Well, the election is now over, and the results are (mostly) in. I’m fairly happy with most of the results, I think. It should be exciting to see what gets done in government in the next two years with a changing of the guard. And Rumsfeld resigning? I didn’t see that coming, but I can’t say I’m sad to see him go. It was a nice added surprise, like putting on an old pair of jeans and finding a $10 in the pocket.
Here in Ohio, even though the weather was awful, turnout seemed to be good. We now have a new governor that I like (which hasn’t happened in awhile here). But for me, even though the political office races were interesting to watch, I was more interested in the issues we voted on.
Issue 2 passed, meaning we’re going to see a significant raise in the minimum wage here in Ohio. I see this as a very good thing, considering that the current minimum wage is not a living wage, even if both adults in the family are working. Did you ever watch 30 Days? The very first episode featured Morgan and his girlfriend coming to Columbus, OH to try living on minimum wage for 30 days. The result was a disaster, and not only did they leave town at the end of the month in debt, but they also were suffering from health problems they couldn’t afford to fix.
Issue 3 failed, and I saw that coming. While it would have been nice to have state scholarships available to help offset the costs of college, funding it through slot machines at race tracks probably wasn’t the best way to accomplish it. I’m curious to see the fate of the racetracks now – they were hoping this issue would bail them out of the financial troubles they’re currently in. My hometown has one of the largest racing horse farms in the state (not racing on horseback – buggy racing), and the farm may be selling more horses for dog food than for racing soon.
But most important to me were issue 4 and issue 5. Issue 4 was known as the “smoke less” issue, and tried to bring a constitutional amendment banning smoking in public buildings, unless they are on the enormous list of exceptions, like restaurants, bars, clubs, bowling alleys, etc. Basically I think it was pretty much limited to government buildings. Also, it was designed to trump all other smoking bans, so if it had passed, Columbus would once again have smoking allowed in restaurants. Had it passed, it also would have trumped issue 5.
Issue 5, known as “smoke free” was a flat out statewide ban on smoking in public areas, including restaurants, bars, and clubs. There are few exceptions to this issue, with those exceptions being private clubs (membership only) and private homes.
It should come as no surprise that the backers of issue 4 were bar owners and tobacco companies, while the backers of issue 5 were waitresses and health care companies. Thankfully, issue 4 failed by a large margin, and issue 5 passed.
I should explain why this makes me so happy: I’m allergic to smoke. Not the anaphylactic shock kind of allergic – more like the swollen eyes, scratchy throat, stuffy nose, worst-cold-ever type of allergic. Being around smoke in an enclosed area for even thirty minutes will have me feeling miserable the next day. And smoking areas don’t help, since we all know the smoke always migrates to the non-smoking section. As I’m sure you can guess, I was a lousy club-goer as a college student.
As a child, with two aunts who smoked and thought I was “faking it”, family gatherings were torture. I’d wheeze and cough around them, begging to be allowed to go elsewhere, and they’d tell me to stop being so dramatic. Thankfully, one of my aunts has quit smoking after developing one too many serious lung infections as a result of her smoking. She now understands how I felt.
I don’t think smokers are bad people, but I think smoking is a bad habit. Most habits don’t hurt other people, but this one can drastically affect the health of those around you. If you want to do that to yourself, fine. But I don’t deserve to suffer in public, or be unable to go out to normal places, like a restaurant, because of your bad habit. And should my children inherit my allergy, I want them to be able to go out in public without worrying if they will be spending the next day in bed from an allergic reaction to smoke.
So yeah, I’m a little happy about issue 5 passing.
How were the issues where you live?
hooray for you guys! where i live, i’d say the most important thing was just getting the balance of power right the fuck out of george w’s hands. unfortunately, his decisions do ripple over the border, and they’re scary.
but allowing access to safe abortion and the rights of all people to marry if they wish is also way, way up there, because human rights should not end at the border. and at the risk of sounding smug, i’ve given up wondering why you guys have to pay for healthcare.
Well, the guy I wanted for governor got elected, the Democrats have taken the house and the senate and I STILL can’t buy a bottle of 2 buck Chuck at TJ’s in Massachusetts. All in all, I guess I’ll put up with hoofing it down to the package store in exchange for all that.
You can’t smoke anywhere around here, except in your house or outside. It’s very nice.
