Chassan's Blog

It is their money (I assume). Why would we choose to second guess how they choose to spend it?

Seems like a good effort aimed to help people get off of bad health habits. Yet, it is their health; who are Gates and Bloomberg to tell others how to spend it?

As a smoker, I can tell you I don't need or want anyone as my saviour. They just need to "butt" out. Additionally, why would we care about people in other countries nicotine addictions? In Africa alone, their mindset is "Why worry about what can kill you in 20 or 30 years, when there are so many things that can kill you today?"

See this is what happens to people who acquire money. They forget about the people that helped them get there. What about the countless $$$ in the United States. How about giving that back to some of the many worthwhile charities in our country?

Okay, now on to what really bugs me. What about these people who smoke. I don't smoke, but boy do I stir up a hornet's nest if I suggest to them "Please, I can't handle the cigarette smoke. It seriously makes me ill."
Do you think I will get some compassionate people? No, they just blow smoke in your face. Chain smoke morning, noon and night. Your clean clothes suddenly start smelling like smoke. You run outside to get some fresh air. They apparently have enough energy to blow the smoke into your face. Wheel themselves down to a lower level floor of any hospital hooked up to an IV pole, just to take a puff on a cigarette. All the while complaining about their rights and why it isn't toxic to secondhand smoke.

Chassan,
First off... Smokers don't have any rights anymore. Secondly, you must be a lip reader if you can't "hear" what I'm saying because you can't SEE me through the smoke ;)
I can't speak for all smokers, but I do at least take non-smokers into consideration when I am smoking. I go away from all the entrances etc, don't smoke in non-smokers' homes, or smoke where it is not allowed.
Let me ask this question seriously.
I have been around second hand smoke for 43 years, of those 43 years, 28 of them have been first hand smoke as well. So, if this stuff is KNOWN to cause cancer, how long does it take? If I don't have it, then by all accounts, this stuff doesn't cause it. Granted it probably doesn't help, but it's NOT the cause.
As for the stink... yes, to a non-smoker, it is not pleasant, I'm sure. But what about other offending odors not left by smokers? B.O., flatulance, smokey exhaust fumes from poorly maintained vehicles... Where are the lobbyists against them?