Smoking bans in US

[Stdjazz4]

Since the percentage of Americans who smoke has dropped by more than half over the last 50 years or so, while obesity has risen...maybe being fat kills you more slowly?

I know I got fatter when I quit!!

 

[ptg]

What about people who eat a lot of red meat? What about people who don't exercise enough?

Smoking is different because it bothers people. I have no problem with it being banned in bars or outside of buildings. But if I want sugar and beef and bacon and I wanna gain weight till my feet fall off from diabetes right before my heart gives out and I drop dead, it's my choice.

The only problem is that many obese people who suffer from diabetes tax the Medicare system when they get older with excessive medical bills that could have been avoided...Just sayin'...

 

[socialleper]

I am european and many people who visited US told me about a strict smoking bans in US. You can´t smoke in the bars, in some cities you can´t even smoke on the streets and my girlfriend told me that while she was in NY a policemen told her that the smoking in the streets implies almost a moral degradation.

Is that all true?

Do people in US even smoke cigarets?

I visited France last January and noticed how much people smoke. It is definitely not as popular in the US anymore because 1.) Its stupid, 2.) its expensive, and 3.) It will kill you. As a musician I'm very happy that they don't allow people to smoke in bars. As a guy that grew up with two smoker parents, and whose first wife was a smoker, I'm absolutely ecstatic that people generally don't smoke inside anymore.
I will smoke a cigar once in a great while, but it isn't a "thing" for me.

 

[Gorn]

The only problem is that many obese people who suffer from diabetes tax the Medicare system when they get older with excessive medical bills that could have been avoided...Just sayin'...

It's a valid point. But how do you police personal choice? Heroin is very illegal but lots of people do it. Lots of problems would be solved if people made better choices.

 

[hdracer]

Quality of life is important. To me anyhow. I don't want to spend the last 20 years of my life eating bowls full of medication 3 times a day, and not being able to do the things I want to and enjoying my existence. Science can keep people breathing for very long periods of time. At least until they suck their life savings (and then some) out of them.

My goal is to live long and healthy, and hopefully die fast. And yes, a lot less people are dying at an early age for a lot of other reasons. Not because we're living or eating more healthfully. That's for certain.

I commend you on trying to live a healthy life but I have to ask, Why do you live in NYC?
I too try to live the same way but I have the bad addiction of smoking but I live where the air and water are clean. My 1/2 pack of cig's a day is no less harmful then your 24/7 breathing NYC air.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

Without commenting on my personal stand on any of these items in question, the fact is that statistically people overall are living longer lifespans than in past decades.
Quite the paradox.
And yes, I know, it's because of medicine and surgery, but the fact remains.

I prefer to blame the garbage men and plumbers. Why must they take our filth away from us?

 

[Stdjazz4]

It's a valid point. But how do you police personal choice? Heroin is very illegal but lots of people do it. Lots of problems would be solved if people made better choices.

You will never get a hard core Nanny to admit they want to legislate morality.

 

[ptg]

It's a valid point. But how do you police personal choice? Heroin is very illegal but lots of people do it. Lots of problems would be solved if people made better choices.

You're absolutely correct...You can't legislate too many personal choices and wish that people would make better ones.

Would more people use heroin if it were legal? I'm guessing yes but not too many people are willing to shoot up each day.

Would less people be obese if we limited the availability of unhealthy foods? I'm guessing yes again but, as you implied, where do you stop and how can you enforce these types of laws?

 

[RED J]

Quality of life is important.

maybe being fat kills you more slowly?

Like I said, just stating the facts. Not arguing in favor of unhealthy lifestyles.

Meanwhile, heart surgeons and pharmaceutical manufacturers are tripping to the bank.

 

[tova]

there is so many things we do that affects other people, driving non electric cars, even using public transport, consuming electricity that comes from fosil fuel, leading an unhealthy lifestyle (increasing public costs), etc. etc.
I´m aware that some of them are a necessity and not just a bad habit like smoking, but I think is important for perspective.

 

[Gorn]

You're absolutely correct...You can't legislate too many personal choices and wish that people would make better ones.

Would more people use heroin if it were legal? I'm guessing yes but not too many people are willing to shoot up each day.

Would less people be obese if we limited the availability of unhealthy foods? I'm guessing yes again but, as you implied, where do you stop and how can you enforce these types of laws?

If unhealthy food was harder to find, people who wanted it would still get it. If I want heroin, I'll go get heroin. It's illegality isn't what stops me.

 

[One Drop]

Internet hyperbole and wild generalizations, yay!

Never mind that it has nothing to do with tolerance and everything to do with not directly endangering the health of others, including people who are exposed to deadly second hand smoke and employees forced to work in smoky environments.

How this gets twisted into the type of argument as appears above is a mystery known only to talk radio aficionados and those who make a habit of turning every issue on its head to blame people who believe in tolerance and understanding.

 

[One Drop]

The laws regarding smoking in bars and restaurants are not national laws. They are either state, county, or city laws.

