Originally posted by: Obsoleet
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Basically, we now have joined the ranks of Minnesota and Illinois in our region of the country in a smoking ban. Many of us have supported this for a long time as we're fairly progressive but we finally achieved justice for the employees of Iowa. Near 100,000 workers are no longer forcibly working in a smoke filled environment 8 hours a day as no employer has the right to enforce on anyone. Many of these people are there out of economic necessity as those jobs aren't typically degree holding positions.
It's a shame there were exemptions in the compromise bill, but the lobbying efforts on big businesses part are indeed strong. I think it's possible we'll eventually ban it entirely in the Veterans Home in Marshalltown as well as the casinos.
A friend of mine insisted that it was a bad idea because it's a property rights issue and I insist it's a matter of the general welfare and a public health issue.
No different from our current laws banning drinking and driving. You can't do that either because it's in a public space, when an employer opens his doors to the public it's a public space and he's liable for the safety of you while you are there if you fall on a wet floor and hurt yourself ect. He claimed it was a choice to go there and eat or drink. Maybe we should repeal drunk driving laws so then it can also be his "choice" to drive or not? Both are free will. Can't take away someone's right to drink and drive right? Stay off the roads and don't eat at restaurants! It's that simple.
People still have the right to smoke in their building, just don't open it up to the public.
The Mayo Clinic says there are 3,400 people who directly die from 2nd hand smoke's effects a year. Another friend said that is insignificant to the majority of which I replied, as long as you aren't 1 of the 3,400 I guess that's cool huh? Some people who work these jobs might want to grow to see their grandchildren, or simply live healthy lives.
Or, after all the BS arguments.. people can simply do what they should've been doing before: going outside to smoke. Out of common courtesy and having proper manners and consideration of those around you.
Let's face it, laws like these are not necessary if we didn't have a ME ME ME culture when people could give two craps less about your health so they light up in a table near you so you get to breathe in their smoke.
Well, since people didn't give a damn about your health and must have their cigarette now, we took care of that for them here in Iowa. Now they have to smoke 10 feet from every entrance. Everyone knows it hurts other people, they should've been doing that voluntarily for YEARS.
I hope everyone else lobbys their local state and city governments to enact similar bans. It might in some people's view be a "small step" towards improving public health but I for one think it's a BIG victory if you save 1 employees life or any one of ours due to preventing this unnecessary air pollution in enclosed public spaces.
Here's the Mayo Clinic article on the
subject