Glenn Nielsen Weblog

Hey, Glenn... greetings from the Springfield area!

Posted by Keith L. Rodgers on May 21, 2007 at 09:29 PM CDT
Website: http://swmolibertarianparty.blogspot.com #

What the hell is the matter with you? How can you take so much pride in protecting the deadliest epidemic in the United States? Smoking Bans protect the citizens of the state of Missouri and could potentially save the taxpayers millions of dollars and thousands of lives. Smokings bans also save buisnesses thousands of dollars in lower health insurance costs and cleaning costs. Why would you protect the tobacco companies rights to continue to poison millions of Americans each year? Are you recieving money from them? IF not then that makes even more of a fool. Because you are working for evil corporations for free. Smoking bans also will protect thousands of children from being harmed by second hand smoke when eating out with their parents. How do you sleep at night?

Posted by Anti-Smoker on June 26, 2007 at 08:21 PM CDT #

So Anti-Smoker, always have to respect someone who is too big a coward to even post their real name. I guess you look to the government to solve all of your problems because you are incapable of being responsible for yourself? Here is a novel idea, if a business allows smoking and you don't like it, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!! Oh wait, I get it. That would mean a business owner would be allowed to run his/her establishment as he/she sees fit and you wouldn't get your every little desire catered to. Also, before you start going off that all I want is to be able to smoke everywhere, I am a non-smoker. Unlike you though, I am capable of taking care of myself without the government babysitting me. Lets have some fun and dissect some of your 'arguments' shall we?

1)Smoking Bans protect the citizens of the state of Missouri and could potentially save the taxpayers millions of dollars and thousands of lives.

The only money taxpayers save would be from less sales tax spent because of fewer customers at establishments that used to allow smoking. Save thousands of lives? You actually think people are going to stop smoking all together just because they cannot do it at a restaurant?

2)Smokings bans also save businesses thousands of dollars in lower health insurance costs and cleaning costs.

Savings that could have been realized WITHOUT A SMOKING BAN. There was absolutely nothing preventing the owner of a business from making his/her establishment smoke-free before the ban. Therefore, a ban was not necessary for these savings and if business owners were not actively pursuing them before the ban, they must not be that significant to begin with.

3) Why would you protect the tobacco companies rights to continue to poison millions of Americans each year?

Because it is just that, their right. Just like it is and should always continue to be the right of people to smoke if desired. Freedom of choice includes the right to make choices that others may view as undesirable.

4) Smoking bans also will protect thousands of children from being harmed by second hand smoke when eating out with their parents.

So would parents being responsible for their children and that would mean choosing to take their children to establishments that do not allow smoking.

5)How do you sleep at night?

I sleep quite well at night. I can only imagine that you do not sleep too well though. Being a control freak and constantly worrying that someone else might not be behaving exactly as you want them to must be very stressful for you.

Posted by Michael Watson on July 03, 2007 at 10:53 AM CDT
Website: http://megamike@centurytel.net #

No I am responsible for my own life and I hate big government. But I do expect them to protect lives and make good decisions for all citizens. This is the only issue that I agree with local governments intervening on. Other than that I hope we get rid of a bunch of useless government waste programs.

1. What makes you think that the only money taxpayers would save would be the less sales tax? What about the millions of dollars to care for the uninsured people who have lung and heart problems due to smoking? That money is coming from our government. Take a look at the amount of money medicare and medicaid fork out each year for those ailments. Thats our taxpayer dollars that could go to education which is an investment in our state. Several counties around the state have stated that heart disease will be the biggest epidemic due to smoking. I am not looking at completely getting rid of the tobbacco industry but we have to start finding ways to curb the smoking rates. By passing these ordinances we could help prevent alot of people from starting in the first place and thats good for them, me and you!

2 You say there was nothing preventing the owner from banning smoking on their own but in small towns and college towns a bar or restauraunt cant take the hit of losing potentially 20% of their business. Having a city wide ban would prevent that because then all bars and restauraunts are that way.

3 It is governments right to protect the people and if the local governments choose to do that then thats fine with me. I have no problem with government enforcing seat belt and helmet laws.

4 Again in small towns all bars and restauraunts allow smoking and so the parents dont have much choice if they want to eat out with their children.

5 I sleep well too knowing that my cause will save and protect the quality of life for millions of Missourians, save the taxpayers millions of dollars and save our loved ones from losing their quality of life.

Posted by Anti-Smoker on July 10, 2007 at 09:31 PM CDT #

Anti-Smoker,

You say that small town bar and grill owners could not afford to lose 20% of their business when implementing their own smoking ban. And that a universal ban evens the playing field. Wouldn't they likely GAIN customers who would prefer to patronize their business BECAUSE they are smoke free??? The problem with the smoking ban is where do you draw the line? Trans-fat? Soda pop? I do not need nor want the government babysitting me or my family.

Posted by Bobby M. on July 17, 2007 at 12:41 PM CDT #

You would think that going smoke-free would likely gain them customers but for some reason statistics do not show that small town bars and restauraunts gain any new customers... "I personally think it is because they do not market the fact that they are smoke-free." But anyway, like I said I dont exactly want the government to babysit me but I do expect them to make choices which could help protect my life and the people around me. I think thats also why New York City and San Francisco have told restauraunts to ban trans-fat foods...

Posted by Anti-Smoker on July 21, 2007 at 12:52 PM CDT #