Just got a news release from the Governor’s office regarding the impending statewide smoking ban. My position on the subject hasn’t changed one iota from the one I posted almost two years ago.
I suspect the next government intervention will consist of banning smoking in my car and home.
Oh wait – that’s already on the drawing board.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Coming from someone that doesn’t smoke:
Can’t wait until the sales taxes coming from restaurants and bars start to plummet.
And then the businesses start going out of business!
I’m not voting for anyone that supports this mess.
This isn’t meant to keep you from smoking… its meant to keep your smoke from adversely affecting others. I have a slight allergy to smoke that forced my parents to quit when I was a kid (or put up with a baby with chronic ear infections), and whenever I go into a restaurant and sit in the “Non-Smoking section”, you can bet I’ll get an ear infection because there isn’t proper ventilation.
Of course, you don’t want people to stop smoking, after all, who would pay for Medicare?
If you have a problem with smoking, go to a place that completely bans smoking or start your our chain of nonsmoking restaurants.
Or just regulate it like we do alcohol sales in restaurants and bars. make the establishment that seeks to permit smoking have a license just like they do for alcohol. This way access would not be denied and yet revenues could be marked for healthcare. People who wanted to smoke could go there and smoke and if you wanted to go to a non-smoking establishment you would still have alternatives.
So , Vivian, why is this so much worse than payday lending restrictions?
Because it’s a totally different set of circumstances, Brian. We have rules on the books that cap interest rates at 36% for everything EXCEPT payday lending. There is nothing “free market” about rules that favor one group of businesses over another group engaged in a similar business. Now if you want to argue that the cap shouldn’t exist at all, that’s fine. But payday lenders should be subject to the same rules as everyone else.
In this case, it is the setting of the standard (a la the 36% cap) that bothers me. I simply don’t like the nannyism.
Glad to see there’s something upon which we can reach accord, vjp.
I hope this doesn’t cause you to reconsider your position. 😉
“I have a slight allergy to smoke that forced my parents to quit when I was a kid (or put up with a baby with chronic ear infections), and whenever I go into a restaurant and sit in the “Non-Smoking section”, you can bet I’ll get an ear infection because there isn’t proper ventilation.”
So…Viv has to change her lifestyle to accomodate a stranger? Maybe the state should incentivize proper ventilation systems in restaurants instead of banning smoking. Or you should patronize restaurants that are non-smoking entirely. Or a multitude of other things with a less statist mentality.
I have to say that I disagree with you here. I’m a non-smoker, but my mom smokes and I watched how smoking took the life of my grandfather.
A law preventing one person from exposing harmful fumes to another is okay in my book.
Joel: I see your point, but then let’s take it to it’s logical conclusion. (I like arguing for argument’s sake.)
Cars emit harmful fumes! So do buses! And airplanes, and factories, and a lot of other things that aren’t illegal. And many products emit molecular particles just through their wear and tear, and those particles can harm us. Let’s ban those things too!
And if we read James’ point broadly, ie, X hurts Group Y in population Z, thus X should be banned, then my best friend is allergic to coconut, and to prevent her from being harmed by it, because even if she goes to a restaurant, sometimes shavings get into food (or in pre-packaged food, this is a problem), we should outlaw coconut. Or nalgene bottles! They give you cancer. We should make them illegal.
I’m allergic to bullsh1t, myself, but Congress is still out there, emitting fumes. Think of the children. Outlaw the hot air coming from Congress!
I think that limiting smoke in public places is a good idea. I don’t smoke, I don’t like it. But, I don’t think a statist rule is the best way to go. I think that, particularly in our economic crap-fest, we should incentivize restaurants and bars to go smoke-free, or to install proper ventilation systems, or something along those lines. I love tax, so this is a very ‘me’ suggestion, but what about tax credits or breaks to smoke-free restaurants? And a state sponsored list of those restaurants that pass muster? And a little sticker you can display- state certified as smoke-free. Would that not be less invasive, open to more compliance, more stimulating to the economy and less of a “there should be a law to fix this! This is a law! Therefore, this fixes it!” mentality.
And one of my dearest friends has lung cancer and has never smoked. (She had surgery and is undergoing chemo now.)
Sometimes, stuff just happens.
Genevieve – your post got hung up in my spam filter. Watch your language, dear 😉
Vivian,
I agree that no limits should exist, but there is a perfectly good reason for the difference. Payday lenders provide a service that other financial institutions do not. Try going to Wachovia and asking for a small loan for a very short period of time. Good luck.
You may not like what payday lenders do, but they provide a service desired by (primarily) low-income borrowers. Some abuse the service and hurt themselves by doing so, but if that is the standard to outlaw a business practice many others should be banned as well.
Restricting payday lending is nannyism whether it bothers you or not.
Vivian,
Was it the “I love tax” part? 😉
Smoking bans are hypocritical when the govt profits from the taxes and then tries to act righteous by banning them.
Duh!
Ditch cigarettes and jump onto the electronic cigarette bandwagon. Haven’t heard of them? Well, get educated and watch the videos. These products are going to change the landscape totally.
Big tobacco is already fighting it as well as govts who are addicted to the taxes.
Check out what’s causing all the controversy with videos and info at:
http://www.TheVaporCig.com/
The way things are going…If you smoke, you’ll end up smoking these in the end. Make the right choice.
This is nonsense. Governor Kaine wants to make up for the budget shortfall by raising the cigarette tax. Then, turns around and wants to ban it in all eating places? Idiocy! Over 70% of Virginia’s restaurants. Why does there need to be a law for the other 30%. Do what most people with common sense do, DON’T EAT THERE IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE SMOKE!
Sometimes I wonder if anyone in Richmond has an IQ over 9!