And they usually respect and follow public opinion.

It cracks me up when every issue or law some people do not agree with becomes an issue of political correctness and the like. You have to reach pretty far to get there.

 

[ChrisB2]

This is one of the things I love about the U.S. We can do some things right. Millions of lives have been saved because of our intolerance to the stupidity behind smoking cigarettes.

We need to start having a similar attitude towards sugar. Thankfully that's pretty much right around the corner.

If you're just sounding the warning bell against sugar, okay. But it kinda sounds like you're suggesting restrictions on sugar usage similar to restrictions on smoking...? Which would be kinda crazy right?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Come to beautiful Kentucky, a tobacco state. Outside of Louisville, you can still pretty much smoke as much as and wherever you like. And it seems 80% of the people do...

My wife and I stayed with her old friend and husband in a small town near Bowling Green. On Sunday morning, we got up our friends took us to Dairy Queen for breakfast! When we got there, the counter person was smoking. We ordered a breakfast including biscuits and gravy. Before making the breakfast, the cook asked us if we minded if she had a couple puffs first! LOL. Turned out to one of the best chain store breakfasts we had a in a long time. Fond memories.

The industry is designed to eventually wear us down from the inside out. How?
Beef laced with hormones, pesticides and chemicals.
Corn syrup. Everything is made with corn syrup. Bad for you.
Too much sugar is turning your children into diabetics. Beef fat has made them the first generation to have a shorter life span than the oldest generation.
Milk. Not meant for us to drink.
Yes, butter too.
Cigarettes are bad for you but socially acceptable. That 'socially acceptable' perception is changing.

Here is the corporate agenda for you folks: Eat poorly, read less, study less. Foods bad for you eventually turn into health problems. Bingo! You go from supporting the food industry to the medical industry, which is not geared to healing you but instead to mask the symptoms.

My wife smoked for 35 years and kicked it. She wheezes now but she's so grateful. I tried to smoke and liked cigars but now I wheeze from all the years I inhaled very thick smoke from playing in bars back when everyone smoked. Heck even the guitarists put cigs on their headstocks!

All of our own best defenses for survival is education of what's good and bad for us. end rant/.

 

[One Drop]

Without commenting on my personal stand on any of these items in question, the fact is that statistically people overall are living longer lifespans than in past decades.
Quite the paradox.
And yes, I know, it's because of medicine and surgery, but the fact remains.

Actually mostly from not smoking anymore and the related cancers.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

If unhealthy food was harder to find, people who wanted it would still get it. If I want heroin, I'll go get heroin. It's illegality isn't what stops me.

While this is true (and a valid point)... I don't eat unhealthy food because I want to eat unhealthy. I eat unhealthy food because when I go out to grab lunch during the week, there are about 5 lunch spots within a couple blocks of my office, and none of them offer a salad worth eating. If healthy, and tasty, food were made more available, I sure as hell would eat a lot better. Of course, I can only speak for myself.

 

[Joe Nerve]

If you're just sounding the warning bell against sugar, okay. But it kinda sounds like you're suggesting restrictions on sugar usage similar to restrictions on smoking...? Which would be kinda crazy right?

I'm talking mostly about warning labels on products that contain sugar, and taxes on sugar similar to the tax on tobacco. There's a good chance we WILL be seeing that in this lifetime.

 

[Stdjazz4]

While this is true (and a valid point)... I don't eat unhealthy food because I want to eat unhealthy. I eat unhealthy food because when I go out to grab lunch during the week, there are about 5 lunch spots within a couple blocks of my office, and none of them offer a salad worth eating. If healthy, and tasty, food were made more available, I sure as hell would eat a lot better. Of course, I can only speak for myself.

I eat "unhealthy" food as an occasional treat to myself because I like it, I'm an adult, and I don't appreciate others imposing their food morality on me.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

While this is true (and a valid point)... I don't eat unhealthy food because I want to eat unhealthy. I eat unhealthy food because when I go out to grab lunch during the week, there are about 5 lunch spots within a couple blocks of my office, and none of them offer a salad worth eating. If healthy, and tasty, food were made more available, I sure as hell would eat a lot better. Of course, I can only speak for myself.

I agree. It's so much easier to grab a big Anything than a healthy sandwich. I've found most supermarkets have a nice salad section because they have access to fresh vegetables at prices we don't even get as consumers.

I'm talking mostly about warning labels on products that contain sugar, and taxes on sugar similar to the tax on tobacco. There's a good chance we WILL be seeing that in this lifetime.

People don't realize we were CONDITIONED to crave sugar right from the baby bottle on. Look at the ingredients in baby food and their bottled milk. Then when we go to schools everything is pre-packaged crap made of corn syrup and sugar along with your bottle of sugar filled pop. After living x amount of years it would be perfectly natural to crave sugar. I'm not being self-righteous, I love sugar as much as the next guy. But I'm trying to train myself not to.