|
|
Post by marked on Apr 29, 2008 12:41:39 GMT -5
I bet the majority of those pushing for the ban are Republicans who voted for Bush. Hahahahaha!!! Really, is that the best YOU can do??? You need to learn your homework, junior, and then we'll talk..... Wow, way to shoot me down with facts. Do your homework barboy. If the majority of the ban supporters were Democrats, it wouldn't have a chance in Potter and Randall counties. |
|
|
|
Post by petiepanzer on Apr 30, 2008 12:36:39 GMT -5
Marked is correct on this one. While anti-smoking legislation has generally been promoted by left-leaning people across the country, many 'self-proclaimed' conservatives in Amarillo are behind this. One of the biggest protagonists/cheerleaders of this latest smoking ban is Craig Gualtiere, former Randall County commissioner, owner of Roasters, and certified wing-nut. Craig has a bad ticker and I believe he actually had to have some surgery done while still in his early 30's. Since then, he has turned into a bit of a zealot and I think he sees second-hand smoke as a threat to his health and also to everybody else's. My guess would be poor genetics and poor diet/exercise choices are a greater threat to Mr. Gualtiere's health than second-hand smoke in bars and restaurants. Also, concern for the health of others has not stopped him from offering those blended coffee drinks with 4 digit calorie counts in his various coffee shops.
As a former smoker, I am not sure how I feel about this one. Somking is an utterly repulsive activity and people that continue to smoke after being presented with all of the information out there are weak-minded fools. Still, I don't think smoking should be banned outright in all places of business. It seems to me that if somebody is old enough to enter places like bars and other business establishments of that nature, they would understand that smoking is going to take place there and that they would accept the inherent risks associated with second-hand smoke by crossing their thresholds. If they do not like it, they can always choose to take their business elsewhere. I do not think smoking should be allowed any place where children could be exposed to it, though, as they would have no choice in the matter.
|
|
|
|
Post by italianlady on Apr 30, 2008 15:20:32 GMT -5
Somking is an utterly repulsive activity and people that continue to smoke after being presented with all of the information out there are weak-minded fools. . I do not think smoking should be allowed any place where children could be exposed to it, though, as they would have no choice in the matter. i do agree that children should not be exposed to second hand smoke.. EX smokers are the worst ones about making comments about smokers.( but i bet when they were smoking no one could tell them it was bad for them)....EX smokers need to come off of thier high-horses and get real. That is the problem with America now if some one doesn't like it , then they think everyone has to conform to thier way of thinking. for example.. taking religion out of school becuse some NUT case decides it is against what they believe. America was built on freedom, but i think alot of that is being taken away. if a person want to smoke or not that should be thier choise and thier BUSINESS, as long as they respect others.. |
|
|
|
Post by marked on Apr 30, 2008 19:33:02 GMT -5
Somking is an utterly repulsive activity and people that continue to smoke after being presented with all of the information out there are weak-minded fools. . I do not think smoking should be allowed any place where children could be exposed to it, though, as they would have no choice in the matter. i do agree that children should not be exposed to second hand smoke.. EX smokers are the worst ones about making comments about smokers.( but i bet when they were smoking no one could tell them it was bad for them)....EX smokers need to come off of thier high-horses and get real. That is the problem with America now if some one doesn't like it , then they think everyone has to conform to thier way of thinking. for example.. taking religion out of school becuse some NUT case decides it is against what they believe. America was built on freedom, but i think alot of that is being taken away. if a person want to smoke or not that should be thier choise and thier BUSINESS, as long as they respect others.. If someone wants religion in their school, tell them to send their kid to a religious school. If they don't like cigarette smoke, don't go to places where people smoke. |
|
|
|
Post by petiepanzer on Apr 30, 2008 19:37:58 GMT -5
