Window on Washington

By Dave

May 8, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Awww….shut up and go ride your bike Lance. I dont smoke either but get off your high horse and dont try to tell people how to run their lives. It should be up to the BUSINESS owner as to if they want to allow smoking or not. If the employee or customer doesnt like cigarettes, go to a non smoking establishment. Pretty simple and doesnt trample on people’s rights.

By D

May 8, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Dave— How many people have you had to tell that their chest xray has a mass on it? BUSINESS or NO BUSINESS - this IS one of the ‘few’ preventable forms of cancer.

By kingkirbythegreatoftexas

May 8, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Go Lance! All smokers and those who allow it are evil.

By Franz

May 8, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Jeez, you could look at it as Lance is a cancer survivor and does not want other people to suffer through cancer. OK, maybe he’s not as good at saying it as Oprah might, but give the guy a break. Not everyone is trying to tell you how to live your life. Now go have another cigarette.

By kingkirbythegreatoftexas

May 8, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Go Lance! All smokers and those who allow it are evil.

By omcaura

May 8, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Smoking is not a right. Read the Constitution. (not mentioned) Work place safety is the responsibility of every business owner. Smoking is certainly unsafe for the employees. Should be the end of the conversation. Extend your analogy to smokestacks, tailpipes, and effluent and see how ridiculous it becomes.

By Madison

May 8, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Smoking may not be a “right” as defined in the constitution, but running your business the way you see fit IS a right. If you pay for the cost to run a restaurant or bar (cost of supplies, food, salaries, taxes, etc) you should be able to deem your business smoking or non smoking. There’s plenty of restaurants that would opt to be non smoking. It should be the owners choice for establishments that are not a neccisity to visit. Grocery stores, clothing shops, govt buildings and offices should be nonsmoking…people HAVE to go there. But no one HAS to go to a bar or out to dinner to a restaurant. People have the choice to work in a smoking or nonsmoking establishment. This town has become little communist China. I don’t smoke and I don’t like breathing it, but I strongly believe in the right to run your business the way you want. It’s called FREEDOM! If you don’t like smoke, don’t go to the bars or restaurants that allow it. It’s not rocket science.

By mark

May 8, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

In response to Dave: You shut up! I guess every business owner has a phd in chemical/cancer prevention research and knows best for every patron that comes in the door. It is the right of the people who go to public areas not to be polluted by other people who have a drug addiction. Yes, it is a drug! Lets call it smokable heroin , if heroin was in the air would you still be stupid enough to make the statement you made? I think not. Lance is correct. He just cant use the words in public as freely as I can.

By Madison

May 8, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Smoking may not be a “right” as defined in the constitution, but running your business the way you see fit IS a right. If you pay for the cost to run a restaurant or bar (cost of supplies, food, salaries, taxes, etc) you should be able to deem your business smoking or non smoking. There’s plenty of restaurants that would opt to be non smoking. It should be the owners choice for establishments that are not a neccisity to visit. Grocery stores, clothing shops, govt buildings and offices should be nonsmoking…people HAVE to go there. But no one HAS to go to a bar or out to dinner to a restaurant. People have the choice to work in a smoking or nonsmoking establishment. This town has become little communist China. I don’t smoke and I don’t like breathing it, but I strongly believe in the right to run your business the way you want. It’s called FREEDOM! If you don’t like smoke, don’t go to the bars or restaurants that allow it. It’s not rocket science.

By mark

May 8, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

In response to Dave: You shut up! I guess every business owner has a phd in chemical/cancer prevention research and knows best for every patron that comes in the door. It is the right of the people who go to public areas not to be polluted by other people who have a drug addiction. Yes, it is a drug! Lets call it smokable heroin , if heroin was in the air would you still be stupid enough to make the statement you made? I think not. Lance is correct. He just cant use the words in public as freely as I can.

By Chris

May 8, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Dave, I couldn’t agree with you more.

D, those who smoke know full well what the risks are, so if they’re told the have a mass, well, they knew it was a risk. They can deal with it.

King Kirby, you’re a moron.

Omcaura, funny you mention the Constitution. You’re right, smoking isn’t a right outlined in the Constitution and neither is Government sponsored health care or social security. Can we get rid of those too, please? Jim Bob doesn’t have a Constitutional right to smoke and you don’t have a Constitutional right to tell him not to.

