New York City attempts to ban outdoor smoking.

[Capernicus]

Its just an attack on the tobacco industry.

Yes, we should be really concerned about the tobacco industry, because it's not like it's making billions of dollars deteriorating the health of the American population. I mean, they've just done so much for us!

[Sanosuke23]

As someone who actually lives in NYC, and absolutely cannot stand cigarette smoke, this is by far the stupidest goddamn thing Bloomberg has ever attached his smirking Grinch face to.

I don't smoke and don't believe I ever will, but I don't begrudge a person's desire or need to light up on a city street. Hell, banning the legal use of a legal substance anywhere but in government buildings was pushing it if you ask me, now they want to take the sidewalks away from these people?

Bunch of granola-humping, tree-eating, self-aggrandizing hogwash. Ban privately-owned non-commercial car use for travel inside a single borough, that'd be a hell of a lot more productive.

[Saxima]

Well, while it might be a total disregard of the freedom to be able to do what ever you wish, I kinda think it's a good thing. So many people, people who aren't even smokers, die every year because of second hand smoke. So, if they were to reduce that which is in the air, I guess people there would be a little bit more healthy...

[Sanosuke23]

Well, while it might be a total disregard of the freedom to be able to do what ever you wish, I kinda think it's a good thing. So many people, people who aren't even smokers, die every year because of second hand smoke. So, if they were to reduce that which is in the air, I guess people there would be a little bit more healthy...

What's amazingly silly about this mindset is the sheer amount of people smoking in NYC that would be required to stand outside all day smoking, doing nothing else, to achieve the ambient secondhand effect you describe.

[brolyx74]

Yes, we should be really concerned about the tobacco industry, because it's not like it's making billions of dollars deteriorating the health of the American population. I mean, they've just done so much for us!

Its one of the only things driving our dying economy while we're in this recession. Sorry for putting the economic welfare above the health risks associated with second hand smoke outside. I'm sorray, I'm soo sorray.

I'M NOT SORRAY!!!

(If nobody gets the reference then that post just made me look like a jerk.)

[Capernicus]

Its one of the only things driving our dying economy while we're in this recession.

Really? How you figure that? I'd so love to hear it.

[brolyx74]

well, what other industries are such a driving force and haven't weakened. Cars and banks are screwed. Just about everything is foreign. Unless there is some big thing I'm missing, in which case I'd like to know what it is.


Oh, fast food and superstores. But honestly, I think more people would rather give up fast food than cigarettes, if they are already addicted.

[Capernicus]

well, what other industries are such a driving force and haven't weakened. Cars and banks are screwed. Just about everything is foreign. Unless there is some big thing I'm missing, in which case I'd like to know what it is.

Oh silly, silly noob, you have much to learn about how the economy works.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=4000

The major contributors to job loss are not decreases in the number of smokers nor are they due to government mandated health measures. Rather, the major tobacco companies have been the major contributors to job loss by increasing mechanization, increasing their use of imported tobacco (from countries like Brazil, Mexico and Malawi) and moving manufacturing overseas. As such, farmers in traditional tobacco growing states have begun to call for government spending to help them diversify in their regions. Research indicates that reduced tobacco sales might even boost employment in non-tobacco regions.

Even though the Tobacco Industry spends up to $6 billion a year on advertising and promotion, large tobacco companies can deduct up to 100% of the cost from a their tax bill in the U.S. Meanwhile, congress provides $40 million a year in tobacco tax subsidies and spends $250 million a year to counter tobacco advertising with anti-tobacco programs.

In addition the Centers for Disease Control and the University of California estimated that in 1993 the health care cost of tobacco related disease was at least $50 billion, or $2.06 per pack, which exceeded the 56 cents tax revenue per pack earned as income in the U.S.(4) So, in the U.S. even though the Tobacco Industry is responsible for raising $11 billion in tax funds it still doesn't come close to paying for the government Medicare payments to cover tobacco-related illnesses which cost taxpayers $16 billion.

You were saying?

[Archaic Devices]

I think its stupid. There's millions of smokers who wont give up smoking, so banning outdoor smoking will just have people illegally trying to smoke. I'm sure NYC has thousands of smokers, and I know they wanna make their air cleaner, but I dont think this is right. Having a mom who's a smoker, I know how some people can get when they haven't had a cigarette in hours. Even if they do go through with this, I think it'll be overturned soon.

[Mrmojorisin74]

banning all smoking in a city like New York is unrealistic. The city is too big and there's too many alleys and hidden areas and too few cops to enforce such a ban. I swear, it seems like no thought is put into law or politics anymore.

[brolyx74]

Ok Cappers, fair enough. I didn't have all the facts and I used assumption. I still think the ban would be stupid, but I've moved on, cause I'm 16 and a massachusetts citizen, so there's really nothing I could do about it. But anyway, I'm just glad I found someone who wil use real links and not just wikipedia.

[_CTA_]

Grand victory for me, I'm allergic to cigarette smoke.

Same here!!!


Gosh, we need less fumes now so that we can have some fresh air. I wish that ban is in a lot of countries including my own.