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Smoking Ban Approved

And the Idiots Who Voted for It Still Won’t Go Out to the Bars and Clubs

I’m not sure what pissed me off more about yesteray’s elections here in Austin: that less than 70K people turned out to vote, or that 52% of them voted for more government in our lives.

That’s right, by a 52% to 48% margin, a fraction of Austinites have approved a new, much more restrictive smoking ban in Austin.

What really sucks, though, is that most of the assholes that voted for this ban probably don’t ever go out to support the venues that they are about to help put out of business.

What sucks even more is now that there is no smoke in those venues, they still won’t come out and support them. Because anybody with a stick so far up their ass would never venture out to take part in Austin’s unique nightlife and live music culture.

Seriously, look at the people in this picture celebrating the win:

asshole non smokers

Does even one of these uptight assholes look like the type of person who would be found out on a Friday at midnight watching live music at Antone’s?

And for christsake—is she drinking a fucking Heineken? Hell, she can’t even support Texas beer makers—I’ll bet there was plenty of Shiner and Lone Star flowing at the opposition’s headquarters.

Well, the pathway is cleared now for all those assholes to go out and destroy their livers without the alleged threat of destroying their lungs simultaneously.

The hypocrit proponents of the smoking ban argue that everyone—all employees—have a right to a smoke free environment. Unless they work in nursing homes and bingo parlors, which are exempt from the ban. Why? Because employees at these places aren’t as important as the bartendars and strippers at the 217 bars that currently allow smoking (most of whom are probably smokers themselves anyway)?

And no, I’m not a smoker.

****
David Nunez has all the logical reasons (not just the obvious emotional ones) why I’m opposed to this ban. Very well written and thought out, David. I mean BOWLING ALLEYS, for crying out loud!

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Sunday, May 8th, 2005 | Trackback |

14 Responses to “Smoking Ban Approved”

UG,
I think you’re right on the money. Now emboldened by their shameful win, what politically incorrect behavior will be the next target of the anonymous do-gooder class?
- Drinking alcohol
- Eating meat or other “unhealthy” foods
- Worshipping in certain churches
- Driving SUV’s
- Clubs that generate noise above a certain decibel level

Most of the arguments posited by the anti-smoking crusaders could easily respun and applied to these other activities.

Left by TexasTommy on May 8th, 2005 at 1:23 pm

Since reading Austin air is more polluted than notorious LA, I can’t help but wonder why Austinites are more concerned with an individual’s choice to smoke than than the real health threats by auto and industry. Too tough for them? Every day I am more and more glad that I moved FROM Austin. And, no…, I am a non-smoker, however, I remain a liberal hoping that the arm bands from Hitler’s Germany under Hitler are not next.

Left by Mae in Louisiana on May 8th, 2005 at 1:25 pm

I voted for the ban after being genuinely conflicted over my vote. I think that both sides made powerful arguements, but in the end, I found the pro-ban folks to be most persuasive. Even so, I went out to bars on 6th and 4th street last night, spent a good deal of money supporting our local economy, and I didn’t manage to smoke either. Imagine that!

Left by Byron L on May 8th, 2005 at 3:00 pm

What the fuck is wrong with you people? Just because you don’t agree with the pro-ban crowd they get called uptight nazi asshole idiots. I’m tired of being stereotyped. I went to lots of shows before the ban. I’ll go to lots of shows after the ban. In fact, I’ll probably go to more now that my music loving friends who can’t handle smoke can start going out.

I’ve been to New York and California. I love smoke free bars. I can’t wait. I don’t want to have to choose between going to a smoke free venue and going to the venue that’s hosting the band I want to see. Those of us who love music will go out to see bands, smoke or no smoke. When we are able, anyway. My lungs seem less and less able to handle the air quality in many clubs. I’m afraid that before long I may be in the same boat as many of my friends, who can’t handle smoke filled bars.

This ordinance isn’t perfect, but unfortunately we had to vote for it. If it had failed then there would have been no chance to do this for many years.

For the slippery slope worriers all I have to say is that most of the things you mention only affect your health. When you smoke in an enclosed area you affect the health of everyone there.

As for pollution, many Austinites are very concerned about it. We passed the rail initiative last year. Trying to get a hybrid in this town is tough. We’re one of the nation’s leader in the use of green energy.

Left by glassbowl on May 8th, 2005 at 3:03 pm

I’m with you Robbie, I’m a non-smoker but I had reservations about NYC’s smoking ban.

I have to say though, if you’re like me you’re going to greatly enjoy not coming home smelling like crap. I typically was hoarse the next day after going to a bar as well.

