Today's modest proposal
If we're going to be banning smoking in public places on the grounds that it's bad for people's health, can I suggest we also introduce a ban on people going into churches on the same grounds? I can already see a nice bit of overlap (or 'synergy' as the marketing people would call it) between the church and the tobacco companies - once you've convinced yourself that smoking doesn't cause cancer, believing in the giant invisible friend in the sky is going to be pretty easy (and vice versa, of course).
Nick got away with this at 3:37 AM
1 Comments:
In fairness, the smoking ban (certainly the Irish model) is all about protecting people from the dangers of passive smoking, and not trying to prevent people harming themselves.
I find myself, much to my surprise, in favour of the ban. I'm 100% against prohibition, and feel people should have the legal right to put whatever the hell they want into their bodies. But when that choice begins affecting others detrimentally, then I think it requires examining.
I don't think surgeons should be allowed to imbibe large quantities of alcohol prior to carrying out a procedure. Pilots shouldn't be allowed to toke on a crack-pipe whilst in control of a 747. Both because the effects of their drug use on others is unacceptable. The same logic holds for tobacco users, who shouldn't be allowed smoke in environments where others have no choice but to inhake their smoke.
And the argument "stay out of pubs, etc. if you don't want to passive smoke" actually ends up being a form of discrimination with regards to non-smokers seeking employment in the catering industry.
Indeed, much of the impetus behind the Irish ban was actually down to estimates from the insurance industry over how much the Irish service sector stood to lose in increased premiums in order to insure themselves against being sued by employees claiming to have developed cancer from passive smoking (the EC Bill of Rights insists that employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment).
jim.
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