By Phillip[ Morris

May 8, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Smoke em’ if you got em’….outside….15 ft. away from the establishment….thanks

By Phillip[ Morris

May 8, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

Smoke em’ if you got em’….outside….15 ft. away from the establishment….thanks

By Chris

May 8, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

No no, Phillip Morris, Mark knows what’s best for you so he has a right to enforce what he knows best on you. Mark, you’re a moron too. If Billy Bob’s out smoking in the park and you don’t want to breathe the smoke, here’s an idea, WALK AROUND HIM. Or perhaps Billy Bob could have the common courtesy to find a place where others are not and smoke there, but if he’s there first, leave him alone.

By Scott Unzicker

May 8, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

There’s no “constitutional” right to vote, either, Omcaura (no, really, look it up… ), but there are implied rights and privileges. Do I think smoking is stupid? Yes. Do I think it’s harmful? Yuppers. Do I think it’s a government’s job to keep me from shooting myself in the foot? Nope. Survival of the smartest, man.

By Will on Nueces

May 8, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

One person’s freedom shouldn’t disturb another individual’s freedom, which smoking does to a non-smoker - even if it’s merely a bother. For instance, there are noise laws to stop people blaring their stereo in the middle of the night. It disturbs others. Democracy has spoken anyway.

By youcan'tfixstupid

May 8, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Madison - you are sadly mistaken. If restaurants deserve the freedom to run their businesses anyway they want regardless of the health risk to their patrons and workers, then I suppose they shouldn’t have to be inspected by the health inspectors for food safety, hygiene, food handlers certificates, etc. The effect an individual’s smoking has on the health of those around them is akin to the effects of asbestos in buildings… it is a known cause of cancer to those who inhale it either directly or indirectly. I am reminded of the mesothelioma/asbestos class action lawsuit commercials that I see on television everyday, and I can see self-righteous restaurant and bar owners eventually being sued for causing cancer to the masses or at least to their workers, (who have a right to work in the industry without being exposed to cancer causing chemicals and cigarette smoke)… imagine our world when those lawsuits start to happen. And they will.

It is correct that it is your right to smoke if you like, but it is not your “right” for your habit to affect the health of someone else. And if you are hopeful for some form of Gov’t run National Health coverage in the USA, then when the Gov’t starts paying for everyone’s health care, you can be assured that smoking will be increasingly regulated to the point of “you can only smoke in a vacuum sealed room” - as it should be. You see France and other countries that have National Health Care passing federal laws regulating no smoking in public. Put on your thinking cap and try to imagine why? That is truly the only upside I can see to the otherwise flawed rush to create an NHS in the U.S.

By Tina

May 8, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

All cancer is not caused by smoking, lots of non-smokers get it. I would bet some of these people were not around 2nd hand smoke enough to blame that either. If people are going to make a big deal of smoking, equal it out and take on alcohol at the same time. It kills, causes drunk driving, and isn’t grown or come across naturally as tobacco is. I’m a smoker, other peoples opinions don’t bother me, it bothers me that alcohol isn’t receiving the same attention as tobacco is.

By karamazov

May 8, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

If you can not maturbate in public, why can you smoke?? It should be a private thing. Do it at Home!.. If you wan to kill yourself. Do it! but don’t drag innocent bystanders in your path of selfdestruction.

By dave

May 8, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

I absolutely hate SMOKING and SMOKERS! I find them disgusting.

Yet, I understand that our government has no business regulating smoking in non-publically funded buildings. Private owners of homes and businesses should be allowed to make their own choice regarding smoking in their establishment.

Employee have a choice to work for them or not

Patrons have a choice to utilize their establishment or not

The government has again over stepped its authority in my view. I believe that LA is a good man and a role model to many. However, I think he would be better served by working on educating young people to ensure they understand just how dangerous and disgusting smoking is to their health.

By Hank

May 8, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Work place safety hey??Could you imagine how expensive everything would get if mechanics/welders/Fabricators were required to wear mask because almost everything in a shop is known to cause cancer!! The cleaning chemicals they use are way worse than second hand smoke. Are you guys fighting for them? No, because that would affect the majority instead on the minority. What Nail Salons—good god those things are one step away from being a meth lab.

The way i see it, people are to busy trying to live other peoples lives instead of minding there own business. Leave people alone and let them live their lives. And GROW UP and face the reality that we cant save and protect everybody from everything thats bad!!

I agree that cigarettes should get a bad rap for Lying to the American public and saying it was ok. But why take away everybody elses civil liberties. We all have bad habits that affact the general public in different ways—the Bar Stud/Studette sleeping around, The mom that constantly takes their kids to Mc Donalds, the over drinker…etc..all these things affect the general public in one way or antoher

learn to that a private business is just that private. They allow the public to come in and do business

You really shuldnt tell people to shut up either—as soon as you do that they other side stops listening

By Larry

May 8, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

Hey, you all are right. I don’t have to go to a smoker restaurant or bar, and I don’t. In Round Rock an ordinance was passed and all the establishments were going out of business. However, now that they are smoke free, there’s still a line waiting to get in.

