Posted on 01/30/2006 8:31:19 AM PST by SheLion
Imagine you own a restaurant in New Jersey. You lease your space and you pay your taxes, your cooks and your servers. The state has decided that, on April 15, you will have to ban smoking.
Trampling over the rights of business owners will go down as one of the last acts of Acting Gov. Richard Codey, who signed the law banning smoking in restaurants this month. The state is doing this to save employees from the dangers of second-hand smoke. In joining other states that have made similar moves, lawmakers also relied on studies indicating that smoking bans are actually good for the restaurant and bar business.
Yet, it's not the lawmakers whose businesses are on the line and, despite the best of intentions, it's likely that some businesses heavily patronized by smokers will suffer by going smokefree. It's noteworthy that Codey and his cohorts didn't dare mess with the Atlantic City casinos that are a cash cow for the state.
It's easy for lawmakers to make decisions for others, especially when they aren't held responsible for the consequences.
Simple truths, it would seem, are being ignored. If it makes business sense to ban smoking, restaurant owners -- not lawmakers -- would likely be the best people to make that assessment. If restaurant employees are concerned about smoke in their workplace, for once they're fortunate to be in a transient and fluid industry where there are other places to work for qualified staff. And if it's such a great idea for businesses, why exempt Atlantic City casinos?
There's still some hope that this ban will be derailed as it faces a legal challenge by restaurateurs, who argue it is not fair because it does not apply to all. Getting the ban overturned would be a small triumph for business rights.
Then we can see whether lawmakers are willing to roll the dice on losing gambling money at a time when the state is projecting a $5 billion deficit. Then, it would seem, lawmakers would have to take a risk themselves rather than foist one upon others. Or they could opt for an educational program that lets business owners make an business decision, which could include installing ventilation systems to give non-smoking diners a true alternative to eating in a smoke-filled room.
If you're a restaurant owner, I wouldn't hold my breath for the situation to change. Apparently, that's just not New Jersey's way.
Never truer words said. Legislators are such jerks for the most part. They don't give a damn about people who really earn their living.
How long will it be before some state (like Kalifornia) decides to ban meat in restaurants to keep from offending vegetarians?
"..lawmakers also relied on studies indicating that smoking bans are actually good for the restaurant and bar business."
You find a study to show whatever you want these days.
But, the same could be said of mine workers. If they don't like the conditions, they're free to find other work. The government has no business telling mine owners how to run their mines. Right?
(Don't get me wrong. I think the second-hand smoke argument is questionable at best. Since worker safety is the ONLY possible justification for such government intrusion, opponents should focus on debunking the second-hand smoke claims.)
Shhhh! Don't give them any ideas.
Of course the Mt. Laurel decision is part of a long line of suspect laws passed in this state.
"But, the same could be said of mine workers. If they don't like the conditions, they're free to find other work. The government has no business telling mine owners how to run their mines. Right?"
Um, yes, at least at the federal level. The only thing government intrusion has done is caused a sense of security that just can not exist. It is impossible to make mines 100% safe for the worker, but with government intrusion the worker, and society, can think they are safer than they are. As a result, they don't get true market driven wages. Wages that reflect the risk they take.
Government intrusion has harmed the mine workers, more than it has helped them. The same will happen in the restaurant/bar business.
Democracy is 3 wolves and a sheep voting on whats for dinner.
Musta made the same impression on Bubba Clinton, too.
They really don't.
I remember one place in Mass that kept asking the City Council were was all their friends and family now that a forced smoking ban was in place?
The City Council members said businesses would INCREASE when there was no smoke. Well, business did not increase and the restaurant owner kept asking them why didn't they come now that they got what they wanted???!!!
Hard to tell. But Kookifornia is already doing their own research on second hand smoke. LOL
Trying to twist the truth to fit their bill. What a state!
That's the truth!
And most of the general public believes this garbage and takes it at face value.
After all, WHY WOULD THEY LIE TO US???
It HAS been debunked. Over and over again. And even by the WHO!
and:
Oak Ridge Labs, TN & SECOND HAND SMOKE
Statistics and Data Sciences Group Projects
I think any anti who tries to dismiss the findings of the U.S. Department of Energy labs at Oak Ridge, should be confronted with the question: "Are you saying that DOE researchers committed scientific fraud and that their findings on ETS exposure are untrue?"
And the "appointed not voted in" Governor is going to play his power to the hilt before he is thrown out!
It was debunked a long time ago by the Supreme Court, but tyrants never let the facts get in the way when someone drags a hundred-dollar bill past their door.
Funny you should mention that. haha!
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