It's Time to Write

[EmmaP]

Write your state senators. The bill made it out of committee and is going to get a full vote.
Here's an article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07163/793348-85.stm

With very few exceptions, we do not patronize establishments that permit smoking. If smoking is banned, a lot more places will get our business (we eat out a lot). We would be able to go out to bars to hear local bands. We could go bowling. And we have a good amount of friends who feel the same way we do.

But it's not just about us...because we have a choice where we spend our money. As far as I'm concerned, it's all about the employees of the taverns, bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and casinos. And, if the bill is passed with exceptions for places like taverns and casinos, that means that our senators and reps believe that the health and lives of those who are employed in those exempt businesses are worth less than the health and lives of everyone else.

[Toasterlad]

1. Thank You. I Will Be Writing My Senators to Vote it Down. n/t

[dropkickpa]

2. I will be writing

To support the exemption of bars, bowling alleys, and casinos (I don't really care about restaurants being smoke free, people are eating, so it's just polite). The places that do not get your business are obviously not suffering for that lack, or they wouldn't be open. There are non smoking bowling alleys, restaurants, and clubs. What more do you want, to push out another group of people because your desires are obviously more important?

And this is such crap pretending to be concerned about bar employees health. The VAST majority of my friends either work in bars or used to work in bars (I used to bartend), and they all laugh at this. The usual response when we talk about the lawmakers is "I work in a BAR. Do they not know what people do in bars? Idiots. It's a BAR! If smoke bugged me, I wouldn't work in a BAR." I never said "I'll go work in a bar, it's the cleanest, freshest environment I can think of, thank god there won't be any icky smoke there!!" and anyone who does/has thought that is a lunatic.

[EmmaP]

3. The VAST Majority

The VAST majority of my friends who work in bars or restaurants do so because the need the job...period. Around here, a lot of bartenders and waitresses are college students...the hours fit in perfectly with their school schedules and the money is good, especially on weekends. The fact that you don't believe people can actually care about other besides themselves speaks volumes.

And I talked to a bartender in one of the few restaurants/bars around here that went voluntarily smoke-free. She's a smoker and was happy about it. She said that even for a smoker, the fumes in the bar would get unbearable for her.

[Toasterlad]

8. If the Vast Majority Wanted Smoke Free Bars...

...there'd be no need for a law, would there?

I'll see your bartender who was happy about the ban, and raise you two waiters and a manager who are pissed off about it.

NO ONE GOES TO A BAR FOR THEIR HEALTH.

[demodonkey]

13. What about people who would really LIKE TO PATRONIZE A BAR & have a drink...

...but are allergic to smoke? Hmmm? What if the same person wanted to bowl, or gamble? Why should anyone be denied these perfectly legal and enjoyable activities simply because they need to avoid an unnecessary allergen like second-hand tobacco smoke?

[yasmina27]

4. I am so sick of the NICOTINE NAZIS!

My DH & I both smoke, but only where permitted. We are not the stereotypical rude, obnoxious smokers who smoke when and where they want and be damned to the rest of the world. Doug Hoerth (Wptt - same station as Lynn Cullen) once said that smokers are the most discriminated against minorities in the country and if we were to gather together our political force, it would be overwhelming.

I was walking around an amusement park the other day with designated smoking areas, when a young, late teens/early twenties couple walked by smoking in a non-smoking area. I wanted to bitch at them that they are part of the reason that so many people complain about smokers being inconsiderate.

OTOH, I have been huffed at, snarled at, and yelled at for smoking in areas where smoking is permitted. If you request "first available" at a restaurant, and end up in the smoking section, you have no right to bitch.

As far as the employees rights, give me a break! I have worked as a bartender and a waitress, and I'm sorry, but it's part of the job description. OK, offer work in the smoking section with an increase in the hourly wage. I guarantee the tips will be better. What about my rights, because of my allergies? If I or my 9 yo daughter eat at a table after you, and you have eaten something with nuts, we could DIE (within minutes - no exaggeration) from the residue you leave behind. I love to cook and bake, and yet I am excluded from these professions because of my severe allergies to nuts of all kinds. Should I call for a ban of peanuts, walnuts, and pecans, just because exposure to these items may cause my death? In my dream world, that's what would happen, but in reality, it ain't gonna happen.

So lay off, all you nicotine nazis! Go to restaurants/bars that are smoke-free (of which there are plenty) and leave the rest of us alone!

Thank you (and I hope I don't get banned!)