Somking is an utterly repulsive activity and people that continue to smoke after being presented with all of the information out there are weak-minded fools. . I do not think smoking should be allowed any place where children could be exposed to it, though, as they would have no choice in the matter. i do agree that children should not be exposed to second hand smoke.. EX smokers are the worst ones about making comments about smokers.( but i bet when they were smoking no one could tell them it was bad for them)....EX smokers need to come off of thier high-horses and get real. That is the problem with America now if some one doesn't like it , then they think everyone has to conform to thier way of thinking. for example.. taking religion out of school becuse some NUT case decides it is against what they believe. America was built on freedom, but i think alot of that is being taken away. if a person want to smoke or not that should be thier choise and thier BUSINESS, as long as they respect others.. Who was saying people have to 'THEIR' way of thinking? I certainly wasn't. I say 'let them smoke'. I'm certainly not acting holier than thou, but smoking is a filthy activity. It makes a person's teeth yellow, it makes their breath stink, it makes their homes stink, it leaves a terrible mess with the dirty ash trays, it burns holes in clothes and furniture, and that doesn't even take mention of what it does to your internal organs. I decided to quit smoking 2 years ago when my sister was working on an organ transplant team and told me the story of a 25 year old kid that was hit by a car and was brain dead. Now, this kid had quit smoking 4 years before getting hit, but his lungs were covered with little black spots the size of dimes. Healthy lungs are supposed to be pink. That was enough to get me to quit. As for religion in schools, you are correct in stating that this country was founded upon freedom, Freedom of Religion being one of them. One thing people often forget, however, is that freedom of Religion also means freedom FROM Religion. If people want to teach their children Religion, they can do it while the child is at home or on Sundays at church. There are other people who don't believe as you or others may and they shouldn't have to deal with a school trying to shove religion down their kids throats. Also, if people really want their kids to learn about religion, they always have the option of enrolling them in a church school instead of a public school. By using a taxpayer funded school to teach religion, it is basically a state endorsement of religion, which is forbidden in the constitution. |
|
|
|
Post by marked on Apr 30, 2008 19:46:55 GMT -5
I'd like to see an ad campaign showing how ugly long term smoking makes you.
Nothin worse than seeing an otherwise hot chick turn her face into a catcher's mask.
|
|
|
|
Post by italianlady on Apr 30, 2008 20:46:53 GMT -5
i do agree that children should not be exposed to second hand smoke.. EX smokers are the worst ones about making comments about smokers.( but i bet when they were smoking no one could tell them it was bad for them)....EX smokers need to come off of thier high-horses and get real. That is the problem with America now if some one doesn't like it , then they think everyone has to conform to thier way of thinking. for example.. taking religion out of school becuse some NUT case decides it is against what they believe. America was built on freedom, but i think alot of that is being taken away. if a person want to smoke or not that should be thier choise and thier BUSINESS, as long as they respect others.. As for religion in schools, you are correct in stating that this country was founded upon freedom, Freedom of Religion being one of them. One thing people often forget, however, is that freedom of Religion also means freedom FROM Religion. If people want to teach their children Religion, they can do it while the child is at home or on Sundays at church. There are other people who don't believe as you or others may and they shouldn't have to deal with a school trying to shove religion down their kids throats. Also, if people really want their kids to learn about religion, they always have the option of enrolling them in a church school instead of a public school. By using a taxpayer funded school to teach religion, it is basically a state endorsement of religion, which is forbidden in the constitution. ok..then why shouldn't we have our choise? if a persons doesn't want to smoke. that cool for them. if a person doesn't want to pray. that is cool for them too. but to take it away from another person, just because they don't want it or like it.. is that right? i am neighter a religious NUT or a pro smoker.. but i do believe our rights are being taken away. Do you think that is fair? i come from a country that years ago they didn't have such freedom.. you have heard of "BIG BROTHER" mark my words it will be here sooner then we want |
|
|
|
Post by petiepanzer on Apr 30, 2008 20:49:13 GMT -5
I'd like to see an ad campaign showing how ugly long term smoking makes you. Nothin worse than seeing an otherwise hot chick turn her face into a catcher's mask. It does tremendous damage to the skin, among other things. The good news is that a good portion of it is reversible. Most people don't realize how terrible smoking makes them feel. After I finally quit, I felt like a 20 year old kid again within a few months. Your body feels better, your mind works better, and you look better. The pills, the patches, and gums don't work, but there is a book called "The Easy Way" by a man named Allan Carr that has a more than 70% success rate. I have not smoked a cigarrette since reading it. I would highly suggest it to anybody that is trying to quit smoking. It costs about $15 at Barnes and Noble.  |
