The Nanny State Continues
Not content with banning foie gras, attempting to ban transfats and generally being busy bodies in everyone's lives, the City Council passed a law some time ago that will ban smoking in all bars and taverns in July of 2008. Not content with this busy-bodiness, a State legislator and member of the Machine is attempting to push for a statewide ban on smoking to take effect in January 2008:
- If a Chicago lawmaker has his way, all Illinois bars will go smoke-free before Chicago's ordinance takes effect.
State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said Thursday he's going to push for a smoking ban in all Illinois workplaces -- including bars and restaurants -- to begin in January 2008. His bill, if passed, would supersede Chicago's smoking ban, which currently gives bars until July 2008 to go smoke-free.
"There's simply no reason why, in this year, hospitality workers such as waitresses, servers and bartenders shouldn't have the same health protection that exists in office buildings where most of us work," Cullerton said.
So instead of letting the free market do it's job or maybe even have private enterprise develop a better filter system to clear out the smoky atmosphere in most establishments, Cullerton wants to make it impossible to smoke just about anywhere but on the street or in your home.
Just a few little questions - but where is Cullerton supposing he's going to make up all the tax revenues that are generated by sales of cigarettes and such in bars? Or come up with revenue to enforce this law? The shortsightedness of the nanny state people never ceases to amaze us.
Just a few little questions - but where is Cullerton supposing he's going to make up all the tax revenues that are generated by sales of cigarettes and such in bars? Or come up with revenue to enforce this law? The shortsightedness of the nanny state people never ceases to amaze us.
posted by SCC at 12:30 AM
42 Comments:
Are we supposed to stand out on the street and smoke otside of gran Central?...Or what?
Is midnights going to raid the joint looking for ash trays?
i will still have a cig in a bar with my beer... anyone says anything to me about putting my cig out..they with have to talk with my SIG SAUER in thr face:)... this country is going to crap... because of the Liberals...
cullerton can't even control his own children and now he wants to put further controls on we the people.
Big Brother even though i don't smoke how do these assholes think the taxes are being paid? from the huge tax on smokes! Maybe eddie burkes brother "Danny" would stop smoking to make his brother "Harry Carrey" Look Good!
Let's hope they pass legislation banning the sale of all alcoholic beverages including beer at all sports functions, bars, restaurants and taverns.
SMOKE EM IF YOU GOT EM
They should write up cops that smoke in uniform or on company time like they do in the suburbs. Lets make the power test mandatory on a yearly basis to keep your job. Out of shape your gone.
I don't smoke so who cares.
1/14/2007 03:44:58 AM. Easy tough guy! My guess is you're only 5ft tall to begin with. I'd bet money that the smoking has stunted your growth and brain development.
You notice all of these Goofs and Crooked ass politicians have one thing in common?
They are Democrats.
It's about freakin time. The whore politicians will just have to find some other bullshit tax - OR NOT. Our politicians are nothing, if not creative regarding theft. Legalize drugs and tax the hell out of them. Junkies have proven it time and time again.
passing these laws are silly. they cant enforce them and take the decision making away from people.
to answer your question on the cig tax dollars. the government and you would save big bucks when people stop smoking and less tax dollars are spent on health care from related illnesses. also private citizens would save because of health care savings.
think about it. if you are healthy you pay the same health care costs as joe avg slob american who has diabetes and asthma. too bad you cant pay based on your health rish simlar to car insurance.
i hate liberals but this ban is great, yeah u guys can have fun standing outside and smoking ur bullshit just like in NY, it's better than me having to go home at night and take a shower b/c everything i wear smells like crap
Is this ban gonna be the first step towards repeal of the amendment that repealed prohibition?
1/14/2007 03:44:58 AM
You are a real HAND-JOB. Sounds like you're a real tough guy with your pistol. Obviously a sissy without it!!
speaking of tax revenue. kinda
Im was working on my taxes which lead to the question of where else does the city get its revenue?
I pay taxes directly or indirecty thru propery, telephone, natural gas, electricy, cell phone, cable.
Usually dont but gasoline ive bought in the city has a tax of 30+ cents per gallon.
