There is much noise, yet little substantial debate on the public smoking issue. Proponents of government intervention in private business offer polemical rants on the public health aspect of the issue. The anti-smoking activists classify smoking as America’s top social ill. An unholy alliance of labor unions, do-gooders, the American Cancer Society, and SmokeFreeAC have combined to make smokers second-class citizens, deny the rights of business owners, alienate a sizable base of casino patrons, and damage an already precarious casino gaming economy.
America was founded on the principle of free-flowing ideas, healthy debate, and rigorous discourse. The freedoms of speech and the press were codified in the Bill of Rights to ensure that even minority opinions are guarenteed a place in the public square. The Founding Fathers were afraid of the day when government or an unruly mob would tyrannize the public debate and preclude contrary opinions. Not by overt government tyranny, but through the loud throng of anti-smokers, the silent apathy and inaction of smokers, casino owners, and average citizens has the smoking debate been one-sided. We have heard claims – without scientific validity – that smoking endangers the lives of every worker on the casino floor. Yet there has not been even one lawsuit awarded for someone inflicting cancer or another ailment through second-hand smoking.
Atlantic City’s Council discussions have successfully left-out any mention of the rights of casino owners to establish whether their businesses will permit smoking, partial-smoking, or no smoking indoors. City Council may feel good vanquishing the social ill of smoking from all gaming areas, but they should be concerned that this smoking ban will harm residents’ job security. The partial smoking ban has not helped casino gaming business. Atlantic City is suffering from unheard-of declines in profit. Declining casino profit means less employment opportunities with our region’s economic engine. If layoffs occur, former casino employees will dream of again working in a “smoke-filled” gaming area. Casino relationship marketing will tell you that a targeted and loyal customer base is those who enjoy smoking while gambling. City Council, why alienate existing casino patrons during an economic downturn?
The anti-American aspect of the anti-smoking movement is found in comments like, “smokers have no rights.” Americans have rights. Many Americans smoke. Anti-smokers maintain that Americans sacrifice their rights by smoking. Anti-smokers feel increased self-worth through denying a social outlet to smokers. No one, not even smokers, want smoke blown in their face. Why is it that the smoking discussion begins with the assumption that all smokers have no manners? The American way is that a business owner has the ability to designate his property as a place where smokers may congregate and enjoy smoking. Anti-smokers can stay away from that property like the plague. But such a scenario is not acceptable to our confused brethren. They must control all buildings and prevent people the freedom to associate as they please. The band of anti-smokers are eroding our civil liberties and refusing the opposing viewpoint any validity. In the Atlantic City casino “discussion” all parties refuse to even consider the principles of property rights, smokers’ rights, and the idea that if one does not like a smoking place they can leave or terminate their employment.
Unfortunately, not one Councilman has spoken up for liberty and the American ideas of freedom and personal responsibility. Not one Councilman looks out for the rights of casino owners and smokers. Not one Councilman is making a stand for civil liberties. It is a sad day in Atlantic City, a sad day in America. It looks like Wednesday, 23 April’s City Council meeting will unanimously assent to Councilman G. Bruce Ward’s scheme to erode business rights and civil liberties. And I thought Atlantic City was part of America … silly me.
Tags: Anti-smoking is anti-American, Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban, dennis mason, Enemies of Freedom and Liberty, eugene robinson, G. Bruce Ward, george tibbitt, john schultz, marty small, Personal Responsibility, Private Property Rights, Steven Moore, tim mancuso, william marsh
April 23, 2008 at 3:41 am
You are so right. Smokers have compromised where we smoke due to the manner we were taught. Maybe it was not rigth to smoke in restaraunts. Smokers have been considerate in this. Maybe it was not right to smoke in grocery store, department stores, etc. Smokers have given to this. But outside…..in the cold, rain, amd wind. That is more than considerate. Come on people, smokers have compromised enough. I would never offend anyone by smoking where someone would be offended, but give smokers a place. Give me some freedom in this “free county”.
I was taught if you have nothing nice to say, don’t talk at all. I would never say someone was fat and we should impletment a fat tax to save lives!!! Obesity is the number one cause of death today and is increasing. Thank God for Weight Watchers so fat people can go out to eat!
I have manners, just give me a place to use them…..
August 18, 2008 at 2:09 am
New electronic cigarettes are answer to smoking bans. I like to gamble, but I have asthma, so I stayed out of casinos, went to online casinos, and then this was banned, so I now can see the opportunity to get back into casinos where smoking bans are now happening.
Don’t get me wrong, I use to smoke, and enjoyed it, but like many things in life, I got hit with allergies which turned into asthma several years later. I tried this new electronic cigarette and it did not bother my asthma, so I think this is the breakthrough for all smokers.
I was impressed with taste of tobacco with no carcinogens, and best of all, no second hand smoke or stink of tobacco, so this to me is the perfect solution to smoking bans. In fact, I can go into airplane toilet and smoke away without concern because it is water vapor, not tobacco ignition smoke particals which won’t set off alarms. I even blew directly into smoke detector with no concern, so talk about breakthroughs in technology, this is it.
Everyone concerned with smoking bans should try this new technology, it will blow you away. lol Now a healthy smoking alternative which delivers whatever level of nicotine your body needs, and when you dial it down slowly, you can kick the nicotine addiction, and then smoke when and where you want, not more habit, just the free choice to smoke away not disturbing anyone elses space. Perfect answer in my opinion.
Revelle-Stop-Smoking.com