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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Marie McHarry wrote:

> Me:
> I seriously doubt that smoking legislation will come up. I suppose it
> could be banned in federal offices and on federal lands. Otherwise, I
> don't think federal law would have jurisdiction.
>
> Bev, you wouldn't be happy in Illinois. 

First, Georgia has had a statewide ban for years.  No public place, 
including restaurants or bars, and you have to be 15 feet from the 
entrance of a public building even if you are outside.  Smoking is 
banned on all government property, including parking lots.
And yet, people still smoke.  Ron and I actually had a favorite 
restaurant up in Chattanooga cuz you could still smoke inside. We went 
there twice...the first time it was great, the second time it seemed 
weird, but we still smoked there and I will still go back as a 
non-smoker cuz they have awesome steaks. :)
Second, Slick Willie signed an executive order banning smoking on 
federal property way back in 1997...being a non-smoker, you probably 
weren't aware of that..so much for jurisdiction.
For the most part, the way the federal gov gets around all of the other 
stuff is with OSHA.  Almost every building has workers...so, if you live 
above a store or where there are workers, you can't smoke. Los 
Angeles(there's California leading the way again) has non-smoking 
apartment complexes where smokers aren't allowed.  Calabasas apparently 
has banned smoking in apartments, so there again, you can't even 
exercise a right in your own home.

> I keep reading that tobacco addiction is one of the hardest to
> overcome. It seems so. I have more than once seen old ladies in
> wheelchairs who are on oxygen light up the minute they leave a store.

You betcha.  I have strugged for the last couple of months, but I have 
succeeded.  I don't plan to go back, because I'm not sure I would make 
it through the fire again.  However you look at it, it's not good, but 
people STILL have a right to do it.
It's getting to be kind of like owning a Ferrari though, you can own it 
and park it in your garage, but you can't drive it anywhere legally 
because of speed, emissions, noise, etc.

People, I realize that smoking is a no-brainer to hate, but I ask you to 
recall that old mantra of "first they came..."  I will copy it at the 
end of this.  These days, when they came, they just put you on the 
streets cuz you lose your home or job, but as you know, that poem was 
written under different circumstances. Personal rights and liberties are 
being eroded little by little...we think nothing of charging an obese 
person double for a seat, or refusing to serve an overweight person at a 
meal bar...liberalism has taken it's toll on this country, and we have 
to at least acknowledge that we are headed down a slippery slope when it 
comes to rights, especially the rights of the individuals and local 
communites.





> Bev:
> > > And why is it "okay" for President Clinton to smoke cigars, but not
> > > really okay for Obama to smoke ciggies?
>
> Me: I didn't know that anyone objecting to his _smoking_ his cigars.

LOL...God, I was hoping that someone would bring that up...lol..


> Bev:
> > > > > I wonder...And WHY would he not endear himself to the South's
> > > > > Tobacco World by allowing photos of him smoking a cigarette?
>
> Me: Probably the same reason Bush didn't want to own up to his drunk
> driving arrests: he didn't want to set a bad example for his
> daughters.


You know, that may have been the smartest, kindest thing George Bush 
ever did.

Bev

> When the Nazis came for the communists,
> I remained silent;
> I was not a communist.
>
> When they locked up the social democrats,
> I remained silent;
> I was not a social democrat.
>
> When they came for the trade unionists,
> I did not speak out;
> I was not a trade unionist.
>
> When they came for the Jews,
> I remained silent;
> I wasn't a Jew.
>
> When they came for me,
> there was no one left to speak out.


--
BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm   NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
34.498N 85.076W    Bev is Earth, Ron is Sky