I had quite going to some that had smoker designated places as they were next to non-smoker and the smell was terrible. Now, I go to those places.

Frankly, I don’t care what a business does, I simply don’t go. But in the fresh air, I know when my neighbor lights up in their backyard. Nothing I can do about it but go in the house to avoid the smell. So, Smokers, you have run my out of my own backyard, happy?

Anyway, I don’t complain about second hand smoke, as I avoid it and so does my family. There are plenty of good clean places to spend my money.

By Mike

May 8, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

Cigarettes are dangerous. So is doping. It causes testicular cancer.

By hank

May 8, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Larry—little over the top there with the backyard thing. It couldnt be any worse than the gas lawnmower your other neighbor is running—really guys where is the common sense?

I am not a smoker but I defend other peoples right to live their lives as they see fit. Along with those freedoms come a give and take relationship we all have to accept. Thats what America is supposed to be. We should be free to choose the road we want to go down. If I go out of business or get cancer—it was my choice.

We are making criminals out of people that shouldnt be. They choose to smoke to calm their nerves while other people choose to take pills.

Once people feel their freedoms are threatend—that is the start of a revolution—and usually they arent pretty. If it came down to it—i wouldnt fight for a sinlge one of you that wants to put so many regulations on how a person lives thier lives or runs there business. You could be next—maybe not for smoking but maybe it is how you are raising your kids

Now i know people will take that last sentence and twist it all around—i am hoping you will use your commonsense and not try to make the “well if he jumped off a cliff…)

You could be next—maybe not for smoking but maybe it is how you are raising your kids or wearing perfume (San Fransisco tried to pass an ordinance like this)

By Bruce

May 8, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Tax and regulate the smokers right out of existence. Every time I see a smoker toss their butt out the car window I am reminded of the poor choices smokers make and how they affect us all. Who cares about the rants of people dumb enough to smoke? The rest of us think you are filthy idiots and encourage you to take the first step towards intelligence - quit.

By JP

May 8, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Businesses should be able to run themselves as they see fit. We should get rid of those pesky health inspectors too. Just because a restaurant has roaches or rats doesn’t mean they can’t serve good food. Besides you can choose to go to some place that doesn’t have roaches. Not to mention the ridicules rules about temperature. We all know when food is good or bad. If you think some food is bad, then don’t eat it, or don’t go to that restaurant. The fire marshalls should go too. IF a business owner wants to have a big crowd for a special event it isn’t the governments business to tell a private business owner how many people can be in his own building. Besides if there is a fire, the doors are wide open and everyone is free to leave if they want. Not to mention that if you have a problem with the big crowds you can choose not to go to the establishments. What about this minimum wage crap, a business should be able to pay their employees whatever they choose. Employees don’t have to work there, so why is it anyone else’s buiness? Next you will be telling us that we can’t go to the bathroom without washing our hands…Gesh!

By Paul Silver

May 8, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Allowing people to avoid cigarette smoking is reasonable but the Austin solution was not. Smokers merely relocated to bars with outdoor patios so that bars that could not accommodate them suffered financial loss. It was not fair. Mitigation for those businesses that could not cope would have been more honorable.

By hank

May 8, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

JP—i guess you didnt see that sentence where i said please use common sense. You are making an argument trying to compare apples to oranges.

You would know prior to going into the resturant/bar whether it was smoking or none smoking. Then if you choose to go there the minor amount of second hand smoke you might get wouldnt be anyworse than when you go to the gas station.

THe arguments you are making are at the extremes and dont follow common sense. I like debate, but it has to be based in fact and not off the wall comparisons.

for example acetone is bad to inhale, but it isnt anyworse than nail polish remover because they are the same thing.

Really, if other peoples freedom get taken away they will be less likely to defend yours. Doesnt anybody understand that?

If I were a smoker and my freedom to do so was taken away i would be less likely to stand up to you against say—An ordinance requiring you to wear long sleeves when the sun is out…..etc..You can say what you want—but you are impinging on someone elses civil liberties—whether they want to be dirt, gross disgusting….you are forcing to be what you want

By Cristina

May 8, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this

Dave - You are my hero!

I am a native Austinite, my family has lived here for over 100 years. And I don’t care if Lance is the goody-goody poster boy for Austin, I am sick of him and have been for years!

