Issue 5 Solution

Issue 5 passed in Ohio effectively banning all public smoking. Smokers are once again being treated like second class citizens. I wouldn't mind this (I am a smoker) if we were also allowed to pay a second class citizen tax. Hey, if we are not entitled to the same rights as non smokers, if we are going to have our rights reduced, then we should also have our taxes reduced. "No taxation without representation" and all that.

But I'm guessing that won't happen. I must have missed the part in our 'Bill Of Rights' that reads, "All men are created equal, except smokers". It must say that somewhere. We are bound by that document, aren't we?

But I digress. The biggest hurt this nonsense is going to inflict will undoubtedly be on the taverns. The bars of old were famous for three things. Alcohol, tobacco and firearms. They took away the firearms from bars. And maybe that was a good one. Maybe. But the bars are historically a smoky place. And I sure don't want to be the person who has to keep fifty or a hundred well lubricated gentlemen smoke free. If you are that person, good luck and pity to you, sir. I put up 'No Smoking' signs in my plant one time. The insurance company made me do it. The men in the plant rolled these signs up and smoked them. Really! And they weren't even drinking.

I stated that I had a solution. That solution is for these bars, who will suffer the most. They can't allow smoking there any more. It's the law. (It's been a while since I've done a 'Stupid Laws' post, hasn't it? Oops, I think I just did one.)

Bar owners (you too Kathy), here is your solution. You want your patrons to forget all about smoking? Offer an alternative, something to keep their minds off of smoking.

Here is one.