There is NOTHING that gives the FEDERAL government any say whatever in this matter. There is NO FFEDERAL authority here. I do not think however there is a “Right” to Smoke in a Public Place.
Vis - a - vis a PRIVATE area, that is the sole discretion of the property owner. I am certainly free to ban smoking in MY home. Another property owner is free to smoke (or allow smoking) as much as they want. A bar/restaurant owner may have a total non - smoking policy, segretated areas for smokers and non - smokers, or have smoking throughout the entire facility. That is the business of those who choose (or not) to patronize the business - and the choice of those who choose (or not) to work there. This is a Private Property issue - plain and simple.
Now, if a GOVERNOR or STATE LEGISLATURE (or a County) attempted to ban Smoking in PUBLIC PLACES, I do not believe that would be Unconsitutional…….It may be assinine. It may be stupid. But I don’t think one can rightly claim an Affirmative Right to Smoke in a PUBLIC place anywhere in the Constitutional text.
I know Libertarians hold that one parties rights end where another parties begins. The question then is: IS SECOND HAND SMOKE DETRIMENTAL TO THE NON - SMOKER. Is this politically motivated junk science? Or is there tangible evidence? I believe Penn and Teller recently flipped on this one having previously called it a fraud but now changing their tune.
A side not. Don’t know if Huckabee is an ex - smoker. Per graphic, he lost 110 lbs and is a reformed alcoholic. Is it prudent to note that EX - SINNERS are generally the MOST STRIDENT REFORMERS, not those who never undertook the vice to begin with.
To my knowledge there is not a single Communist country in history which banned smoking or even enacted any kind of effective anti-smoking laws. Think Stalin with this “Herzegovina Flor” cigarettes or Castro with his famous cigar. Even today, China even today produces over 50% of all the cancerettes world wide.
Mayby “Pinko” countries did. Alas, I am not aware of any such countries. I suppose that since the term “Pinko” was first coined in 1926 by Time Magazine and has then been used in the Cold War, it must refer to whatever person does not support US Fascism. Right?
Just kiddin Scott - but speaking of “Commie Pinkos” does make you sound like some KKK Redneck. I am sure that you are jocking when you use these terms, but what would be the Libertarian solution for me, a father with 2 asthmatic kids? Shoot the smoking motherfuckers myself (which I always feel like doing anyway to any suicidees, which all smokers are)? Or is it ok for me and those who feel like me to get together to pass some laws to protect us from the stench of tobacco? You know, through such things as elected representatives, or referenda, or any other legal means? Or is the Libertarian thing to do just to put up with the hazards to my kids? Or maybe keep them at home? Give them gas masks?
BTW - I have no problems with people smoking Marijuana. That is absolutely safe, good for your lungs in fact, it helps plenty of sick people with their various ailments, and it smells fantastic (though I never used any “drugs”, I would gladly have grass at home as incense as I really like its fragrance).
I say: let’s have all smokers tarred, feathered and hung and let’s legalize Marijuana!
Have a great week end guys!
This is simply not a FEDERAL issue….Either to ban…..or prohibit a ban….in public places.
Private individuals have every right to do what they want with their property (their lungs) but they do not have a right to infringe upon the rights of others. The question is whether a smoker - in a PUBLIC PLACE - is causing harm to others in proximity….and is there an objective way to quantify this harm. Clearly a smoker 50 feet away in a public place is not comparable to someone in close proximity.
Moreover, a PROPREITOR has the right to set policy for his own establishment and I would hold that NO level of Government has any right to tell a bar or owner what his smoking policy should be….although I do favor LOCAL legislation compelling the proprietor to post outside what the policy is….that gives the consumer information to make an informed decision before entering a premises.
PUBLIC places is a whole different situation…That matter should be addressed by the states and localities.
BTW Scott, aren’t you motivated by Huckabee’s losing 110lbs and getting off the booze to want to quit your nicotine addiction?
I’m surprised you didn’t bring up the fact that Hitler was a strong opponent of smoking as a way of throwing an ad hominem red herring into the mix. I believe Adolf was also a vegetarian to boot.
We need to arrange for a serruptitious pretext to have one of us meet Scott, take him to a secluded room, and confront him about his Addiction….Then he can be scurried away to some facility in the woods or something to work out his inner demons with professional counselors. Please E - mail privately as Scott occassionally peruses this site and obviously if he knows when its going down will likely make himself scarce.
I don’t want to see government banning anything. I do think that there is a libertarian case to be made for smoking bans based on property rights. My house is stunk up by some of my neighbors’ habits. Where are my rights in terms of stopping that from happening?
I don’t know if any of you saw or heard of this… I didn’t want to hijack the post, this is off topic but it’s good. I didn’t want to post it under Saker’s Lebanon post:
Hey Redrum, how the heck you been man? Someone had posted a still of their boots before, but that’s some great footage. I wonder which private property owner was going to get his window broken. Jack booted thug would never smash a govt. window.
The best part was watching a news story about something important go on for a full few minutes like that. Reminded me of times long past.
…The only Bolshevik I can think of who wasn’t a furious smoker of cigarettes was Lenin, who forbade smoking by subordinates in any room, rail car or office where he was present. Even Stalin, who was a heavy smoker was no exception.
There is NOTHING that gives the FEDERAL government any say whatever in this matter. There is NO FFEDERAL authority here. I do not think however there is a “Right” to Smoke in a Public Place.