|
|
|
Post by petiepanzer on Apr 30, 2008 20:59:46 GMT -5
As for religion in schools, you are correct in stating that this country was founded upon freedom, Freedom of Religion being one of them. One thing people often forget, however, is that freedom of Religion also means freedom FROM Religion. If people want to teach their children Religion, they can do it while the child is at home or on Sundays at church. There are other people who don't believe as you or others may and they shouldn't have to deal with a school trying to shove religion down their kids throats. Also, if people really want their kids to learn about religion, they always have the option of enrolling them in a church school instead of a public school. By using a taxpayer funded school to teach religion, it is basically a state endorsement of religion, which is forbidden in the constitution. ok..then why shouldn't we have our choise? if a persons doesn't want to smoke. that cool for them. if a person doesn't want to pray. that is cool for them too. but to take it away from another person, just because they don't want it or like it.. is that right? i am neighter a religious NUT or a pro smoker.. but i do believe our rights are being taken away. Do you think that is fair? i come from a country that years ago they didn't have such freedom.. you have heard of "BIG BROTHER" mark my words it will be here sooner then we want Nobody is taking smoking or praying away. Prohibition doesn't work, and this has been proven time and again. What they are trying to do, though, is restrict the places where one is allowed to spark up. There are certain restrictions on human acts because society has deemed them to be inappropriate. For instance, if one were to engage in a sexual act or expose themselves in a public place, that person would likely be charged with a criminal act. What the drafters of such legislation are trying to do is to redefine what is considered 'acceptable behavior' in public in regards to smoking. The smae thing goes for religion. Nobody is attempting to curtail anybody's religious freedom and an individual is allowed to practice their religion as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights of other people. Some people have tried to claim that the members of the FLDS church have had their religious freedom impenged upon because of the raid upon their compound, but one's religious freedom doesn't give somebody the right to violate another human being or to impregnate and abuse children. |
|
|
|
Post by west-texan on Apr 30, 2008 22:14:42 GMT -5
ok..then why shouldn't we have our choise? if a persons doesn't want to smoke. that cool for them. if a person doesn't want to pray. that is cool for them too. but to take it away from another person, just because they don't want it or like it.. is that right? i am neighter a religious NUT or a pro smoker.. but i do believe our rights are being taken away. Do you think that is fair? i come from a country that years ago they didn't have such freedom.. you have heard of "BIG BROTHER" mark my words it will be here sooner then we want I see your point and understand it... But the reason that smoking is different... Is that cigarette smoke is harmful...and can't be contained. A person can be smoking in their own car at a stop light...but if your window is down or cracked...your cigarette smoke is being sucked into the air conditioners of all the cars close by...and the non-smoking people know it...and can smell it. Also...the biggest reason that laws must restrict smoking... Is that we can't force all smokers to have health insurance that will cover all the costs of their smoking-related health problems. Smokers are probably 100 times more likely to have health problems...than other people. Smokers cost all tax-payers billions of dollars to pick up the health care of smokers who don't have proper health insurance. Also...most smokers are not wealthy people...and in fact most smokers are low-middle to lower-income people...who are more likely to not have health insurance benefits...to cover their smoking-related problems. Smoking costs everyone money...and causes most people to change where they are in public...to avoid cigarette smoke. The bottom line is...that smoking has got to go away. Freedoms are fine...as long as they don't cost others money...or inconvenience them... And smoking costs all of us...and inconveniences non-smokers almost every day. I hope everyone who smokes will get help to quit...because it will greatly benefit their health...and give them a lot more money to spend in better ways. |
|
|
|
Post by west-texan on Apr 30, 2008 22:23:50 GMT -5
That said...
