[Lester Moore]

If every smoker quit, healthcare costs would go down only temporarily and then rise above the amount you are complaining about now, because nonsmokers get sick too and for more years.

Smokers more than make up for their extra cost by dying (their choice-not yours) sooner; collecting less social security and pensions, and less time in nursing homes. The state tax on cigarettes is all gravy. This is all backed up by facts. You should know this if you're going to play with numbers.

How can this be? Especially given that the whole point of the posted article is the opposite and posting smoker after posting smoker has asserted that smoking doesn't harm their health?

I wish the other smokers would stop the denial at least. Smoking is a health hazard.

I'm not trying to impune you, but one of my biggest pet peeves is the smokers that will show up in an area I'm at with my children & then have the gall to start smoking & not be willing to put it out on request.

I don't want to even get into the incidences of rude conduct I've witnessed from nicotine addicts needing a hit.

This is a large part of the reason for the current backlash against smokers now. At least for me. No one here at FR is more in favor of limited gov. than I, but I'm not going thru the rest of my life arguing with nicotine addicts about whether or not they are going to smoke around me & my children. I'm done arguing. You leave or you put it out. MY VOTE! BAN SMOKING!!!!!

[Just another Joe]

MY VOTE! BAN SMOKING!!!!!

Your vote supports totalitarianism and a police state.
Not calling you a totalitarian. Just trying to get you to see that if you give the government the ability to ban a legal activity on private property you are just asking for them to control everything that goes on in your home, office, car, etc.

[Jaidyn]

You leave or you put it out Wow!! Maybe you ought to think about leaving the smoking area. I would never expose a child to smoke but if you bring your kid in a smoking area, then tell a smoker to put his cigarette out, it could be hazardous to YOUR health. If you are talking about the great outdoors, then move a few feet away. BTW, we pay taxes up the wazoo everytime we buy a pack. If the government doesn't put those taxes towards healthcare, that's their (our) problem. Take it up with them. Up until the seventies, stars would smoke in movies and on stage. Dean Martin comes to mind. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Lana Turner, Kim Novak....it was in then. Good for you for not having any vices.

[metesky]

That vein on your forehead doesn't look to good when it's throbbing like that.

Are you saying that if I was in a public park that allowed smoking and you and the ankle biters swept in (or rather hove in, as your sails seem pretty full), that I would have to put out the butt or leave the public park?

Bwahahaha!

[fellowpatriot]

I asked you earlier to show me hard evidence that smoking causes lung cancer. Can you?

[Gabz]

You leave or you put it out. MY VOTE! BAN SMOKING!!!!!

Typical emotional reaction of an anti-smoker who has no basis in facts - but "just doesn't like something."

I have yet to see a smoker on FR or anywhere for that matter, who claims their are no risks related to smoking - so that one doesn't cut it.

As to banning smoking because you're somewhere with you kids, how often do you bring your kids to bars????

What about the rights of the bar owner that smokes - because you don't like it you think you should have the right to tell them how tey may conduct themselves on their private property???

As to "public" places - smokers are also taxpayers and therefore remain members of the public.

[Leisler]

I’m marching on 50, don’t and haven’t ever smoked, and know what you mean about being caught up in smoke sidestream. But who do I blame? The government. Ever since they went on a anti tar in cigarettes campaign and lowered the tar, the smoke from the butts suck. It used to be more like pipe or cigar smoke. It had a smell, aroma---it had tar. Now with the “clean burning” cigs the smoke is very dry, dusty, and in my opinion, more irritating. The smoke even seems whiter, more like sheetrock dust. And it is because of the government.

[Great Dane]

I wish the other smokers would stop the denial at least. Smoking is a health hazard.

I dont know any smokers who denies there is a health risk, but there are many risks around...... breathing car fumes being one of thousands.

[SheLion]

 I wish the other smokers would stop the denial at least. Smoking is a health hazard.

The smokers in here are TRYING to point out that we were born in families of smokers. We have been around second hand smoke all our lives and we smoke.  We are all in great health. The propaganda put out about smokers dying young from horrible deaths is not materializing.

Why do you think that is.

Did you know that our Surgeon General put forth an article about obesity overtaking smoking as the nation's number one killer?  Maybe that is where your tax dollars are going:  to pay for the sick obese people on welfare.  You think?

Surgeon general warns obesity may overtake tobacco as leading preventable killer

"Some 60 percent of adults are overweight or obese."  There are 55 million American smokers, and even 60 percent beats US out!

I'm not trying to impune you, but one of my biggest pet peeves is the smokers that will show up in an area I'm at with my children & then have the gall to start smoking & not be willing to put it out on request.

What area are you talking about?  If your outdoors, then why on earth would you be mad at someone smoking?  The little wisp of smoke just trails itself out into the air.  How can that ever be a threat to you.

You leave or you put it out. MY VOTE! BAN SMOKING!!!!!

Your mentality on this issue is mind boggling.  Tobacco is a legal commodity.  If it were so dangerous, why is it not illegal?  Why have they not banned it?  Why?

Why is it ok for your rights to be intact, while others' rights are trampled on?  I can't figure this out.  Tell me.  Why is it ok for our rights to be yanked from us.  Smoking has been legal for hundreds of years.  HUNDREDS.

Why is it that when you leave your home, the world should be according to Lester Moore.

Tell me.