Observation Only: I really can't speak for larger towns or communities. But, here, in rural America, one of hundreds of thousands of small towns, ours has less than 500 people living in it and the biggest draw our little community has is it's local American Legion, the center of attention and thee place to be since the new place was built in the mid to late 1970's. The place of course was honored to the many men and women who died for our freedom's, which includes freedom of speech and choice. When the smoking ban went into effect, in which the Legion Commander (who does not smoke) pushed very hard against the smoking ban as again, government proposed taking away a freedom of speech and choice, he finally gave in due to government pressure which was " we the people " as a percentage of people in the area was going to turn him into going against the new banned smoking law. Which really caught me by surprise was that the people who were making the most noise against our little Legion Club were people that I only saw at the Legion ever, was when there was a free meal from a funeral or wedding dance. Never and I mean Never, saw these people once at the legion to support our Legion Club in any way, shape or form during normal open hours. Of course, when the smoking folks said the heck with it and went out of town purchasing off sale and having get togethers in their garages (where smoking was still legal). Every once in awhile, the wife and myself go to the parties and have a grand time as no one is at our local legion club anymore and then to see some of the people who made such a stink about smoking at the legion club are now at the garage parties, because that's where the people are!!! Two people lost their jobs at the legion and times that by hundreds of thousands of little towns. I've asked a few locals if they were now out to close garage parties, yes, mean of course, but, truthful. Their answer is that they don't go to the legion for the next excuse. What people don't really get, is the choice of American business owners didn't have a right of choice to keep their business as a smoking facility or a non smoking facility. The biggest group to have a lobby towards non smoking were our casinos that are owned by the native American's and I respect their business sense as tons of smokers head to their casino. The largest thing that was allowed was " what's next ", oh yeah, can't smoke in your city, then what, not on your property, then not in your house or apartment, then what, and then what. The issue is that our freedom of speech and freedom are being taken away. Yes, the response is our medical profession costs have gone up and tobacco companies has paid thousands of dollars to our states for these costs. Why didn't people get the choice to accept payment themselves from the tobacco companies, then sign off that they will have to pay themselves for tobacco related medical costs. Each smoker would have received about $ 225,000 and then could have made the choice themselves. I could care less if a place is smoking or non smoking if it was the choice of the business or the people. Since business has to report quarterly, their sales to the government, why not have had smoking in week one and two of the month and non smoking in week three and four of the month before blanking their business all together?? Those reports would have been helpful to the business owners of making the choice to them instead of laying off people. Of course, I am only seeing what happens in rural communities, but, just my observation what has happened around here in a 30 mile area of small towns. I myself, run every two weeks to the bigger towns and get groceries, medical supplies and yes cigarettes for three veterans who can can't get out anymore as I still want to honor and appreciate the people who lived through ghastly times in protecting our supposedly freedom of speech and choice. I'm not arguing with anyone's opinion and even if someone lays out all the facts and statistics, these people put themselves in a position to fight for my rights and to this day, once year, on the 4th of July, Gerald "Bud" Olson who was a Iwa Jima Veteran gets a visit to his grave by me and I crack a " Bud Light " take a few swigs, light up a Pall Mall, take a few puffs, put the lit cig in the hole of the bent up tab of the beer can, set it on his grave marker, step back and salute my old neighbor and friend and believer in his part for my freedom.
Sorry to ramble and go on, but, really.......... what's next. Really, what are we going to allow next? Legal dope smoking?, oh...... guess it's in the works........
