Smoking in cars with kids?

[brianhos]

how many people die from heart diease diabetes etc? Could you imagine the hysteria if schools put in cigarette machines ? Yet candy bars, doritos, and pop are everywhere for kids. Goebels would have wet dreams and be in awe at the propaganda machine the junk food crowd aims at kids.

My wife was watching oprah the other night and she made me come and listen to it. They said by the time our kids generation get to be 30, 50% of all latino americans will be diabetic, 40% of blacks and 35% of whites. That is freakin scary!

[alaskaguy]

Let's just cut to the chase. Why is smoking even legal or the industry allowed? There's indisuputable documentation of how bad it is for the smoker and those around them.

It's expensive from a medical perspective, treatment (stop-smoking) etc and is one of the few "habits" that have an direct affect on others (unlike drugs, drinking, other smokeless tabacco). Sure those have indirect affects like DUI. For instance, I have asthma as does my borther. And given the research, I have little doubt that it's due to my parents smoking while I was a child.

We're constantly doing stuff to curb it, prevent it, make it less desireable. All the while the REAL problems remain. So why do we continue to allow it, while outlawing other addictive habits?

Oh wait, big business, big money, big lobby.

On a different but same story, I was at the season finalee for the Chicago Cubs a few weeks back. Some POS woman (sorry, can't call her anything else) who was obviously about 7+ months pregnant, was sitting nearby with a beer. Now I'll take it back if God later tells me it was non-alch. Unfortunately, by her general appearance, demeanor and condition - I'm not worried about having to take it back.

If you take tobacco out of the equation, our trade deficit would mushroom. lol.

[DaddyMac]

how many people die from heart diease diabetes etc? Could you imagine the hysteria if schools put in cigarette machines ? Yet candy bars, doritos, and pop are everywhere for kids. Goebels would have wet dreams and be in awe at the propaganda machine the junk food crowd aims at kids.

Can't argue with that either. Obviously the "your bad health costs me money arguement" isn't very strong and can be readily carried to a wide range of issues. But coupled with the "your bad habit affects my health" arguement - it becomes ather strong.

[alaskaguy]

Even in the states like California that have the most restrictive tobacco legislation, smoking is still permitted in casinos.

I've wondered why smoking is not considered an occupational hazard. Shouldn't an employer provide a "safe" work place?"

Casinos don't provide a safe work place for many of their employees. For example, blackjack dealers are regularly exposed to second hand smoke. The second hand smoke they inhale may even over time develop into lung cancer. Notwithstanding this unsafe work environment, I'm not aware that casinos are held liable for health ailments caused by second hand smoke.

[tec71]

Isn't it ironic though that the traffic stop in CA will have to be for something other than smoking with a kid in the car. Now we all know that cops make judgment calls everyday about whether something is worth stopping someone for, but to actually explicitly legislate that "smoking in cars with kids is illegal" but we aren't going to stop you seems idiotic. If I can be stopped for a seatbelt, why can't the idiotic in the car next to me be stopped when the cop sees him driving with an infant in the car puffing along.

[Kyle]

Even in the states like California that have the most restrictive tobacco legislation, smoking is still permitted in casinos.

I've wondered why smoking is not considered an occupational hazard. Shouldn't an employer provide a "safe" work place?"

Casinos don't provide a safe work place for many of their employees. For example, blackjack dealers are regularly exposed to second hand smoke. The second hand smoke they inhale may even over time develop into lung cancer. Notwithstanding this unsafe work environment, I'm not aware that casinos are held liable for health ailments caused by second hand smoke.

That is usually the argument of most people looking to ban smoking in private establishments. I'm fairly convinced. I can choose to not go to an establishment, but it gets hard to tell someone who needs a job to get another one where they aren't exposed to smoke.

Thats also why I play poker. The poker sections are usually smoke free. Well, that and to feed my addiction...

[alaskaguy]

Doesn't OSHA have a mandate to ensure that the workplace is safe? Doesn't OSHA overlook second hand smoke?

[brianhos]

Doesn't OSHA have a mandate to ensure that the workplace is safe? Doesn't OSHA overlook second hand smoke?

You would think, but that is not the case. They probably say there is no proven evidence that second hand smoke is bad.