I think we did pretty good over here in California. The race I was really watching was my city council race. Some of the council members were trying to let an Indian tribe set up a casino in city limits. Happily one of them got voted out of office and will be replaced with someone that is fighting the casino.
I am glad that the smoking ban passed, for you sake and everyone else’s. That is one of the things I love about Cali, smoking is very restricted.
My old town, San Luis Obispo, was the FIRST in the nation to pass a smoking ban, Everyone freaked out at the time, but it made my life so much nicer and now everyone loves it and it seems normal.
I’m with you on the smoking ban. In MA we already have a ban in all public buildings – bars and restaurants included and it was WONDERFUL when it went into effect a couple of years ago. As someone who also suffers from runny nose, itchy eyes and throat around cigarette smoke – I was thrilled when it passed.
As far as local issues around here there were three:
1. Should wine be allowed to be sold in grocery and convenience stores instead of just in liquor stores? The people said “No.”
2. Should candidates be able to be nominated by more than one political party? Again, the voters said “No.”
3. Should private daycare workers (home-based) be able to form a union in order to have more bargaining power with state agencies when it comes to placing children in state custody in their care? Another “No” (which I was a little disappointed in. I think any working group of people should have the right to form a union if they feel it’s necessary. It was a close vote, so I guess I’m not the only one.)
But all in all, I was VERY happy with election day results. I can’t seem to stop blogging about it all!!
We have a province wide smoking ban. Any place that has employees or is open to the public. No smoking. At first there was a huge uproar, but in the end, nobody suffered. Even the bar and restaurant owners didn’t lose. But the sidewalks are littered with butts.
But it is so nice to go into a restaurant and to actually be able to smell the FOOD.
Here in Ontario, there is no smoking in any public places, including bars and restaurants. As an ex-smoker, I can understand the uproar it caused, but I’m glad as hell for this law because simply put, I don’t want to be around it.
As an ex-smoker, I was totally STOKED that Issue 5 passed. That’s right. Me. Hey, college brought about a few bad choices in my life. Smoking was one of them. ANYWAY… stoked. You see, because when you have children and your priorities change… suddenly, going to a restaurant as a splurge (because, you know, budgets) with your son and your Husband and leaving smelling like a ding-dang ashtray isn’t FUN anymore.
Of course, that won’t stop the asshole who was smoking at the FREAKING PLAYGROUND on Monday. But god, we’ll be able to go out to eat without having to drive to Columbus!
BTW- Issues 4 & 5 were a level of contention in my house. I supported 5. Josh supported 4. He lives in this dream world where he thought that restaurants would do the RIGHT thing and ban smoking in their facilities. He didn’t seem to understand that companies are driven by money and wouldn’t do something so bold as to lose it.
However, we’re still speaking. 😉 I’m just right. HA!
Oh, and our school’s levy passed. Yay books for kids!
We had that no smoking ban passed a couple of years ago. It’s fantastic. After working for a few years as a bartender I developed a slight allergy to cigarette smoke so I was thrilled with that law.
Julia already covered what else is going on in our state.
I am so excited for you regarding the smoking ban. Like you I am allergic to smoke and my mother always told me to “stop it” when I would cough around her. It’s nice when things work out the way we hope.
Province-wide smoking ban where we are. It makes a difference.
(And can I add? I tried ofr two days to leave a comment on you boys-with-guns post but Blogger WOULD NOT LET ME. Still mad abotu that.)
I like the law here that all playgrounds are nonsmoking areas!!
Unfortunately I was in Detroit on business on election night, so I wasn’t able to share my happy dance with my husband to watch the local results, but he let me know what was happening over the phone. I am so damn psyched!
As an ex-smoker, I do not want to be around people smoking either. In fact, I look at smokers, and can’t believe I used to smoke. In Michigan, they do not have a smoking ban, and I went into a restaurant recently and it seemed so backward to have a “smoking section” now that I’ve gotten used to NOT having one.
Equally psyched about the minimum wage issue. I saw the 30 Days film you mention, and yes, it is totally impossible to live on a minimum wage job.
I remember thinking the smoking ban was strange when I went to CA on business, but when it passed in NY, I found that I loved it. Smoke always intensifies a hangover for me, whether I’ve been smoking or not.
Sadly, the issues here went as I thought they would, with the exception being a couple of local school proposals that passed – YAY! I crossed some party lines, and for the most part I ended up voting with the majority. So yes, mostly happy.
