Smoking Bans

Same thing happened here when it all went through.
"OMG, all the bars will be empty and go out of business!!"
"OMG, Big Brother wants to control everything about my life!!"
...There was a bit of a slow down to businesses for about... a week or maybe a month or so. Then people realized that the ban was everywhere and they really had no other place to go. Then businesses filled right back up again. Then people realized they didn't stink like ass everytime time they went out... and busniness actually went up for most places.As for "control," I don't see any significant difference. I like the ban because I don't like smoking. I'm annoyingly allergic to it in the sense that I find it extremely annoying and it makes me cough.
I'm overjoyed that such a ban is now law.I think a big point in making it law is that the country's healthcare system has realized that it's awfully expensive paying to take care of life-time smokers on a universal health-care system.
The ban doesn't stop smokers, it just makes it really inconvenient... which leads to less smokers in and of itself.I totally agree with all the health-related issues, though. I just think the government's more concerned with $$$. But, perhaps I am jaded and conspiracy-minded in this idea.I do, however, feel for those who like to smoke.I fully believe that people who like to smoke, with full knowledge of the bad aspects, should be able to group together and move to an area where smoking is acceptable.It's just too bad that it turns out this "accpetable" area is increasingly getting smaller and smaller around the globe and (perhaps) one day may even disappear all together.I personally like such an idea, because I don't like smoking.
But I do feel and understand the gripes of the smokers.I'm just glad that my area (Canada) has decided (for whatever reason) that we're a group of people who'd rather not have smoking in public.Side note: It was recently made law in Canada that you cannot smoke in a vehicle with a minor present. Fine of about $100-$200 or so.
It was also recently made law that you cannot display cigarrettes in your store. They must be shelved behind some sort of barrier of some kind. Most stores just bought blinds and pulled them down in front of the regular smoking displays.As far as I know, smoking in your house is still perfectly legal. Regardless of the presence of minors, or babies. But I don't keep much of an ear to such things since I don't smoke.

A good point.I must admit I completely blanked on the thought of how large and involved the tabacco industry is.I'm afraid, however, that my personal distaste for smoking has lead to a large ignorance on my part in any of these issues I will have to take the cop-out easy answer:When do conspiracy theories begin and the natural balance between opposing forces end? My guess is that things are more in the natural balance order of "this is just the way it's worked out so far" where the health-care/tabacco industry/insurance companies are concerned. But it certainly is a good place for the right kind of conspiracy theory to actually exist. I quite likely have. I did see that movie though... I think it was called "Thank-you for not Smoking"? Perhaps not... it was about a tobacco lobbyist guy who went around selling tobacco products and putting the "right spin" on cigarettes and stuff. It was interesting, and funny. I don't think it was a documentary though, but if things are even remotely close to how it was portrayed in that movie... then the tabacco industry most certainly is a giant not to be overlooked. Or, at least, not in this current era for the next 20-30 years or so.Edited by Stile, : I think I remember the title of the movie to be "Thank-you for not Smoking" rather than "Butt-Out"