Jer Hanson wrote: > Ed Felien is right: the tobacco companies have scammed > businesses into needlessly fearing public smoking > bans. Even though mounds of evidence and examples > prove consistently that: > > 1. Seconhand smoke kills tens of thousands of > nonsmokers each year in the U.S. and > 2. Public smoke-free air laws do not hurt business, > (they in fact can increase bar/restaurant sales) and > 3. Ventilation systems do not adequately protect > people from secondhand smoke;
I will not defend the integrity of tobacco companies. It's clear that many have deceived and manipulated the public for years. If you haven't already seen it, be sure to watch "The Insider." [I have a conspiracy theory that the tobacco companies rigged the Academy Awards to prevent it from winning Best Picture so that it wouldn't be seen by more people.] However, it's clear from the statements on this "fantastic" anti-smoking web site that their viewpoint is also biased. On their Ventilation Hoax page there is only opinion and newspaper articles. I couldn't find any references to scientific studies showing that ventilation systems are not effective. Let me propose a solution that is both inexpensive and practical. First you should be aware that the technology already exists for "negative air" rooms in hospitals. These rooms are used to isolate patients with highly contagious airborne diseases. Smoke is much easier to contain and far less dangerous than microbes. So here's my solution. Create rooms to serve as smoking parlors, lounges, clubrooms, or whatever else you want to call them. Insure that there is less air pressure in these rooms than in other areas using existing ventilation technology, thus creating a negative air room. It will always be possible to insure that the air pressure is negative enough to keep smoke within the room and if the exchange rate is high enough it might be possible to reduce even the exposure of smokers to secondhand smoke (of course cigarettes might burn a little faster). Do not provide service in these rooms to insure that employees are not exposed to smoke. If you want to do this with class do it with glass walls so that patrons can see out and others can see in. We can nickname them "fishbowls." Okay, it's the anti-smokers turn. Shoot! Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