[EmmaP]

5. What about other occupations?

Let's just do away with OSHA, too. Everyone should quit griping about safety at work. Employees have no right to expect a safe working environment. Who the hell do they think they are, anyway? Bastards!

And by the way, I'm not sure where in Pennsyltucky you live, but around here, the smoke-free establishments are few and far between, so to work as waitstaff somewhere...well, you just have to suck it up...literally.

As for your term "nicotine nazi" ... that's about as offensive as your cigarette smoke.

[RamboLiberal]

6. And I'm sick of smokers trying to argue this as some kind of

freedom issue. What the hell don't you get that it is not right to expose workers to the known health hazard of cigarette smoking? And don't trot out the old crap about banning cars, etc.

I'm amazed that Democrats cannot recognize that this is about workers and patrons to not have our health endangered by you.

Well, it looks like we will at least get a ban though somewhat flawed. Still knowing this state I'm sure not going to celebrate till it happens and actually takes affect. If I lived in Philly I'd really be pissed that it looks like the damn state legislators are going to make their weakened bill override Philly's anti-smoking law.

Wonder what the date will be if passed. Could be well over a year or more.

I worked nearly 25 years in offices where smoking was allowed. I actually had to have a fan on my desk to blow away coworker's smoke. And the lunch room stank and the smokers wouldn't refrain from smoking while others ate. I was so glad when my employer moved to a new building and finally complied with the law and banned smoking in the building. But I always will wonder what price my health paid for growing up with 2 smoking parents and then being exposed to smoke in other venues.

It would really be nice to be able to go to a bar and listen to a performer or band and not come home smelling like an ashtray. That was also a reason I quit bowling - I hated that I was coughing and stank when I came home.

[Toasterlad]

7. ,

:nopity:

[PhishWithLemon99]

9. its headed for a veto

The Senate, in its infinite wisdom, exempted child care providers from the smoking ban. Unless this is fixed in the House, the Gov's going to veto.

[Toasterlad]

10. That's Crazy

You'd think child care providers would be at the top of the smoke-free list. Even *I* would oppose smoking in front of children.

[FREEWILL56]

11. I don't follow this much, but

I can talk about this from both prospectives as somebody who had smoked for 30+ years and stopped a few years ago. I can honestly say that when I was a smoker that there were many times even I couldn't stand being confined with that much smoke. Common sense would say here that yes, there should be a limit on the parts per million (ppm) that one is exposed to with smokers understanding that nonsmokers have a lower threshold for it. It isn't healthy in high concentrations and even smokers know that. No, I am not saying to ban it, but limit it or make provision to deal with it without going overboard either way.
When I see a sign outside stating that there will be no smoking within 10ft of a doorway, I have to laugh at it as being rediculous. Hello?? You are outside with all of our 'polluted' fresh air from cars and industry aren't you? Maybe I should push for you not to park within 500ft of the store because the exhaust from your car offends me? See? Common sense should win, but it doesn't and it forces both sides to go at each other each saying their rights are violated. Oh, I'm not forced to deal with it, would be a very false statement as my other half still smokes. I make some provisions to help myself deal with it and I certainly do complain when chain smoking puts a bad haze into our home.
I would also say the outdoor restriction is not because of the smoke, but rather due to people loafing in front of the doorway. If the smoke you say is making you ill from 10ft away then i have to ask why you are still alive with all of the other pollutions constantly present in the air? Oh, but it's bad breathing secondhand smoke and I agree in higher concentrations this is true, but outside? Some state they have allergies, but I do too (hay fever) and when the smoker goes into the store next to you after they were smoking outside what are you going to do next, have them not allowed to shop there because of you? Funny that all of the industrial and automotive pollutions didn't cause you that much concern as somebody who has a cigarette seems too.
Don't get me wrong as I'm against smoke filled confined spaces. The smoker has enough self-induced problems without adding the second-hand smoke to it too. You thought I was going to cite my rights to clean smoke free air weren't you? Those rights don't exist and never really did because of the sheer amount of pollutants we already breath in the air. The right to breath clean air is not in the constitution and if it were then these so called conservatives of the conservative party (very contradictory in my view) would've taken that right away from you anyway as your health would stand in their way of making bigger profits.
BOTH SIDES NEED TO LIGHTEN UP ON EACH OTHER AND TRY SOME COMMON SENSE AND COURTESY FOR EACH OTHER WITHOUT BEING REDICULOUS!

[PhishWithLemon99]

12. the reason...

they don't want people smoking by doors is because the smoke smell finds its way inside when the door or window is open. Most people don't want their home or establishment smelling like an ashtray.