That's why the government has consulted scientists and doctors in the U.K. to come up with the ban smoking in public places law.
Yeah, because ever since we started listening to all the 'experts' and 'doctors' saying we should eat right, and exercise regularly, obesity has become the number one medical problem in the western world.The assumtion that 'doctors' and 'experts' (never mind the government) are subjective, and have *your* best interests in mind is somewhat flawed at best.
It's for the good of the people.
Which people_ It's certainly not for the good of people who like to go around the pub and have a beer and a smoke before going home to the wife and kids. How are we going to be a proud race going to the stars to meet alien races
Before going off to wage intergalactic war on an unsuspecting sentient alien lifeform, perhaps we should learn a little tollerance of each other first? It not even remotely likely that an alien lifeform is going to consider your judeo-christian values as good behavior. In fact I'd rather a government was made entirely of professionals, experts int their field with commitees at hand instead of pandering to the media and their own political agendas - it may happen in a sci-fi book, but not here and now for sure!
They tried that once. In Germany in 1933, the the dumbest person in the government was Rudolf Hess with a respectable IQ of 120. Again your assumption that 'experts' and 'professionals' don't have a political agenda is somewhat flawed. Look at experts like Bjørn Lomborg, Stephen Schneider and Ian Lowe. They can't even agree on which way global warming is headed, and you want them to run the country? Just because someone is a 'professional' doesn't make them right or impartial. well you shot yourself in the foot there my friend, that's EXACTLY what the no-smoking in the workplace law is about :-)
No it isn't. First of all, I've already listed documents that have yet to be falsified, claiming that second hand smoke is not dangerous. No-smoking in the workplace laws are about dictating behavior, to see if they can get away with it.First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak out for me.
- Martin Neimoeller
Basically, the choice is between putting up with smoke, and not having a social life.
A social life is not something you're entitled to. Neither is a smoke free environment. I maintain that exhaust fumes are more dangerous than cigarette smoke. You want to protest smoking in bars? Wear hazmat gear or a smog mask.