Smoking ban in Philadelphia approved

[Sgt PSN]

Another step closer to my departure from this country. I can't wait until someone tells me I can't speak too loudly at a bar for fear of injuring someone's delicate ears.

You know a bill like that would never get passed, but if you want to "depart" then don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I love the "if you don't like it, then leave" argument.  It's about the most hypocritical statement a person can make in the "land of the free."   My problem doesn't really involve people who complain about the way this country is run, my problem resides with people who complain about the way this country is run but don't lift a finger to try and change it.   

I'm an adult, and beyond that I'm smarter than all but a small percentage of the people on the planet. When laws are passed taking away my right to make decisions for myself in the interest of the public good I become irate. I don't even smoke. But if I want to smoke a cig, shoot some heroine or snort gunpowder I should farging be allowed to to it. Especially at an establishment that is already serving health-imparing drugs.

I think there's got to be some room for some compromise.  When you live in an organized society then there's going to be rules and laws governing what you can and cannot do.  Speed limits are law.  When you see a speed limit sign do you feel like the guvment is taking away your right to decide how fast you can drive?  Do you do 50 in a 25 mph zone just to thumb your nose at the evil establishment who oppressing your right to choose what's safe or not safe for yourself?  Not every law can be about what's best for you.  In most cases, it's about what's best for the majority.  The hope (at least for me) is that in a democracy, the laws best reflect what the people are asking for.  Wishful thinking, I know.  In that particular case though, the non-smokers bitched louder and more often than the smokers did.  Therefore, they get a law passed. 

Don't get me wrong, because I'm not trying to give you some "rah-rah, uncle sam knows best and you should simply obey" speech, because that's about the last thing I would tell anyone to do.  But to get pissed off, especially over a law that doesn't even affect you simply for the fact that you feel the guvment pumping is iron fist of tyranny is, well, it's kind of stupid to be honest with ya. 

I'm a smoker and I'm not exactly thrilled to see this law pass.  But as an American, I am glad to see that a group of people were able to effect change through proposed legislation.  I'm especially glad to see that they were able to effect that change considering they were going up against "Big Tobacco" who we all know has no problem lining lawmaker's pockets. 

Sure, there are quite a few laws out there that I think you (or anyone else) has a reason to bitch about because they are nothing more than the guvment imposing it's will on us.  But I don't think this particular law is one of them. 

[Sgt PSN]

Is there stripping in brothels?

No.  You must shag the flesh peddlers fully clothed. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Is there stripping in brothels?

No.  You must shag the flesh peddlers fully clothed. 

That policy is as ridiculous as making people drink without cigarettes.

[ice grillin you]

in NO tho you can drink on the street...seems to me that would be the perfect place to have no smoking in bars

[The BIGSTUD]

I love the "if you don't like it, then leave" argument.  It's about the most hypocritical statement a person can make in the "land of the free."   My problem doesn't really involve people who complain about the way this country is run, my problem resides with people who complain about the way this country is run but don't lift a finger to try and change it. 

He said it was one step closer to his departure. It was him that said it, all I said was if you are going to leave then see ya.

[Wingspan]

[li]I can prove that obese people are hurting me.  I subsidize their suicidal gluttony, which in turn reduces MY ability to provide for and protect myself.  If being forced to pay for someone else's unhealthy decisions isn't harmful to me, then what is it?
Solution? Ban overeating.[/li]

fatasses are killing themselves much faster than smokers.

it is quite common to see a 95 year old man who has smoked for 80 years going about his daily business. however, when is the last time you saw an elderly fat person?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

in NO tho you can drink on the street...seems to me that would be the perfect place to have no smoking in bars

I think they should ban drinking from bars and smoking from the street.  That would be fun.

[Sgt PSN]

I love the "if you don't like it, then leave" argument. It's about the most hypocritical statement a person can make in the "land of the free." My problem doesn't really involve people who complain about the way this country is run, my problem resides with people who complain about the way this country is run but don't lift a finger to try and change it.

He said it was one step closer to his departure. It was him that said it, all I said was if you are going to leave then see ya.

Clarify:  Your statement reminded me of the "if you don't like it then leave" argument.   My mistake.......I got interupted about 3 times at work while trying to type out that entire post.  There was a point I was getting at before one of my interruptions and now I don't remember what it is.  Oh well. 

[Cerevant]

*sigh*  Guess I'll repeat myself too...

Anyone who isn't a foreman on a giant worksite that drives an SUV instead of a normal passenger car is uncessesarily filling the air with extremely harmful gasses.

Guess what - the emissions standards for SUVs aren't any different than for passenger cars.  Guess we should get rid of emissions testing & catalytic converters in the name of freedom...

I can prove that obese people are hurting me.  I subsidize their suicidal gluttony, which in turn reduces MY ability to provide for and protect myself.  If being forced to pay for someone else's unhealthy decisions isn't harmful to me, then what is it?
Solution? Ban overeating.