Last furlo I did a tourist type of vacation. Hotel room downtown- museums, pier etc. Those bills showed things like Hotel/room tax, city amusement, City parking tax. I expect the sales tax. But it was amazing to me how much farther Daley stuck his hand in my pocket.
The city wonders why the trade shows, and other big business is leaving Chicago.
Tax and spent at its finest.
Good....it couldn't happen soon enough. Let it start tomorow. It's a shame that it hasn't stopped people from smoking in the squad cars. All the a##holes who think they don't have to follow the rules or laws for that matter. Yes I am a whiney non-smoker.
1/14/2007 04:36:25 AM:
They're too busy working themSELVES into a drunken stupor to pass a law like THAT.
"Cullerton wants to make it impossible to smoke just about anywhere but on the street or in your home."
That will be next.The panty wastes infecting our society will call 911 to report smoking in a private dwelling..its coming.
Once the camels nose is under the tent...the whole camel will eventually get in.What next??The Area 2 Smoking Team??
This whole smoking ban is crazy. I love how they ban smokeing in most public places and then add $2 more tax to the price of a pack. They dont realize that we can go to indiana or lake county and get cigarettes for half what they cost in chicago. They are actually loosing money by doing this. I get gas when I am out there too, much cheaper.
These are the same state politicians that for over two years have refused to vote for a raise for disabled po's. Any copper or copper's family member who votes for a Democrat is a real asshole.
Smoking in public places is unhealthy, obnoxious, and foul to those who dont smoke. I dont know why it is so hard for smokers to understand how offensive it is to non-smokers. Probably the nicotine addiction and their need to get it wherever they are just makes them inconsiderate of others. I would prefer it if nobody smoked at all, for obvious health reasons. But this is still a free country and you have a right to make your own bad decisions but you dont have the right to make me inhale your second hand smoke in public buildings. I cant tell you what to do with your own health, but when it can impact mine, I sure can and I am glad they are doing it as it is a public nuisance. Get the cig companies to create one that will just allow the user to get all that smokey goodness without spewing smoke and carcinogens all throughout the room for everyone else to choke on, and I will be the first one to defend your right to smoke anywhere.
If you want to kill yourselves by smoking and endanger your family with second hand smoke, thats your choice. Dont take the rest of us down with you.
In my opinion this ban is for the best. It's difficult to smoke inside without affecting the air quality of others. NYC was concerned the ban would drive away bar goers-and it did no such thing. Any adverse impact was outweighed by the number of people going to drink that hate smoke and therefore wouldn't go to bars. This isn't about the free market economy-it's about looking after people who should have the right to breath clean air.
You smokers all look like crack fiends, huddled together out in the cold. I laugh my ass off everytime I pass you guys.
I too like going home not smelling like an ashtray. As for kissing one of you guys, fuggedaboutit! Bleeech!
to 3:44 am are you really that stupid ? you are probably the same guy that waves his gun around in a bar showing off your new job tool because the city will hire anyone who can piss clean. someday, you will probably blast away at someone while you are all liquored up and get mad when the brass can't clean up your mess. if you carry your gun in a bar, you have made only a minor mistake. when you wave/ use it while drunk in a bar, it had better be an absolute catastrophe in the works (you getting killed or mamed is about the only circumstance) or you, my drunken gun toting friend, will probably see a little prison time and hefty lawsuit. wwwaaaaaaaaaaaa i wanna smoke, i know smokers that actually like the idea of going home from the bar and not reeking of that nasty smell till a shower is taken. besides rookie...you should buy a .38 and qualify with it so you can leave your 9mm/.45 difference maker at home or in your locker at work where it belongs. i'm going to the bar with my .38 (concealed very well) and laugh at all the hacking smokers.
Personally, I support the proposed ban forbidding smoking in restaurants, bars, and all public buildings. I think that if you truly care about your health, then you don't smoke, and you don't want to inhale "second hand" smoke either.