That’s great that your issue 5 passed (and 4 failed)! Lots of people I have met from other states have declared that California is a fascist state, what with our extremely strict laws about smoking in public places – but my reaction to second-hand smoke are similar to yours, so I was THRILLED when this type of thing came to be here. Nothing like a lungful of smoke-free air! I would never ever take the kids out if smoking were allowed in restaurants, grocery stores, etc. Well, okay, I guess I’d have to, but it would really suck.
That episode of 30 Days was great! 😉
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Walker
ColumbusUnderground.com
You just seem like another zealot that is pleased that the smoking ban vote fell in your favor. You say that other “bad habits” don’t affect others. OK. Here is a nice little example. I pay a premium for my health insurance. We will use Joe Donut ( or Jane Donut )for an example. The donut guy eats himself silly and ends up with diabetes or another obesity related disease. Now my insurance rates go up because Mr. Donut doesn’t have enough self-control to take care of himself. So now I am out money because of this. Eventually I drop my insurance because I can no longer afford it. Then one of my family members gets sick and I have no way of taking care of them. But hey, smoking is way worse because I can’t get up and leave or go to another non-smoking establishment. OOOPS! I just realized that I CAN go somewhere else. Hmmmm. Makes you wonder. OHHH and it is so nice that a website entitled “mommystory” has some of the same language that most porn sites adhere to: Of course, that won’t stop the asshole who was smoking at the FREAKING PLAYGROUND on Monday or hooray for you guys! where i live, i’d say the most important thing was just getting the balance of power right the fuck out of george w’s hands. How nice. Maybe you can take the time to sit down with your kids and explain to them what those little words mean. IN the meantime, I am going to utilize my freedom of choice to go to a site that isn’t offensive.
Well, Anonymous, I can see you were just looking to vent and stir up trouble, since you came here after searching for “fuck the smoking ban ohio”.
First, smoking causes just as much strain on health insurance systems as your doughnut loving friend – the difference is, unless your doughnut friend eats so much that he explodes on you, he is not likely to affect your health as well as your insurance rates. As I said before, smoking affects the health of everyone around the smoker. So if you want to blow smoke in other people’s faces, well, there are plenty of other states you can move to.
Also, my husband’s work has been able to have insurance rates kept steady for over three years now, specifically because the employees are proactive in taking care of their health and not abusing the system. They even waive premiums two months a year for employees as a reward for doing so well. If you want your insurance rates down, perhaps you should consider a health & wellness group at your company?
PS – my language? Are you serious? You’ll notice the name of this site isn’t “stories for children”. I’m a mom, and no human is infallible. Better to use curse words around my fellow moms than around my kids.
You’re right, the internet is (thankfully) still free. So if you’re offended (which you should have realized you would be by the blurb on Google when you searched for “fuck the smoking ban ohio”), please do exercise your right to go elsewhere.
It’s funny that you assume ( wrongly might I add ) that I am a smoker simply because I oppose any government ordered “ban”. I feel that it should be up to the establishment to set rules for smoking preference, not put into practice simply because a lobby group or over-zealous poitician or citizen says it should. The basic fact is, like our previous encounter, people have the right to stay or leave any establishment that they tend to have issues with, whether it be a smoky restaurant or a web page. No one is forcing people to go to a certain place for food or entertainment. But just as you or any other non-smoker has the right to clean air, I feel that the local bar patron or bowler, etc. has the right to light up a cigarette or a cigar or a pipe if they so choose. Those establishments have always been associated with smoking, whether or not it is popular. Don’t want to breath smoke? Don’t give those places your patronage. Look, I’m not going to argue for smoking… everyone knows it is a bad, unhealthy habit that is killing people. Drunk driving kills thousands of people every year, but alcohol is legal. Heart disease is also a killer, but I can eat as many Big Macs as I want. I just don’t feel that the government has the right to tell me what to do. I didn’t mean to insult you in any way, and I suppose I was in a bit of a mood that night, and I just happened to land on your site. My apologies.
As a non-smoker, I am so excited about the smoking ban. Although my husband is dead against it, he cannot change it. He owns a business and says that no one is going to tell him what to do in his own shop. I am anxious to see what he says when he gets his first fine.
YAY for us non-smokers!