I'm not sure where you are getting this - the US social health system is pretty weak.  I guess if you are talking about insurance rates, don't think for a second that the overeaters aren't paying more than you, unless you are part of a large group plan which lowers your rates too.

Oh, and like smokers don't have medical costs...

The neighbor's barking dog, car horns blaring at stop lights, air brakes bellowing downhill, loud stereos (and a billion other unnessecary nuisances) hurt my ears and stress my mental health.  [Or is mental health not really "health?]
Solution?  Ban noise!

Done.

The chemicals emanating from the particle board and carpeting in my office are not good for my health.

You think.  If they are shown to be harmful, they will have to be removed.  Ever hear of OSHA?

Nor are the cleaning chemicals the janitors use.

Workplace safety laws require that all employees know what hazardous chemicals they are exposed to and how to handle them safely (or know where to get this information).  Doesn't your company have a safety manual?

Solution? Ban carpeting!

Well, if you mean poison carpeting, I agree.

Your alcoholism is hurts me; I end up paying for your hospital visits, etc.  Ban drinking.

Again with the insurance bit - look, if you don't like sharing costs and playing the numbers, just pay cash for your healthcare.

[ice grillin you]

when is the last time you saw an elderly fat person?

im still searching for elderly gays...its like gays started being born around the time microwaves were invented

[Sgt PSN]

[li]I can prove that obese people are hurting me.  I subsidize their suicidal gluttony, which in turn reduces MY ability to provide for and protect myself.  If being forced to pay for someone else's unhealthy decisions isn't harmful to me, then what is it?
Solution? Ban overeating.[/li]

fatasses are killing themselves much faster than smokers.

it is quite common to see a 95 year old man who has smoked for 80 years going about his daily business. however, when is the last time you saw an elderly fat person?

I see elderly fat people all the time.  But I define elderly as anyone over 40.  However, I don't know if I've ever met anyone over the age of say......80 who also happened to be fat. 

[Sgt PSN]

*sigh* Guess I'll repeat myself too...

Anyone who isn't a foreman on a giant worksite that drives an SUV instead of a normal passenger car is uncessesarily filling the air with extremely harmful gasses.

Guess what - the emissions standards for SUVs aren't any different than for passenger cars. Guess we should get rid of emissions testing & catalytic converters in the name of freedom...

I can prove that obese people are hurting me. I subsidize their suicidal gluttony, which in turn reduces MY ability to provide for and protect myself. If being forced to pay for someone else's unhealthy decisions isn't harmful to me, then what is it?
Solution? Ban overeating.

I'm not sure where you are getting this - the US social health system is pretty weak. I guess if you are talking about insurance rates, don't think for a second that the overeaters aren't paying more than you, unless you are part of a large group plan which lowers your rates too.

Oh, and like smokers don't have medical costs...

The neighbor's barking dog, car horns blaring at stop lights, air brakes bellowing downhill, loud stereos (and a billion other unnessecary nuisances) hurt my ears and stress my mental health. [Or is mental health not really "health?]
Solution? Ban noise!

Done.

The chemicals emanating from the particle board and carpeting in my office are not good for my health.

You think. If they are shown to be harmful, they will have to be removed. Ever hear of OSHA?

Nor are the cleaning chemicals the janitors use.

Workplace safety laws require that all employees know what hazardous chemicals they are exposed to and how to handle them safely (or know where to get this information). Doesn't your company have a safety manual?

Solution? Ban carpeting!

Well, if you mean poison carpeting, I agree.

Your alcoholism is hurts me; I end up paying for your hospital visits, etc. Ban drinking.

Again with the insurance bit - look, if you don't like sharing costs and playing the numbers, just pay cash for your healthcare.

You make some decent points.  But what about obese, alcoholic, smoking janitors who drive SUV's and have loud barking dogs?  What's you solution for them?  Can we at least ban them? 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

when is the last time you saw an elderly fat person?

im still searching for elderly gays...its like gays started being born around the time microwaves were invented

Either people truly aren't "born gay" and it's just a change in the culture of acceptance...

...or all the old homos already died of AIDS.


I tried to make the above post as offensive as possible.  How'd I do?

[Sgt PSN]

when is the last time you saw an elderly fat person?

im still searching for elderly gays...its like gays started being born around the time microwaves were invented

Either people truly aren't "born gay" and it's just a change in the culture of acceptance...

...or all the old homos already died of AIDS.


I tried to make the above post as offensive as possible. How'd I do?

I'm not sure.  Let's wait to see if MDS is offended.   

[rjs246]

I appreciate Sarge's take on this more than the other's I've read. But laws like this will never sit right with me.

Laws about speeding and murder and theft and all of that are in place to maintain order in a society. I'm not an anarchist. A highway system without any sort of speedlimit could dissolve into dangerous chaos very easily.

A law to limit where people can smoke doesn't have the goal of order in mind, it has the goal of appeasing a bunch of whiney bitches. Whiney bitches who don't want people to be able to do something that they find disagreeable. And that's bullshtein.