Jon Corzine

[JohnTheHenchman]

I do not like Jon Corzine, current senator and NJ gubenatorial hopeful. He makes me very angry. He buys the election with a check. Ugh. Watching him in debates, he's the least interested, gives the worst answers, has the worst ideas, and yet he's ahead in the polls.

Yeah, I really don't like this guy.

[Lynn7]

It seems like once these people get in it is really hard to get them out of office. Even if a senator or a rep has had problems with legalities, it is still hard to get them out of office- people are just into voting for the recognizable name and unfortunately, you have to be rich to run for office these days so they are all buying their elections. I dont' care for this guy either.

[JohnTheHenchman]

Yeah I know, but I could deal with the guy as a senator. As Governor, he has power over my life that I don't want him to have. Smoking will be banned because of him. Taxes will increase. Corruption will continue.

[The Postmaster General]

I need to know what he has to do with George Bush before I can make up my mind.

LOL




The smoking ban isn't that bad, John. I'm a smoker myself, but I think it's nice that pregnant people can go to concert venues and the like.

I don't think they should be banning it from places that only serve alcohol though - They did that in Minneapolis and it seems a bit too much.

But I've lived in two cities where smoking has been banned, and in both cases they usually keep catering to the smokers, with outdoor patios with heaters up North.

You never realize how little the smoking sections actually worked to reduce second hand smoke until having them removed all together.

And you'll like this one, John -- In Tampa, they wrote the law so that you can't smoke inside cigar factories. That was pretty funny. Eventually they fixed the wording (and it wasn't really enforced anyway).

Anyway - to me the smoking laws aren't about personal freedom. They fall under the same laws as the ones that say you can't go dump antifreeze in the harbor.

Sorry so off-topic.

[JohnTheHenchman]

Yeah, but being the kook libertarian that I am, I feel that it should be up to the owners of the establishment as to whether or not they wish to allow smoking. It's a decision for the business in question, not the the government. I'm a non-smoker, but it just rubs me the wrong way.

I was actually stunned by Jeffrey Pawlowski. I figured he was just some schmuck but after hearing him in debates, he's really impressed me.

[The Postmaster General]

I actually signed a petition to keep the ban out of Tampa, but once I saw it in action though, it wasn't so bad. I've learned that if it's up to the establishment, they'll just let everyone smoke - but I understand where the personal liberty issue comes into play: freedom of a consumer to select non-smoking businesses only/freedom of owner to select if they'll cater to non-smokers, etc... I will challenge you on one aspect -- What if a hospital wants to let people smoke? Shouldn't they be granted the same liberties as other businesses?

I have a feeling that there would be a bigger battle to go BACk to smoking, as the non-smokers have never really had non-smoiking places, and now they know what it's like. Plus there are more non-smokers now, which is somewhat of a change.

Do you have some web links for these guys, John? Or can you give a run down on what you like/disklike about them? If you don't mind, and have the time, that is.

[Lynn7]

I just heard that there is some new craze where people smoke sweetend tobacco thru a water pipe and they are afriad this is going to increase the number of smokers again- the number had gone down 40%. The term they used begins with an H- but I can't remember it.

[JohnTheHenchman]

I wouldn't have a problem if hospitals had waiting rooms that allowed smoking. I don't think anyone who operates a hospital would allow smoking in most of the building though.

I'll give you some insight on these dudes in a little bit.

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by Lynn7
I just heard that there is some new craze where people smoke sweetend tobacco thru a water pipe and they are afriad this is going to increase the number of smokers again- the number had gone down 40%. The term they used begins with an H- but I can't remember it.


Yeah, strangely enough this trend started with the laws saying you could only sell bongs if used solely for tobacco.

Next thing you know, everyone is picking them up to smoke tobacco.

Just came out of nowhere, you know.