And by the way, smoking in the squads is forbidden also. Check it out. No one should ride with anyone who wants to smoke in the cars during their tour of duty. Usually, the smoker asks the non-smoker (if he's driving) to pull over, and the smoker gets out and does his thing OUTSIDE the car. That's the decent thing to do, and usually, smoking coppers don't have a problem with that. I get a real good laugh passing by a hospital, seeing all the docs, nurses, and other "health care" workers standing outside in freezing temperatures dealing with their addiction. What a hoot!! I don't have a problem with people making a conscious decision to shorten their lives, I just refuse to give them the power to make that decision for ME also!
I think you should be able to pay for dope on the west side in pesos!
Having to stand outside to smoke is insane.
You smokers should only be allowed to smoke in a corner of your basements.
Bring on the ban.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
1049
How old are you? Have you ever been to bar in your life that didn't have tobacco smoke wafting through the air!?! Smoking and bars go hand in hand. The bartenders that took jobs in bars know this.
At least nowadays with the improvement of fans the smoke doesn't suspend in a cloud 5 feet off the ground. Not bathing after a night out? I hate to tell you but old booze does stink and bad at that. Guess you don't remember the ashtrays they used to have in the aisles at the Jewel while you were waiting in line for check out either. How about smoking in the er waiting room at any given hospital.
Smoking in rooms too! No blame your bathing habits on the smoker. Here's a suggested, stay out of the bars! My bars had smoke in them way before you were born, I shouldn't have to give up my rights to coddle to you.
The Twin Cities has a smoking ban in bars, and I absolutely love it. I went to a podunk bar last night in a city where smoking is allowed in bars, and I was reminded how great it is to go to a bar in a city where there is no smoking allowed in bars.
Well to all the whiney non smokers out there. Don't you think majority of us would have quit this costly habit a long time ago if we could?
The goverment allowed tobacco lobbyist to put whatever they wanted in the cig so we kept buying them. Keeping the tobbacco farmers rich. Why not push for a ban on all tobacco including cigars, chew, cigs. etc , outlaw the whole fucking thing already coast to coast. Instead of complaining and rejoicing that I can get punished for the addiction, put a complete stop on it before the next 13 yo lights up. I can't successfully quit and I'm positive I'm not alone.
ps. If I die at 60 yos old from smoke, thats 40 yrs of benefits you don't have to pay for me if I was healthy.
Here a few proposals for the City Council to consider banning:
Ban corrupt bastard politicians, a much greater threat to our society than goose liver.
Political corruption in general, nepotism, crooked police departments, Hired Trick programs, etc.
Banning any current or future member of the Daley family or any of his offspring or their relatives or their relative's offspring, step children, adopted children, friends or acquantances from ever holding public office in Chicago or Cook County or ever getting a contract worth over 50 cents from any govermental body in Illinois.
Are you detecting a pattern here?
Goose liver is OK with me when compared with the corruption cancer infecting and choking our local, county and state governments. I never had goose liver pate but if eating it would rid us of the scourge of corrupt Irish (and every other type) politicians then I will eat fois gras and crackers before bedtime from now on.
Please Dear God, please let Daley get indicted before Patrick Fitzgerald leaves the Office of US Attorney, Please God, just that one thing, forget the 19 year old blonde bimbo I asked for, just indict Daley, Richard J. before the next Democrat president sends him back to Brooklyn.
I will now say 10 Our Fathers and a dozen Hail Marys and a perfect Act of Contrition to help God along with that indictment.
And God, if you indict Daley, Richard J., I will never ask for anything again, I promise.
All u non=smokers are hypocrites, how about if we ban liquor since you like going to bars. I would rather stink like smoke than be killed by your drunk a##.
I AM WORKING NO CLOUT POLICE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO A WEST SIDE DISDTRICT. I HATE CIGARETTES. I CALL THEM CANCER STICKS. I SUPPORT THE NO SMOKING BAN. IF YOU WANT TO DIE OF CANCER THAT YOUR BUSINESS. ALSO SOMEONE SHOULD TELL THE 025 UNIT THIRD WATCH DESK PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NO ALLOWED TO SMOKE ON CITY OF CHICAGO PROPERTY. ABOVE ALL STOP SMOKING, JOIN A HEALTH CLUB, AND GET A LIKE.
