Why is public health in quotes? You write as if public health advocates
shouldn't be taken seriously. In the past hundred years, there have been
numerous public health initiatives that have made a dramatic impact on
longevity and quality of life - vaccines, motor vehicle safety,
fluoridation of water, etc.
Smoking is bad for you. It will kill you. Why should people who make a
choice to endanger their lives be allowed to endanger other's lives? When
someone ends up with COPD/emphysema/etc (which, if one smokes long enough,
they will) they'll require additional medical care. That cost is paid for
by insurance ... which means other people's insurance costs go up.
Every major change has met resistance. For example, doctors in the
mid-1850s didn't wash their hands. People kept dying from Puerperal Fever.
Then a Harvard doctor suggested people start washing their hands, and
people laughed at him. It wasn't until a couple decades later that people
started washing their hands and, sure enough, people stopped dying from
Puerperal Fever. Now it's the law that certain people wash their hands ...
another public health initiative that was probably met with resistance.
Was a county smoking ban the right thing to do? Economically, maybe not
... however, itÂ’s a step in the right direction, since it's just a matter
of time until there is a statewide smoking ban.
On a side note, I'm a 20 year old, senior pre-med student who will be
applying to public health programs this fall. I'm not old enough to go to
bars - but I do go to clubs and bar/restaurants. When I turn 21, I'm sure
I'll patronize bars also (especially if the smoking ban remains in place).
I guess it's been over 1000 years... or your assumption was wrong.
John Schrom
Stevens Square
On 27 Jul 2005, Michael Thompson ("Michael Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
wrote:
> .....or, alternately, he's understanding that many hard working small
> business people are hurting financially because of the ban. These would
be
> the 99% of bars that are not patronized by 99% of ban proponents......
the
> bars that the "public health" advocates would never stoop low enough to
> patronize in 1000 years.
>
> Mike Thompson
> Windom
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Shove" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:53 AM
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] My McLaughlin support goes in the garage
>
>
> > > Commissioner (and Minneapolis mayorial candidate) Peter McLaughlin is
> > > reconsidering his support of the total smoking ban at Hennepin County
> > > restaurant and bars.
> >
> > Reason enough right there to not vote for McLaughlin, and to dump his
name
> > in the dustbin of history. He's panting to be a big Tobacco shill. He
> > richly deserves to lose.
> >
> > --David Shove
> > Roseville
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> > > I am concerned to read in the Star Tribune that Hennepin County
> > > Commissioner (and Minneapolis mayorial candidate) Peter McLaughlin is
> > > reconsidering his support of the total smoking ban at Hennepin County
> > > restaurant and bars.
> > >
> > > In supporting a county board-sponsored economic impact study said,
> > > "We've got people bleeding here, so let's get on with this."
> > >
> > > Needless to say some of the economically non-participating smokers
who
> > > are the efficient cause of the economic loss bar and restaurant
owners
> > > are experiencing are "bleeding" from the early stages of lung cancer
as
> > > well. (And the curbside drug dealers are "bleed" every time the
> > > Minneapolis police department modifies their venue.)
> > >
> > > Would this mean as Mayor of Minneapolis he would lead the City
Council
> > > to modify the City's indoor smoking ban?
> > >
> > > I 'feel' my 'Peter McLaughlin for Mayor' sign pulling its legs out of
> > > the ground and walking into the garage until he resolidifies his
> > > position.
> > >
> > > Gary Dombouy
> > > Whittier
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=======================
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