KC Does the Right Thing!

So, the citizens of Kansas City passed the no smoking ordinance yesterday. Although it is a flawed bill (you can still smoke on casino floors), it is a great step forward for the city.

I smoked years ago, so I have some perspective on this. And take my perspective for what it's worth, which is absolutely nothing.

So, let me answer these questions as I used to answer them when I did smoke. My position has not changed.

Why is this good for smokers
Admit it. No one (even smokers!) likes going out for the night and coming home smelling like you've bathed in an ashtray. Your clothes stink, you stink, your hair stinks.

Also, you smoke too much. I know, who am I to say, but it's true. I smoked about half a pack per day, but I could easily go through a pack in a couple hours drinking. Which compounded the hangovers. Ten times worse.

But I like to smoke when I drink
So did I! So, here was my little secret: I either went to drink at places with patios where I could smoke, or I went outside to light up.

Outside???? That might work for those librul Californians with great weather, but it gets COLD here in Kansas City. And HOT!
It works fine in New York as well, and it gets just as cold and just as hot. And talk about smokers! They're everywhere. Walk by any bar on a Friday night and see the massive throng out front smoking. They're not miserable.

I used to love going out in NYC as a smoker. I smoked half as much and felt twice as good. And the smokers there didn't seem to mind.

But why should you loser nonsmokers get to enforce your will on us?
Because it's a public safety issue. You have to wear a seatbelt in your car. Oh yeah, and we're also the majority. Suck on it.

Trust me, there are plenty of nonsmokers that will go out more now that they don't have to factor in a shower and a load of laundry :)

I stopped going to a place I loved to see shows because the smoke was so bad. I often choose not to go out because the smoke makes me feel like absolute shit. It did then also, but I was desensitized to it. Trust me smokers, most of you will appreciate this.

But what about the poor bars? Studies show that x% of bars close when smoking bans are enforced.
Not my problem. Adapt or die. Business owners seeking safety should sell their businesses and get a government job.

But shouldn't it be up to the business owners to decide?
No. The people spoke. This is a democracy. That's how it works!

I used to think the free market was capable of deciding this, and that some bar owners would see an opportunity and go smoke-free. But it never happened. So the people did something.

But it was backed by deep pocketed corporations who wanted an edge!
So, they got the people to follow. What's new. And just because someone has a motive, doesn't mean that the outcome is necessarily bad.

And, I'm sick of your whining. "But this...", "But that..." Get over it and move on with your life. In the grand scheme of things, this is trivial.