Vis - a - vis a PRIVATE area, that is the sole discretion of the property owner. I am certainly free to ban smoking in MY home. Another property owner is free to smoke (or allow smoking) as much as they want. A bar/restaurant owner may have a total non - smoking policy, segretated areas for smokers and non - smokers, or have smoking throughout the entire facility. That is the business of those who choose (or not) to patronize the business - and the choice of those who choose (or not) to work there. This is a Private Property issue - plain and simple.
Now, if a GOVERNOR or STATE LEGISLATURE (or a County) attempted to ban Smoking in PUBLIC PLACES, I do not believe that would be Unconsitutional…….It may be assinine. It may be stupid. But I don’t think one can rightly claim an Affirmative Right to Smoke in a PUBLIC place anywhere in the Constitutional text.
I know Libertarians hold that one parties rights end where another parties begins. The question then is: IS SECOND HAND SMOKE DETRIMENTAL TO THE NON - SMOKER. Is this politically motivated junk science? Or is there tangible evidence? I believe Penn and Teller recently flipped on this one having previously called it a fraud but now changing their tune.
A side not. Don’t know if Huckabee is an ex - smoker. Per graphic, he lost 110 lbs and is a reformed alcoholic. Is it prudent to note that EX - SINNERS are generally the MOST STRIDENT REFORMERS, not those who never undertook the vice to begin with.
To my knowledge there is not a single Communist country in history which banned smoking or even enacted any kind of effective anti-smoking laws. Think Stalin with this “Herzegovina Flor” cigarettes or Castro with his famous cigar. Even today, China even today produces over 50% of all the cancerettes world wide.
Mayby “Pinko” countries did. Alas, I am not aware of any such countries. I suppose that since the term “Pinko” was first coined in 1926 by Time Magazine and has then been used in the Cold War, it must refer to whatever person does not support US Fascism. Right?
Just kiddin Scott - but speaking of “Commie Pinkos” does make you sound like some KKK Redneck. I am sure that you are jocking when you use these terms, but what would be the Libertarian solution for me, a father with 2 asthmatic kids? Shoot the smoking motherfuckers myself (which I always feel like doing anyway to any suicidees, which all smokers are)? Or is it ok for me and those who feel like me to get together to pass some laws to protect us from the stench of tobacco? You know, through such things as elected representatives, or referenda, or any other legal means? Or is the Libertarian thing to do just to put up with the hazards to my kids? Or maybe keep them at home? Give them gas masks?
BTW - I have no problems with people smoking Marijuana. That is absolutely safe, good for your lungs in fact, it helps plenty of sick people with their various ailments, and it smells fantastic (though I never used any “drugs”, I would gladly have grass at home as incense as I really like its fragrance).
I say: let’s have all smokers tarred, feathered and hung and let’s legalize Marijuana!
Have a great week end guys!
This is simply not a FEDERAL issue….Either to ban…..or prohibit a ban….in public places.
Private individuals have every right to do what they want with their property (their lungs) but they do not have a right to infringe upon the rights of others. The question is whether a smoker - in a PUBLIC PLACE - is causing harm to others in proximity….and is there an objective way to quantify this harm. Clearly a smoker 50 feet away in a public place is not comparable to someone in close proximity.
Moreover, a PROPREITOR has the right to set policy for his own establishment and I would hold that NO level of Government has any right to tell a bar or owner what his smoking policy should be….although I do favor LOCAL legislation compelling the proprietor to post outside what the policy is….that gives the consumer information to make an informed decision before entering a premises.
PUBLIC places is a whole different situation…That matter should be addressed by the states and localities.
BTW Scott, aren’t you motivated by Huckabee’s losing 110lbs and getting off the booze to want to quit your nicotine addiction?
I’m surprised you didn’t bring up the fact that Hitler was a strong opponent of smoking as a way of throwing an ad hominem red herring into the mix. I believe Adolf was also a vegetarian to boot.
yep. Adolf did not smoke or eat meet. he still died prematurely though
Pot Growers New Target in “War On Terror”
http://www.alternet.org/story/60854/
Guys, I don’t know about you…..but I think Scott’s Posting this topic is really a desperate call for help (IE an A & E Newtork Style INTERVENTION)….
http://www.aetv.com/intervention/
We need to arrange for a serruptitious pretext to have one of us meet Scott, take him to a secluded room, and confront him about his Addiction….Then he can be scurried away to some facility in the woods or something to work out his inner demons with professional counselors. Please E - mail privately as Scott occassionally peruses this site and obviously if he knows when its going down will likely make himself scarce.
Iran’s IAEA status:
http://www.antiwar.com/prather/?articleid=11539
Gravel’s poignant antiwar mantra
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20070829_gravel_young_men_and_women_are_dying/
I don’t want to see government banning anything. I do think that there is a libertarian case to be made for smoking bans based on property rights. My house is stunk up by some of my neighbors’ habits. Where are my rights in terms of stopping that from happening?
Hey people…
I don’t know if any of you saw or heard of this… I didn’t want to hijack the post, this is off topic but it’s good. I didn’t want to post it under Saker’s Lebanon post:
object width=”425″ height=”350″>
Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihPd6lMKxPs
Hey Redrum, how the heck you been man? Someone had posted a still of their boots before, but that’s some great footage. I wonder which private property owner was going to get his window broken. Jack booted thug would never smash a govt. window.
The best part was watching a news story about something important go on for a full few minutes like that. Reminded me of times long past.
Good to hear from you man.
…The only Bolshevik I can think of who wasn’t a furious smoker of cigarettes was Lenin, who forbade smoking by subordinates in any room, rail car or office where he was present. Even Stalin, who was a heavy smoker was no exception.