Listen to John Terry on the KGNC Talk Radio 710 AM....because he really seems to be against a smoking ban...and seems to really deny the problems caused by 2nd hand smoke.
The big kicker on smoking...is the cost to the public...to pick up the cost of health care for smokers.
Again...I hope all smokers will get help to quit...because they'll feel better...and have more money to spend on other things for themselves.
|
|
|
|
Post by marked on May 1, 2008 9:08:40 GMT -5
That said... Listen to John Terry on the KGNC Talk Radio 710 AM....because he really seems to be against a smoking ban...and seems to really deny the problems caused by 2nd hand smoke. The big kicker on smoking...is the cost to the public...to pick up the cost of health care for smokers. Again...I hope all smokers will get help to quit...because they'll feel better...and have more money to spend on other things for themselves. I agree with John Terry on a lot of the points he makes about business owners' rights, but he complains about the validity of reports about the dangers of 2nd hand smoke, and he actually cites 'a buddy of mine at the fda (or some similar agency)' as his source that the dangerous stuff in 2nd hand smoke fall out of the air almost immediately. |
|
|
|
Post by mattoid on May 1, 2008 12:31:35 GMT -5
...."A person can be smoking in their own car at a stop light...but if your window is down or cracked...your cigarette smoke is being sucked into the air conditioners of all the cars close by...and the non-smoking people know it...and can smell it..."
SHH!!! Comrade Don't let them know phase 2 our glorious plan to protect the mother land from these freedom loving evil smokers...Phase 2 is to push through a city ordnance to ban smoking in automobiles, phase 3 is in private homes (And these crazy people think there is such a thing as "private") and the final phase is anywhere within the city limits. Remember comrade, The enemy is listing....and smoking.....
|
|
|
|
Post by italianlady on May 1, 2008 13:14:46 GMT -5
...."A person can be smoking in their own car at a stop light...but if your window is down or cracked...your cigarette smoke is being sucked into the air conditioners of all the cars close by...and the non-smoking people know it...and can smell it..." SHH!!! Comrade Don't let them know phase 2 our glorious plan to protect the mother land from these freedom loving evil smokers...Phase 2 is to push through a city ordnance to ban smoking in automobiles, phase 3 is in private homes (And these crazy people think there is such a thing as "private") and the final phase is anywhere within the city limits. Remember comrade, The enemy is listing....and smoking..... ::)That ban is already being pushed in Boulder Colorado... i guess that is why i am having such a fit about it., because people are infriging on others rights. |
|
|
|
Post by italianlady on May 1, 2008 13:24:47 GMT -5
Is that cigarette smoke is harmful...and can't be contained. A person can be smoking in their own car at a stop light...but if your window is down or cracked...your cigarette smoke is being sucked into the air conditioners of all the cars close by...and the non-smoking people know it...and can smell it. Also...the biggest reason that laws must restrict smoking... Is that we can't force all smokers to have health insurance that will cover all the costs of their smoking-related health problems. Smokers are probably 100 times more likely to have health problems...than other people. Smokers cost all tax-payers billions of dollars to pick up the health care of smokers who don't have proper health insurance. Also...most smokers are not wealthy people...and in fact most smokers are low-middle to lower-income people...who are more likely to not have health insurance benefits...to cover their smoking-related problems. Smoking costs everyone money...and causes most people to change where they are in public...to avoid cigarette smoke. The bottom line is...that smoking has got to go away. Freedoms are fine...as long as they don't cost others money...or inconvenience them... And smoking costs all of us...and inconveniences non-smokers almost every day. .[/quote] OHH PLEASEEEEEE give me a break.. there are a whole lot of other things that cost others money. like people that go to a bar , drink all night, then drive. or people that have no insurance on thier auto. or people that have no insurance at all( do you really truly believe that all of these people are smokers?) and i say. if i want to suck on a cigarette or drink a bottle of wiskey. it is still my right. as long as i don't involve others. ;DBIG BROTHER IS GONNA GET YOU... |
|
