government smoking ban!

[Lionhound]

What a good idea all you highly intelligent government type chaps. After all, the economic policy seems to be working a treat. The country's rolling in cash, the people are happy, they've got loadsamoney accruing in the banks. So much so that we'll stop all those dirty bastards from smoking by banning tobacco cos we dont need the tax income anymore, the economy's booming. In fact I think we'll also stop taking tax on fuel too, after all its only about 80 percent of the cost of a litre that we take anyway, bloody chickenfeed.

"Sarah, Sarah. I've just had this incredible dream."
"Oh fuck off Gordon and go back to sleep. Stop living in a fantasy world."

See that's roughly how I see it. Everyone including myself hates tax rises. Thats why I laughed at suggestions that the government drasticly cut fuel duty. If they did so they would need to raise income tax or levy some other tax cos good old Gordy and co have every penny, and more, spent.
Now, imagine how unhappy everyyone would be about that, even though the majority if not all of us rely on fuel in some form.
Now take a tobacco ban. Tax wouldnt have to go up as much obviously cos we're a minority group, but imagine how pissed off everyone would be if they all had to fork out extra just so they could deny us our right to smoke. And I'm sure thats one that all the antismoking lobby have not considered yet, or if they have its certainly not at the top of their ad campaign. Can you see it being as popular if the slogan was along the lines of "surely you're all happy to pay an extra 1p in the ? to deny these smokers their pleasure"

We're doing them a bloody FAVOUR.
Here endeth todays wee rant.

[Lou3]

I'm sorry to hear about this latest legislation in the UK.

Speaking from the US perspective, a certain contingent won't stop until you can't even smoke by yourself on your own patio. They claim to have science on their side, but their attitude clearly wreaks of a witch hunt.

If they are eventually able to completely ban cigarettes and vilify the concept of smoking at any time in history, what's next? No doubt something will always be next.

[crslaytor]

true, if they want to allow it lets allow it

Next week I am going to good old eastern european country with no smoking and drinking laws!! Once I'm out of the airport will light it up and smoke all the time till the very last moment i go back to the airport even the hotel room is for smokers!!!

[JoeyC]

What gets me is, if everyone stopped using tobacco products at once it would put a serious hurt on the government with that big a loss in tax income. What happened to free choice, if a bar, restaurant, or store owner wants to allow smoking in their establishment they should have that right. If non-smokers don’t want to be around it, go to a place that does not have it.

[tippexx]

Well said. And another thing how bad is the obesity problem in the US (and the UK for that matter). Bet sugar and KFC do a damn site more harm than second-hand smoke, perhaps they should also be banned?

Not a chance Monkey ..... not while they help sponsor the Olympics!

[Big J]

Totally agree with you, Lionhound. The people are so F..king stupid.They just don't realise that the government little by little are taking away more of our rights and trying to tell us how to live our lifes. Politicians are just a bunch of actors, crooks and liars. I don't need no freaking Politicians to tell me how to live and what do with my life. USA was built on "WE THE PEOPLE" and we supposed to be "THE LAND OF THE FREE" Also, I'm sick and tired of all this PC bullshit. Now this days, everything is PC...WTF! I'll smoke in my house and my car when ever i want. If no one likes it, screw them!
Just my opinion.

[monkey66]

Well said. And another thing how bad is the obesity problem in the US (and the UK for that matter). Bet sugar and KFC do a damn site more harm than second-hand smoke, perhaps they should also be banned?

Nice to know Arnie's no hypocrite(SP)!!!
How can he sit about for photos etc sporting a huge stoagie and be governor of a state with such laws.
How the fuck can you police a ban in the home??
Bloody sure Arnie isn't adhering to it.
Absolute spineless bollocks, bullshit, arselicking nnonsense. Thought you guys were the land of the free, don't be dictated to the way we are. I can see benefits in some places being smokefree but give us a bloody choice, especially don't allow people to dictate to us what we can and can't do in our own homes. That is beyond the realms of what we elect governments for. As far as I'm concerned smoking is my choice, not a legal issue. Leave the police & the law free to deal with real crime.
At home, if the wife is unhappy at you smoking inside you either go into the garden, shed, garage etc or you compromise ie one smoking room or whatever. A sensible agreement. Why can our leaders not understand and adopt this stance instead of dictating what they decide we need. We're all big boys and girls now, leave us alone to enjoy our leisure and for God's sake leave us somewhere where we can have a quiet innocent smoke.
Thank you..