There have been a number of stories in papers reporting on the new rituals that have developed of going outside for a smoke that indicate that even some of the smokers are ok with the ban (a chance to talk to a girl outside the bar commiserating about the injustice of the ban…)

Left by Preston on May 8th, 2005 at 8:39 pm

The “dangers” of second-hand smoke are mostly fictitious, right on up to the EPA’s classification of it as a carcinogen. The only proven health risk is for people with asthma. Service industry workers exposed to second-hand smoke even show signs of having fewer cases of cancer than the rest of the non-smoking public.

Luckily, the smoking ban here in Dallas will probably get relaxed soon, if not completely eliminated. Yay for city-council term limits!

Left by Jason on May 8th, 2005 at 9:09 pm

America is increasingly NOT the land of the free.

And Austin joins the list of cities enabling the decline of choice.

Shame, shame on every supporter of this crap legislation. When your chlidren wear chains you’ll have only yourselves to blame.

Left by Trevor on May 9th, 2005 at 9:02 am

The people attempting to stand on the “business choice” principle had it cut out for them, since most of us really REALLY REALLY enjoy the government regulations which forced restaurants and airlines to go non-smoking (and no, they didn’t do it on their own).

In every instance in this country smoking bans in restaurants were preceeded by doom-and-gloom stories about how it would kill their business; and claims that if there were any demand for non-smoking restaurants, the market would provide (but it didn’t, outside a few hippie joints and fast-food chains).

Anyways, trying to sell opposition to the smoking ban on principle had to overcome the fact that most of us LIKE being able to eat and fly without hacking and wheezing. Far better, strategically, would have been to abandon that stand entirely and focus purely on pragmatism (i.e. this set of bars is going to go out of business). _SOME_ of the anti-ban arguers tried to do this (Beerland) but got polluted with lies about the number of bars which are currently non-smoking (trying to claim that the TGI-Fridays’ places which had to go N/S because of their food sales are evidence that the ‘market is already solving the problem’, for instance).

Left by M1EK on May 9th, 2005 at 9:45 am

On Saturday morning, after just four hours of sleep, I hauled my hung over, nasty-stale-smoke-smelling body out of bed at 8:00 am (after a looong, fun night of carousing downtown) to vote FOR the smoking ban.
An ex-club kid and then a cocktail waitress for years in bars around Austin, I’ve spent literally tens of thousands of dollars at live music venues and bars, and approximately 20 years of my life inhaling second hand smoke, and frankly I’m tired of it.
A few years ago I finally grew so disgusted with the smoke that I made the decision to only go out once or twice a week to Broken Spoke to “get my fix” of dancing, drinking Lone Star, and hearing some great Texas music.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to FINALLY have the freedom to go out dancing and to hear live music more often. Non-smokers are in the majority and majority rules! We will now go out more often and indulge in our vices, which incidentally, won’t cause others to get sick with cancer or die years down the road as a result of having to hang around us!

Left by joni on May 9th, 2005 at 10:21 am

I moved away from Austin in August, so I wasn’t fortunate enough to be able to vote for this ban. But I sure would have. This ban will not hurt the bars in any way. People will still pack in every weekend. And anyone who things otherwise will soon be proven wrong. Oh, and there’s always another option, too: the “Nicotini“.

Left by Scott Johnson on May 9th, 2005 at 11:01 am

Criticizing people you don’t even know. That’s beautiful. Then backing it up with some ludicrous statement about the people who voted for the ban never going out to the venues. Zero proof of that. Just like the notion that this ban will kill live music in Austin. Sour grapes. I’m grateful it passed. I have to play in these stink-pits several times a week and all my equipment reeks. I can’t even keep my guitar in the house it smells so bad. Anyone who has ever visited CA or NYC knows how awesome a smoking ban is. Smokers bond outside constantly. Non-smokers are happy inside. Lastly, if you don’t think second hand smoke has an effect on your health than you are just ignorant.

Left by Former Smoker on May 9th, 2005 at 3:34 pm

Hey, I think I slept with the chick in the red once…uptight she was definitely not.

I think I’ve stepped over some sort of line here, haven’t I?

Please just ignore me…

Left by Jeff H on May 9th, 2005 at 10:27 pm

My lawyer said I should post a retraction of my previous comment.

Left by Jeff H on May 9th, 2005 at 10:28 pm

One honest antismoking health authority tell us what smoking bans are protecting us from. See if you agree with her estimate of the dangers of ETS: http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsID.215/news_detail.asp

Left by Bill Hannegan on January 27th, 2006 at 2:55 am

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