Jump to full article: Wicked Local (MA), 2009-06-20
Author: Richard Greeley / Republican State Committeeman Richard Greeley (2nd Plymouth and Bristol districts)
Intro: Over 30 years ago, the old Central School in Halifax housed five classrooms of first-, second -, and third-grade students. Different subjects were taught in different classrooms, much like middle and high school. During homeroom one morning, Mrs. Martin told 30 sleepy children something that stands true to this day: "Smoking is bad for you." . . .
Here's the point: Expressed acknowledgment by the proprietor of a business to his employees and customers that smoking will be allowed in the establishment is sufficient information needed for those adults to make the decision as to whether they wish to remain in that establishment.
. . .
If people would still walk into the establishment, be they employees or customers, then the problem isn't as big as the government says it is. If fewer people would walk in, then the business would start to fail.
Federal taxes on cigarettes will be raised another 61 cents. Boston is making it illegal to smoke cigars in cigar bars. A restaurant in Halifax spent thousands of dollars to renovate its building to accommodate their patrons who smoke, only to have to move its business to another building after a total smoking ban went into effect.
None of these actions by government allow people who smoke to freely assemble with other people who don't mind when they are smoking.
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