[maltesefalcon]

Nice one Lionhound. At last ,someone with some balls on this forum. And before you all start with your smart little snipes (how we've all got balls on this site yadda,yadda) I'm talking about guts.Fine they can stop me from smoking in a public place but dont tell me I can't smoke in the street or in my own home.If this ever happens the world would truly have gone made.Imagine.. Churchill throne out of the war room for smoking cigars...Patton asked to leave the field of battle for smoking a cigar....Fucking crazy.

[Lionhound]

I think that's in Calabasas, California. In February 2006, California became the 1st state to declare second-hand tobacco smoke a toxic air pollutant. What about the smog we breath...that's not toxic? California is F**KED UP! Starting with the Governator!

Nice to know Arnie's no hypocrite(SP)!!!
How can he sit about for photos etc sporting a huge stoagie and be governor of a state with such laws.
How the fuck can you police a ban in the home??
Bloody sure Arnie isn't adhering to it.
Absolute spineless bollocks, bullshit, arselicking nnonsense. Thought you guys were the land of the free, don't be dictated to the way we are. I can see benefits in some places being smokefree but give us a bloody choice, especially don't allow people to dictate to us what we can and can't do in our own homes. That is beyond the realms of what we elect governments for. As far as I'm concerned smoking is my choice, not a legal issue. Leave the police & the law free to deal with real crime.
At home, if the wife is unhappy at you smoking inside you either go into the garden, shed, garage etc or you compromise ie one smoking room or whatever. A sensible agreement. Why can our leaders not understand and adopt this stance instead of dictating what they decide we need. We're all big boys and girls now, leave us alone to enjoy our leisure and for God's sake leave us somewhere where we can have a quiet innocent smoke.
Thank you..

[El Yanqui]

I'm just here to liberate and then I'm gone. Honest.

[goose165]

The smoking bans are just something I wholly disagree with. It probably has a bit to do with being a West Coast American, where there will always be an inherent distrust of federal mandates, but is largely just personal opposition to any authority that presumes it 'knows better' for me.

Sadly Spain is suffering as well. A new smoking ban is being implemented and according to my in-laws in Madrid, it will be smoke free in July.

WOW THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD

[El Yanqui]

The smoking bans are just something I wholly disagree with. It probably has a bit to do with being a West Coast American, where there will always be an inherent distrust of federal mandates, but is largely just personal opposition to any authority that presumes it 'knows better' for me.

Sadly Spain is suffering as well. A new smoking ban is being implemented and according to my in-laws in Madrid, it will be smoke free in July.

[Simon Bolivar]

Spain & Belgium seem to have a more civilised appraoch to interperating the Smoking Ban legislastion. In Spain you can smoke in a resturant if the own puts a blue sign in the window, red if you can't. Everywhere I went last yr had the blue sign, they don't even have no smoking areas, which I would prefer. In Belgium you can't smoke in resturants but you can smoke if tents or fully encloused & heated shelters outside. You can smoke in cafes, if they don't serve food. My local cafe in Antwerp used to serve small snacks until the latest tightening, now you can bring your own food in & they still serve soup. In England it wouldn't work as someone would be bound to complain but give the Belgians their due, it appears the non-smokers go to places they know will be smoke free & don't feel the need to stop us smoking in our places. A civilized acceptance of the status quo.
However there are politicians who mumble about tightening things further & I guess it will come in the end but until then I'll continue to enjoy my Wed pm at the 'Cafe Diamonte'

[Big J]

i forgot which city... but some city in california... its illegal to smoke in your own home... i dunno how that's constitutional... but yea... its being appealed...

I think that's in Calabasas, California. In February 2006, California became the 1st state to declare second-hand tobacco smoke a toxic air pollutant. What about the smog we breath...that's not toxic? California is F**KED UP! Starting with the Governator!

[goose165]

i forgot which city... but some city in california... its illegal to smoke in your own home... i dunno how that's constitutional... but yea... its being appealed...

yeah california has always had crazy laws and ideas.