I'm fairly certain there's a middle ground on this issue, just like every political hot potato. Either side dramatically over-states their arguement. Neither side will believe a single word of the others rhetoric. My beliefs on the subject aren't nearly as passionate as some. But I'm trying to understand the need for these laws. Here's my take on WHY;
I'm not about to stick my head in the sand and say cigarette smoke ISN'T at all harmfull. We all know it is. Some won't ADMIT it. But we all know it. The degree of harm to which each individual is susceptable varies from not at all, to severe. There are studies by both sides that indicate a desired result. All I can go on is what I've seen for myself.
I grew up in a non-smoking home. My wifes family almost all smokes. My wife smokes. When we started having kids of our own, it was quite evident that our children were effected by my wifes smoking. She USUALLY went outside to smoke, but on occasion she would sit near the fireplace while lighting up. All 3 of our kids were showing signs of emphysema at one stage. Leigh all but quit smoking at home. The kids started showing signs of improvement immediately. She never would smoke around them again. Same rule applies with the grandkids now. From what I've seen, the effects on children are more obvious. Should people need to keep their kids isolated in a bubble because a minority want to smoke whenever and where ever they so desire?
Cigarette smoke may not effect everyone so dramatically. It won't cause instantanious death, or tumors to pop out of your chest, maybe even no effects at all in a long happy life. Or maybe it'll kill you in your 20's. Who's to say which until it happens. I've been around my wifes smoking for more than 40 years with no obvious harm. I'm lucky I guess.
I've seen members of my family become physically ill when around smokers. One of my uncles died from throat cancer at age 52. There was no other history of cancer in dads family. That uncle was a regular cigar smoker. While this isn't conclusive evidence cigar smoking causes throat cancer, it is enough of a reason to make me believe it was a contributing factor at the very least.
For what it's worth, ANY smoke from ANY source is more than likely harmfull to some people, in some way shape or form, to some degree. Is it MY choice, or YOUR choice to arbitrarily decide who is effected by our smoking, with no regard to anyone elses rights?
Should economic considerations outstrip health considerations? Is the ALLMIGHTY dollar more important than the health and well being of the majority?
So why does a cigarette smoker have the right to decide who else breathes their smoke? Why should non-smokers who are effected by a smoker have to isolate themselves to prevent harm or inconvenience from an intrusive, irritating, and to some of us, a NASTY habit of a minority. If an individual wishes to contaminate the air they breath, why should everyone else have to live in a bubble? Doesn't it make more sense that the minority smoker should be the one to make consessions?
Unfortunatly, the world we live in is getting crowded. WAY TOO CROWDED. With people stacked in to a confined area, we have to make our impact on others a little less adverse. Obviously people won't/don't want to do that voluntarily. Then it becomes neccisary to have rules imposed forcing some to recognize the rights of others. I'm opposed to "big government". I don't like being told how I should live. I'd much prefer it if we could all make the right choices on our own with no government intrusion. But I understand when I operate outside the box of "accepted behavior", I'm asking to be ruled against. Simple as that. If smokers would police themselves, quite possibly, the government would have never stepped in, be it on a local level, or national level. But smokers didn't. Now we deal with the inevitable.
Like I've said in earlier post's, I'm nuetral for the most part.(My wife tells me I am
) But I UNDERSTAND why these laws are now being imposed.
If it were entirely up to me, cigarette smokers would voluntarily take it outside, quit stinking up my fresh air, and no new laws would be needed. But we all know THAT won't happen.
