[Mishmash] Can it really be?????

[LCR at rochester.rr.com]

I am a non-smoker and the smoke chokes me when someone smokes in my "space" 
but no matter how we feel about smoking, it's still a person's individual 
right to choose whether they smoke or not.

  I believe that most employers are concerned with health issues and 
insurance costs in making some of their decisions.  If you smoke you can be 
sure that you will have health problems in the future.  I believe that most 
people who smoke know that, and are aware and it's their choice that they 
continue to smoke.

I think that Hugh sees it as a non-government issue and the point of not 
taking more of his rights away, and it is his choice.  Looking at it from 
both sides, Hugh has his right to smoke if he chooses too, I have my right 
not to be subjected to cigarette smoke.  So a compromise should be worked 
out. Because of the health issue, employers opt for the smokers to be 
outside and away from the building thus making it look like the smokers are 
discrimated against. There are more non-smokers in society now than smokers 
which was not the case several years ago.

  It is also a fire issue now.  In my workplace, they used to let the 
smokers smoke outside the doors and under the porches on the building.   Now 
they have to be several yards from the building, so they are letting them 
smoke under the carport in the parking area.  This idea was not accepted 
well but they have to comply.  It's cold out there, and they have to walk in 
the snow and ice to get to the carport which is not far from the building, 
maybe 100 yards.  Thus the smokers feel like they are being mistreated.

We have HIPPA laws governing us here concerning all health matters.  We have 
privacy in all medical records.

Linda





> Smoking is a disgusting, dibilitating habit  and I don't miss dodging that 
> bullet - my concern about all the non-smoking legislation being passed is 
> that once that "right" is gone, what will be next under fire.   Actually, 
> I can answer that - trans-fats in foods.  Effective  January 1st here in 
> Calgary restaurants had to convert to trans-fat free cooking oils.  I 
> heard New York has already gone trans-fat free but don't know if that's 
> been legislated or is voluntary.
>
> Government intrusion into our lives here in Canada is insidious and out of 
> control - I didn't go for my annual physical last fall and I had a letter 
> a few weeks ago from the Department of Health telling me to go get one - 
> and brochures on the dangers of breast cancer, etc.  I am apalled and so 
> angry - this a total invastion of privacy but there's nothing I can do - 
> in Alberta, your health records are not confidential.
>
> Enough ranting -
>
> Susan
> Calgary
>
>
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