Don’t get me wrong, what he has done in his life, overcoming cancer and all those Tour de France races he won, I find that pretty darn cool. But “butt” <- (every pun intended,) Out!

So he, and many other non-smokers, don’t want to be around second hand smoke? Fine, don’t be around it. Since Austin passed the smoking ban, you’ll be hard pressed to find a smoking establishment. But smokers have rights too! I would MUCH rather the city looked at water pollution, air pollution, smog, crime, traffic… things that effect the entire population of Central Texas, rather than listening to Mr. Goody-Goody rant about the dangers of smoking. Instead of trying to fix the issues of the community, this is just one more item to create segregation among Austinites.

BTW - not that it matters, I am non-smoker. I just happen to think that stepping on the rights of any Austinite, Texan or American, in their own backyard, is wrong. No matter how pretty of a bow you put on it.

By Mitchell

May 8, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

Anyone who is ignorant enough to smoke, usually does not have the common sense or thoughtfulness not to smoke around others! It is a disgusting, ignorant habit that should not be tolerated in public! Smoke in your home and in your car w/ your windows rolled up… Quit tossing your nasty cigareete butts out the window of your car!

By Tarvin

May 8, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

Smoking is illegal. No wait, only smoking marijuana, crack, etc. is illegal. Smoking the tobacco weed is legal, despite the fact it causes cancer.

By Summer

May 8, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

Smokers should have the same rights as others do; such as freedom of press, freedom of speech, the freedom to demonstrate against any and every thing a group of people might decide is worth staging a demonstation. If smoking is the number one evil, please tell me how to console the mother of a child killed by a drunk driver (convicted numerous times for DWI); tell me how you console the family of a young 12 year old kid who OD’s on drugs; how do you console the parents of a young girl who contracted AIDS because society has no morals anymore. Everyday young people are reading about this famous person sleeping with this other famous person (who just broke off with this other famous person last week). Mega sports stars, fighting dogs, taking drugs, beating children and wife. Come on folks there are a lot of other issues that should concern us more than if someone should or shouldn’t be allowed to smoke. I really hate the fact that people who go out a drink all night and get behind the wheel of a car and end up killing someone. The smoker doesn’t lose judgement and any sense of right a wrong while smoking; a drunk and drug addict do! nuff said!

By Summer

May 8, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

Smokers should have the same rights as others do; such as freedom of press, freedom of speech, the freedom to demonstrate against any and every thing a group of people might decide is worth staging a demonstation. If smoking is the number one evil, please tell me how to console the mother of a child killed by a drunk driver (convicted numerous times for DWI); tell me how you console the family of a young 12 year old kid who OD’s on drugs; how do you console the parents of a young girl who contracted AIDS because society has no morals anymore. Everyday young people are reading about this famous person sleeping with this other famous person (who just broke off with this other famous person last week). Mega sports stars, fighting dogs, taking drugs, beating children and wife. Come on folks there are a lot of other issues that should concern us more than if someone should or shouldn’t be allowed to smoke. I really hate the fact that people who go out a drink all night and get behind the wheel of a car and end up killing someone. The smoker doesn’t lose judgement and any sense of right a wrong while smoking; a drunk and drug addict do! nuff said!

By Brian

May 8, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

gosh… it’s sad to see so many rabid prohibitionist around these parts… but you know what they say, the only good prohibitionist is a dead prohibitionist.

By Summer

May 8, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

Smokers should have the same rights as others do; such as freedom of press, freedom of speech, the freedom to demonstrate against any and every thing a group of people might decide is worth staging a demonstation. If smoking is the number one evil, please tell me how to console the mother of a child killed by a drunk driver (convicted numerous times for DWI); tell me how you console the family of a young 12 year old kid who OD’s on drugs; how do you console the parents of a young girl who contracted AIDS because society has no morals anymore. Everyday young people are reading about this famous person sleeping with this other famous person (who just broke off with this other famous person last week). Mega sports stars, fighting dogs, taking drugs, beating children and wife. Come on folks there are a lot of other issues that should concern us more than if someone should or shouldn’t be allowed to smoke. I really hate the fact that people who go out a drink all night and get behind the wheel of a car and end up killing someone. The smoker doesn’t lose judgement and any sense of right a wrong while smoking; a drunk and drug addict do! nuff said!

By MHL

May 9, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

Right On!

By MHL

May 9, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

Second-hand smoke causes people to smoke without a choice in the matter. Those people breathing second-hand smoke are smoking, at whatever age, and more at risk to become smokers. Thank you very much, Lance!