Smoking in the Free World

Well, I am finally in a position to sit and write some new blog material. It has been a busy month or so since I last posted. Not that I have a vast following of readers mind you, but still, I blog for the fun of it and if someone else enjoys my words then so much the better.

Last month, our esteemed electorate voted to ban smoking in all public indoor spaces throughout the state. The measure passed with 68% of the vote. I am appalled that almost 2/3 of my fellow citizens are willing to outlaw a legal activity and violate my rights as a smoker. To be honest, I don't really feel as though I have "rights" as a smoker but I can indeed legally buy and consume tobacco as I see fit for the most part. Tobacco is not a controlled substance after all. The real losers are the business owners, men and women that own and operate bars and restaurants specifically.

I have a friend who owns a bar, he is a good guy and has worked hard to make his pub the best in town, he tries very hard to compete and stay ahead of the game. In my small town, smoking and drinking go hand in hand, it is difficult to separate the two activities, I mean in most peoples minds the two are synonymous even if one doesn't smoke. I asked my friend how he felt it would impact his business, he said he didn't know, but wasn't too happy that the government just told him what he could do in his own damn building. That is the real injustice of the new law. If I own a building that is open to the public it is up to me to decide what happens there. If it is ladies night then women get discounted drinks, if I want to paint the walls chartreuse, or cater to gay men then that is my right and my choice. My building, my business, my decision. I fail to see how smoking (once again a legal activity) is any different than other aspects of running a private business.

See, no one is holding a gun to the consumers head and saying "you must go to this smoky bar", on the contrary, if I am that offended by smoking I can choose to drink or dine in a non smoking facility. Guess what? If enough people do go to the non - smoking bar the others will follow suit to stay competitive. Huh? Free market democracy deciding policy in privately owned business'? No way.

Smoking is not good for you, we all know that. Smoking kills, and causes difficult and painful health problems as well. There isnt a smoker alive that doesnt know these things and is keenly aware of the need to quit or get sick someday. Still, it is an addiction comparable to heroin and cocaine, the difference is I can walk to the "quick mart" and get an entire carton of my drug and get my "fix" as I walk back home. What about second hand smoke, you ask? Lets be completely honest about it, if you choose to spend time in a smoky bar, once a week lets say, you are not getting enough carcinogens to make one iota of difference to your health. There is little solid evidence that second hand smoke causes any health problems despite what is promulgated in the press. Walk down a busy city street and inhale the clouds of exhaust, work near a factory belching chemicals, drink the water coming out of the tap, all these things have harmful elements in them but no one is shutting down driving cars.

The number one issue that really chaps my ass is this. To get the ballot initiative passed, a bunch of people had to sit around and think of it. Then they had to pass around a petition to get it on the ballot, then raise money to shove it down our throats in the form of campaign commercials and other media. What the hell do these people do for a living? Don't they have better things to do than sit around worrying about where I smoke? Get a grip people, I dont sit around worrying about how much coffee you drink, or how much money you spend at the track, I dont concern myself with how flatulent you are in the morning on the bus, nor do I sit and think up legislation that would outlaw that nasty perfume you wear that makes my eyes water and my gag reflex start up while I stand beside you at the checkout counter. Lets make it illegal to scratch off lottery tickets on the premises, that is offensive to me, or better yet while I am waiting for your gambling ass to get out of the way while you lose your dollar, I should be allowed to light up to kill the time.

I am an addict, true enough, and I need to stop smoking or I will die, true enough. That is hardly the point, as even if I were not a smoker I would still feel just as strongly about this suppression of freedom at the hands of holier than thou do gooders. If you do not like smoke filled atmosphere in the bar, go to another one that doesnt allow smoking. How bloody hard can it be?