Smoke? I don't care if you burn!
RICHARD J DALEY IS DEAD. I GUESS GOD ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS.
SORRY ABOUT THE BLONDE BIMBO. NOW YOU HAVE NEITHER. SUCH A WASTE OF A WISH.
" I dont know why it is so hard for smokers to understand how offensive it is to non-smokers."
I'm a non-smoker, and two of my last three partners were smokers. Did I tell them to stop. No. I knew what I was getting into. So, grow up, if you do not want to inhale second hand smoke, don't go out. I hate crowds, I've only been to the movies twice in five years. I walk into a tavern, I know whats coming. So shut the fuck up and act like you have a pair!
"It's a shame that it hasn't stopped people from smoking in the squad cars. All the a##holes who think they don't have to follow the rules or laws for that matter. Yes I am a whiney non-smoker."
I'm a non-smoker and I have one thing to say to you....get another job...a vehicle is not a building. Grow up. Rather suck up a bit of second hand then answer a civil rights beef, cuz, my partner became heavy handed due to nicotine withdrawl...MORE HIGH SCHOOL LESS COLLEGE....
So, grow up, if you do not want to inhale second hand smoke, don't go out.So shut the fuck up and act like you have a pair!
.......get another job...a vehicle is not a building
***********************************
So one guy should avoid going to a public place, and the other guy should have to quit his job just so others can smoke in a bar or in a dept. vehicle (despite a policy against it). You would make a great supervisor or politician. And you are very sharp, a vehicle is not a building, good call, but there is still supposed to be no smoking in the squads.
Everyone needs to grow up and grow a pair eh? Did you think of this one as you were sitting next to your partner as he was smoking and you were to busy admiring the size of your nads to say anything about it? But why should you start now, it sounds like you are used to being subservient to your partners, and besides,you loooove second hand smoke.
Even a five year old would have come up with something better then the- if you dont like it, leave- mentality. Sounds like too much goofing off in high school and not enough kindergarten.
OK, I should pray I proof read everythng just one more time, I am showing my age, it should of course read, Daley, Richard M. not Richard J.
We got screwed by the old man but the kid is proving the old man was a softie bt comparison.
The sentiment is the same, indict the living Daley who is Mayor and strike all living sons sterile.
Whatever happened to freedom of choice? Let the bar owners decide if they want their business smoke free or not.I will not go into a bar that is smoke free it's "MY CHOICE" I enjoy a couple of drinks and a few smokes.We have a city out of control and all they worry about is telling some restaraunt owner what food he can and can not serve,and the bar owners not to allow smoking!I work special at the airport and a large number of passengers come up to me between their flights asking where they can have a smoke,nothing like standing outside in this weather to have one.I've been to out of town airports where they have smoking areas INSIDE the terminal.
For a number of years I've been doing my socializing in the suburbs
for many reasons,(1)it's an older crowd in my age group.(2) the patrons are from the same economic background as I am (and you can read into that anything you want)(3) no offduty drunken coppers. Since the 1st of the year when the smoking ban went into effect in a couple of neighboring towns,business has "DOUBLED" at my favorite watering hole,the regulars like myself are'nt too happy with the extra volume,but my saloon owner is happier than hell with his income going "WAY UP".I noticed today on the news that the tavern owners in the banned townships are crying the blues because of the loss of business and their laying off people.
The point I'm trying to make is it's all a matter of choices,and for the anti-smoking nazi's out there don't give me the B/S about second hand smoke,you don't like the "SMELL" of tobacco thats your choice but don't give me the song and dance it's bad for your health thats a never proven fallacy taken up by the anti-smoking zealots to favor their cause.
With all the real problems in this
contry/state/city elected officials dictating your lifestyle
to agree with theirs is getting way out of hand.This country was made great by its freedoms and choices.I have the right to enjoy a legal product in the place of my choice just as you have the same right in yours.I stay out of the non-smoking establishments by choice,so do me a favor and stay the "FUCK" out of my bar where EVERYONE smokes,and thats YOUR choice!
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