Taxation, Taxation
I'm getting tired of all this new tobacco legislation. Now, maybe I'm biased because I'm a smoker myself, but I feel like we're becoming second-class citizens. Yes, the smoking ban fad has finally crept it's way into good old Appleton, Wisconsin. Can't smoke in bars or restaurants. The only public places you can smoke are tobacco outlets. I happen to be employed in one, but we are mainly a bookstore and company policy doesn't allow smoking in-store. At any rate, the ban is hurting downtown businesses. Bar-hoppers are going out-of-town to frequent smoker-friendly establishments.
Here's one bit of hope: Governer Jim Doyle is proposing a statewide smoking ban. While I still think this is overzealous and an infringement on our rights to use a legal product, it will standardize things and keep people from leaving town to hit the bars.
Now, allow me to rant a bit. Now, I understand that tobacco use is one of the leading "causes of preventable death" in the US. While this study may be flawed (compare to Overall causes of death) seen as how cancer (all forms of cancer) is second from the top, and respiratory illness (again, all forms, tobacco related or not) is a fractional 4th place. How the total number of "tobacco" deaths was figured in 2000 remains a mystery. At any rate, tobacco is a LEGAL product, and no matter which way you slice it, it remains a personal choice whether or not to smoke. If you know the dangers, (and how could you not) and still choose to smoke, that is your right. Or rather, was your right, now that many of us can't smoke in places where smoking was formerly part of the territory.
Most smokers, at least of the ones I know, are considerate and polite. We don't go around blowing smoke into people's faces. In fact, if I'm smoking on the street (which is the only option in Appleton) and someone walks by, I stand away and don't even hit my cigarette around them. If someone is bothered by smoke and I'm inside somewhere where I can smoke, I go outside anyway. I can totally understand smoking prevention campaigns and the like, but this legislation banning smoking is a victimization of a large number of the population, which is around 23%. What comes next? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, but we wouldn't try and stop people from eating fast food in public, would we? The concept is ridiculous.
Okay, enough raving for today. Late.
Here's one bit of hope: Governer Jim Doyle is proposing a statewide smoking ban. While I still think this is overzealous and an infringement on our rights to use a legal product, it will standardize things and keep people from leaving town to hit the bars.
Now, allow me to rant a bit. Now, I understand that tobacco use is one of the leading "causes of preventable death" in the US. While this study may be flawed (compare to Overall causes of death) seen as how cancer (all forms of cancer) is second from the top, and respiratory illness (again, all forms, tobacco related or not) is a fractional 4th place. How the total number of "tobacco" deaths was figured in 2000 remains a mystery. At any rate, tobacco is a LEGAL product, and no matter which way you slice it, it remains a personal choice whether or not to smoke. If you know the dangers, (and how could you not) and still choose to smoke, that is your right. Or rather, was your right, now that many of us can't smoke in places where smoking was formerly part of the territory.
Most smokers, at least of the ones I know, are considerate and polite. We don't go around blowing smoke into people's faces. In fact, if I'm smoking on the street (which is the only option in Appleton) and someone walks by, I stand away and don't even hit my cigarette around them. If someone is bothered by smoke and I'm inside somewhere where I can smoke, I go outside anyway. I can totally understand smoking prevention campaigns and the like, but this legislation banning smoking is a victimization of a large number of the population, which is around 23%. What comes next? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, but we wouldn't try and stop people from eating fast food in public, would we? The concept is ridiculous.
Okay, enough raving for today. Late.
posted by ET at 3/06/2007 07:17:00 PM
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