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Today's Poll: To what degree should the state regulate cigarette smoking?

By Howard B. Owens
tom hunt

I believe in personal freedom and all that stuff that is guaranteed in the Constitution. And I feel that the individual has the right to engage in harmful habits and addictions as long as the tax paying public does not have to pick up the medical tab for problems caused by the abuse.
I have Canadian friends and they tell me that in Ontario Canada, if you smoke and come down with a life threatening disease; lung cancer, their brand of socalize medicine will not pay for medical treatment if they can prove that your smoking is the probable cause of the problem.

Jun 21, 2011, 2:24pm Permalink
Mike Weaver

In my opinion smoking bans in places of employement (bars and restaurants ARE places of employment) are justified and make sense. Workers shouldn't be forced to deal with harmful environments as they earn their living. But that is about as far as I am willing to see smoking bans extended. And smoking regulation on/in personal property is ridiculous.

Jun 21, 2011, 5:16pm Permalink
James Lullo

I smoke cigarettes and would not be against an outright ban on them.
They are horrible for you and the fact that they are made (purposely) so addictive is criminal.

Ciggarettes give the politicians money and doctors/nurses a job to do though.
Without cigarettes there would be a huge loss of income for the bio-med field.

Jun 21, 2011, 5:34pm Permalink
Jason Crater

I also don't think we should ban automatic weapons. Especially in urban areas.

Think of all the lost revenue medical providers would be faced with if dangerous weapons were taken off the streets.

Jun 22, 2011, 9:32am Permalink
George Richardson

If someone farts and I can't take it I move away or tell them to take their nasty ass smell somewhere else. No additional laws are needed for stink ass farters or smokers and they are practically one and the same. Smoking sucks only half as much as smoking bans do though. Lawmaking should never be a hobby when there are still baskets wishing to be woven and humans still fart.
That's my lesson for the day. Embrace it.

Jun 22, 2011, 12:29pm Permalink
Beth Kinsley

George - that might make a bit of sense if there was some sort of evidence that inhaling second hand farts causes cancer or can otherwise affect your health.

Jun 22, 2011, 1:15pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

George, you reminded me of an old Steve Martin line "When someone asks 'Do you mind if I smoke?' I say ' Why no, do you mind if I fart? It's one of my habits.'" Perfect, in my opinion. And I do enjoy farting.

Oh and let's not forget the classic Monty Python " I take exception to your farting before my wife" "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize it was her turn"

Jun 22, 2011, 2:35pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

If someone can explain how to embed a video from youtube let me know. I tried about everything.

http://youtu.be/dMN00JD2AaM
[video:http://youtu.be/dMN00JD2AaM]
[video:<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dMN00JD2AaM&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>]
video:<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dMN00JD2AaM&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<embed><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dMN00JD2AaM&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

Jun 22, 2011, 3:19pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dMN00JD2AaM?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><p… name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dMN00JD2AaM?version=3&amp;hl=en_US&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Jun 22, 2011, 3:29pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

OK, Gabor, got it, I wanted to be sure I was right before giving instructions, sometimes it doesn't work for me either. Can't say why. Someone may be putting something in the code to make it hard to embed, I don't read "computer geek". Anyway, when on the youtube page, click the "share" button below the video, click on "Embed" then select the smallest size at the bottom and check the box "use old code". Then copy the embed code and paste onto the comment box here. Change the width to "425" or less if it's higher (2 places) then it fits on here better. That's all I got.

Jun 22, 2011, 3:37pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I saw the old code but did not try it. I used to use simple html codes and make web pages but I could not figure this out. I sure wish Howard would break out with some bucks and add a "like" button.......

Jun 22, 2011, 4:23pm Permalink

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