I only have one (or so) things to say to this: Did you ever see the movie "Demolition Man"? What about "1984" (or even read the book)? Hrrmmmm, perhaps Bradbury's 'Farenheit 451' is more appropriate in this case?

Take time to watch the movie "The Insider" !

As an ex-smoker, who smoked for a little over 42 years and is now disabled with severe Emphysema (COPD), I totally agree with you that smoking should be banned in all public places, both inside and outside. My beautiful wife, who never smoked a day in her life, is now my caregiver. We have lost virtually everything because of our limited income on Social Security Disability. We can no longer go dancing. My wife can no longer wear the perfume she loved to wear. She can't burn her candles anymore. We can't burn wood in our fireplaces anymore. We can't take long trips like we used on the weekends because I have to make sure I have enough oxygen to keep me breathing. And, those people who do not smoke hated it whenever I would light up when I used to smoke. We have lost a lot of friends because I smoked and now because I am disabled and unable to do a lot of things that we used to do physically. I have shortned my life considerably and destroyed our lives from smoking. Smoking should be banned anywhere where people come together to enjoy their time together and relax.

Avoidcourt, your posting was well written and really touched me. I am sorry to hear about your health issues caused by smoking. Obviously, the impact that smoking has had on your quality of life is indeed significant. It obviously has also seriously impacted the lives of those that you love. I am also sorry to hear that you lost a lot of friends because you smoked. I can understand, because I do not associate with anyone who smokes. It is regretful that you didn't realize earlier in life what smoking was doing to you. So many people don't. I am truly amazed to see young people taking up smoking today because they think it's "cool". What's even more disturbing is listening to mature people on this website question any significant link between smoking and ill-health. One person in particular believes that the government and the medical profession are brainwashing us about the effects on smoking and that there really isn't any link between smoking and poor health; that the medical journals and lab reports are erroneous and fabricated. I didn't think such thinking even existed....and it's truly frightening. I concur with you that smoking needs to be banned from all public indoor/outdoor places. I wish you only good things in life and I hope you get better as time goes by.