[cycloneworld]

Doesn't OSHA have a mandate to ensure that the workplace is safe? Doesn't OSHA overlook second hand smoke?

No one is FORCING you to work at a casino. The employees KNOW they are going to be exposed to second hand smoke and still choose to work there.

I liken your argument to a construction worker that says he doesn't want to do any manual labor because he may hurt his back.

[alaskaguy]

No one is FORCING you to work at a casino. The employees KNOW they are going to be exposed to second hand smoke and still choose to work there.

I liken your argument to a construction worker that says he doesn't want to do any manual labor because he may hurt his back.

You are correct that no one forces someone to work in a casino. However, try living in Nevada like I have. The casinos are a major force in employment in Nevada.

I don't buy your analogy of a construction worker. Certain jobs demand physical skills (fireperson, construction worker, etc.) That is acceptable. However, it is not acceptable to require an employee to work in an unsafe work environment.

[alaskaguy]

No one is FORCING you to work at a casino. The employees KNOW they are going to be exposed to second hand smoke and still choose to work there.

I liken your argument to a construction worker that says he doesn't want to do any manual labor because he may hurt his back.

Come on now. Second hand smoke is something that the employer/casino can easily prevent.

Don't you believe that an employer has an obligation to provide a safe workplace? If you don't you must believe that OSHA is a waste of taxpayer's funds.

[Cyclonepride]

Come on now. Second hand smoke is something that the employer/casino can easily prevent.

Don't you believe that an employer has an obligation to provide a safe workplace? If you don't you must believe that OSHA is a waste of taxpayer's funds.

How about some love for the strippers out there? They need good lungs too.

[cyclonenum1]

Let's just cut to the chase. Why is smoking even legal or the industry allowed? There's indisuputable documentation of how bad it is for the smoker and those around them.

It's expensive from a medical perspective, treatment (stop-smoking) etc and is one of the few "habits" that have an direct affect on others (unlike drugs, drinking, other smokeless tabacco). Sure those have indirect affects like DUI. For instance, I have asthma as does my borther. And given the research, I have little doubt that it's due to my parents smoking while I was a child.

We're constantly doing stuff to curb it, prevent it, make it less desireable. All the while the REAL problems remain. So why do we continue to allow it, while outlawing other addictive habits?

Oh wait, big business, big money, big lobby.

On a different but same story, I was at the season finalee for the Chicago Cubs a few weeks back. Some POS woman (sorry, can't call her anything else) who was obviously about 7+ months pregnant, was sitting nearby with a beer. Now I'll take it back if God later tells me it was non-alch. Unfortunately, by her general appearance, demeanor and condition - I'm not worried about having to take it back.

Wrong...the government will never make this illegal because doing so would push the business underground and they would lose all of the tax revenues.

[cyclonenum1]

I think a lot of the motivation for the gambling laws was that the government wasn't getting any tax revenue from them. That and a few sob stories from people who ruined their lives gambling. I tend to agree with you though.

This is exactly correct...they want you to go down to the local riverboat where they are getting their cut via taxes...not online where they are missing out on taxes.

Face it, the government operates in a very similar fashion as any organized crime family.

[cyclonenum1]

how many people die from heart diease diabetes etc? Could you imagine the hysteria if schools put in cigarette machines ? Yet candy bars, doritos, and pop are everywhere for kids. Goebels would have wet dreams and be in awe at the propaganda machine the junk food crowd aims at kids.

Have you been paying attention...they are now going after the junk food industry and fast food industry.

I want to preface what I am about to say by telling you that I don't smoke and I despise the habit.

However, this is about personal liberty. Right now you and I as non-smokers look and say "OK with me...I don't want to breath that crap" but what will you be saying when they take the next step and start limiting some activity that you do enjoy (as smokers obviously enjoy their habit)? What if they ban the sale of french fries? After all, everyone agrees that over 65% of Americans are obese...clearly this is a public health issue that needs addressing...does it not?

I know some of you are probably thinking I am crazy and that this could never happen...but if you put yourself in a time machine and went back 35 or 40 years and told people back then that someday it will be illegal for you to smoke in your own car...well, they would say you were crazy. Yet it is happening.

All I am saying is be careful of giving up your personal liberties so easily...even if you yourself do not smoke.