Put this in your pipe...

[JustJay]

I meant to do this the other day but I was driving and listening to the radio and they were taking a poll on whether the US should outlaw smoking altogether. Supposedly, many states have laws now outlawing smoking in a car if any passenger is under 18.

Well?

[panhandler]

I never have figured out what kind of doofus takes an opinion poll and marks his as "no opinion".

[TW]

It is not the government's job to protect a citizen from himself, only protect him from others. Prohibition does not work, it did not work with alcohol, and it will not work with tobacco. Yes, the government can, and in the opinion of many should, ban tobacco use in public areas. It also has the right to, and has heavily taxed tobacco. Over 80% of the cost for a pack of cigarettes is taxes in one form or another. However it has no authority to legislate the use of legally obtained products. If you want to end tobacco use do it economically, tax the profit out of growing tobacco and farmers will quit growing it. Tax imported tobacco to the point where there is no profit and the big tobacco companies will quit importing it. Once you have stopped production you will have very effectively stopped the use. Plain and simple - no product, no use.


TW

[Pastor Bill]

There's part of the problem, taxing the farmers only hurts some poor people who don't have alot of options. Living in KY, that's a BIG cash crop around here, and it isn't large farms raking in millions, it's poor families barely scraping by.

I voted yes, just because it's harmful, and it is hurting much more those that are uneducated, young, and sick. Adding to the cost doesn't seem to help, the poorest of people still buy their cigs, but then their kids may do without, or at least with less.

[darylscook]

I didn't vote b/c I really didn't like the choices. I believe it should and one day will be banned from all public buildings (Resturants, banks, stores) and public walking areas, but If somebody wants to smoke in their own house where I am not having to breathe the poisen; well every crayon in the box can't be bright.

I don't believe smoking should be part of a Christians Life.

God Bless You
Daryl

[RamboPreacher]

I didn't vote b/c I really didn't like the choices. I believe it should and one day will be banned from all public buildings (Resturants, banks, stores) and public walking areas, but If somebody wants to smoke in their own house where I am not having to breathe the poisen; well every crayon in the box can't be bright.

I don't believe smoking should be part of a Christians Life.

God Bless You
Daryl

I agree.
I also see a prohibition as a slippery slope to what is determined as "not good for you". where is the line to be drawn? fried chicken? going outside when it's too cold? - my opinion, based, of course, on my paradigm of what our government is.

[TW]

Pastor Bill,

While I generally agree with most of your post, I shall have to disagree with this one. I have heard the argument that it's the poor farmers that will suffer. In a word, HOGWASH! Do you mean to tell me that tobacco is the only thing that will grow on their land. The government does have programs that will help these farmers switch to alternative crops if they wish. Take the profit out of the production of tobacco and the big companies will switch to producing something else that they can make a profit with. Once the supply is gone then in short order there will no longer be a demand (after everybody has gone through their withdrawals). Making it illegal only increases the profit margin, remember Prohibition. And in the modern world of the 21 century, look at illegal drugs. As long as it is profitable to supply something someone will do the supplying, legal or illegal.

Yes, there will be a period of time where some people will suffer, either economically or from physical withdrawals. But that would be a small price to pay.

FYI, I do smoke, and I voted no because I believe that the only realistic way is economic not legalistic.


TW

[Paully_44]

It is not the government's job to protect a citizen from himself, only protect him from others. TW

Thank you. I couldnt agree more.

That is why I don't like the "Seatbelt law" or the Helmet Law".

I can say here in Washington state, smoking is prohibited inside all public buildings. Makes for going into a sports bar or bowling alley or anyother place more tolerable now

[Pastor Gary]

I can say here in Washington state, smoking is prohibited inside all public buildings. Makes for going into a sports bar or bowling alley or anyother place more tolerable now

Another great reeason to host the General Assembly in Seattle or Honolulu! I was taken aback during the Nashville G.A. that every restaurant we entered was filled with a haze of stinky smoke... except maybe that Spaghetti place. (?)

Let's hold Assemblies only in cities that have strict smoking prohibitions.

[Paully_44]

Let's hold Assemblies only in cities that have strict smoking prohibitions.

Doesn't that disqualify most of the south?

[Pastor Gary]

Doesn't that disqualify most of the south?

You are a quick study. You could be a Bishop in no time at all.

[TW]

I can say here in Washington state, smoking is prohibited inside all public buildings. Makes for going into a sports bar or bowling alley or anyother place more tolerable now

Another great reeason to host the General Assembly in Seattle or Honolulu! I was taken aback during the Nashville G.A. that every restaurant we entered was filled with a haze of stinky smoke... except maybe that Spaghetti place. (?)

Let's hold Assemblies only in cities that have strict smoking prohibitions.

PG, that wasn't cigarette smoke, it was coming off of the deep fat fried fat in the kitchen.


TW

[turbotim]

I can say here in Washington state, smoking is prohibited inside all public buildings.

I wish Mississippi would do that too.

[JanB]

[quote="Paully_44

I can say here in Washington state, smoking is prohibited inside all public buildings. Makes for going into a sports bar or bowling alley or anyother place more tolerable now.

The 'no smoking ban' of all public buildings, has been in effect in Houston, Texas for several years. It has increased their business tremendously.

[Pastor Gary]

PG, that wasn't cigarette smoke, it was coming off of the deep fat fried fat in the kitchen.

Funny! (and true)

Just walking past the open doors on Broadway was horrible for me. The Honolulu law prohibits smoking (100%) in all public buildings, and with 20 feet of the ENTRANCE of those spaces -- thus eliminating the hold-your-breath-and-rush past the cluster of smokers at the front door of every store or office.

Any structure with 2 walls and a roof is deemed an "enclosed space" -- a covered bus stop, an outdoor café, etc. There is, in fact, only one bar on Oahu exempted because they are essentially totally open-air, under a gigantic umbrella structure (hence no walls).