even more so that they are now protesting military funerals, I do realize that they have the freedom "of speech" and "to peacefully assemble". So while I think it is completely offensive (as well as probably nothing more than a publicity thing anyways....afterall they weren't getting any attention with the AIDS funerals or with all their statues they wanted to build in cities that said hateful anti-gay things, etc, so now they have found a venue that gives them this publicity), not only offensive and just plain rude and tacky, but I realize that our nation gives us the freedom of speech and asks us to exercise it responsibly. Since they are not causing violence or disrupting traffic, etc. Still, do I think it pushes the boundaries...yes I think it pushes it. But about as much as the KKK. With freedom of speech you have to allow for the speech you don't like and with the freedom to peacefully assemble, you have to allow even the groups you disagree with to peacefully assemble. The most the rest of us can do is to counter-protest....to peacefully assemble with a counter message and to perhaps do it in a much more respectful way to those who have died and to the families that are grieving (whether they be fallen heros of our military or be fallen heros who've fought the battle against AIDS).
936606
If you read each of the issues carefully, you shouldn't have been confused at all.\n\nIssue 4 was promoted by the big tobacco and cigarette companies and claimed to reduce the number of places where smoking is now allowed, and to designate certain areas in businesses with regular smokers as smokefree or pro-smoking, thus allowing second hand smoking to continue.\n\nIssue 5 was promoted by the American Cancer Society and almost every single major newspaper and health institution in Ohio, and claimed to ban smoking in all public places with no exceptions, in order to prevent the many illnesses and deaths caused by 2nd hand smoking.\n\nThe results were very predictable and very simple: most smokers voted for 4 (smoke less Ohio) and against 5 (smoke free Ohio), while most non-smokers voted for 5 and against 4.\n\nThe ideological debate among Ohioans for these issues is almost the same as it is for most social and/or moral issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, stem-cell research etc.\n\nOne group of people (people for 4 and against 5) voted for the right to practice some behavior they like (, regardless of the effect it has on other people, and the other group (people for 5 and against 4) voted to prevent or ban certain behaviors (smoking in this case) that are objectively wrong because of the harm they cause for other people.