This Pretty Much Says It...
 

This is the way I feel about things. I just wish the politicians of this country were more libertarian and felt the same way. Right now I don't know of ANY of them (including faux-Libertarians like Ron Paul or his son) who don't feel the need to RULE over us like Gods instead of serving the people like they are supposed to:

Everything on that list I can agree with except the cigarettes...most people who are against cigarettes are really against the resulting smell and effects of the cigarette smoke...ie they want to ban the cigarette smoke from certain areas.

With regards to the points about drugs, alcohol, and guns, I guess the opposing arguments would be "we are not against those items per se, we are against the immediate and harmful effects that occur when people misuse those items."

I would further venture to say that people against those resulting effects want to ban the item, because a misuse of the item can result in death, in which case it is too late to fully penalize the offender (or compensate the victim) as the dead person can no longer come back Thus they want to ban the item before it gets misused.

Again that's just me taking the other side, not that I hold those views.

I thought that too...and then E-Cigs came out. They are water vapor. No smell, no health effects...and STILL politicians are banning them.

I think it's really just some people's need to stick their noses in other people's business. :(

I've been to shows here in Vegas where you are not allowed to "smoke" in the theater. And then they said no E-Cigs either! And meanwhile...there is a "fog machine" onstage that is doing the exact same thing that the E-Cig does (water vapor)!

It's just ridiculous...

And even with real cigarettes...why can't an establishment decide for itself if it wants smoking or not?
For instance if you open a bar. You could have a big sign out front that says it's a bar that allows smoking.

I'd bet you that would make a fortune.

It's crazy when you go to bars that don't have smoking (like one I was at in NYC during the winter time). And people are going outside in bitter cold weather to enjoy a smoke.
It's a BAR for Christ's sake!

Before the smoking ban hit in Lexington, Ky I noticed there were no bars advertising "smoke free" If there was a demand for smoke free bars someone would have opened one.

One of my favorite bars was a cigar-bar. They obviously were given a death sentence. Who goes into a cigar-bar expecting no smoke?

I don't smoke but am glad Tampa doesn't give a fuck.

Technically the only right in that mix is the right to own guns. All others are just things people have the option to do. As far as cigarettes, if people want to smoke, then they should be able to, but not where it affects others.

It's no one's right to give me cancer.

well said

I agree completely.