Hello World

Considering the furor over the smoking ban on relatively minor websites (this one, DCist [no offense, DCist, I just mean minor in context!]), I'm looking forward to today's online chat at the WP website. I hope they let some of the truly vitriolic hateful diatribes through.

You can submit questions in advance, and I'm thinking we should all try to get one in there. Mine is going to be:

"Don't you think that people who go to bars not only know about the risk of cancer from second-hand smoke but deserve it? Nobody ever gets cancer from going to church, I'll tell you that much!"

That should stir things up.

There's a smoking ban for bars and restaurants up for debate here in DC, and it's fascinating how contentious the issue is. The Washington Post does an acceptable job of summarizing the situation here. My favorite part of the article is this:

"I mean, really, you're treating us like children," testified writer Christopher Hitchens. He recalled the conviviality of Herb White's bar on P Street NW, where writers would get discounted drinks. Hitchens, a British citizen and enthusiastic smoker, said a ban would be un-American.

At any rate, if you want an idea of how seriously some DC residents take this, you should check out DCist's coverage. Here is the most recent entry on the subject. The comment section is the best--it's like CROSSFIRE.

I do think it is telling that although smoking bans are always couched in terms of worker health/safety, the most vehement opponents of these things are always bar/restaurant owners and employees. I just wish ban advocates would acknowledge that they believe smoking is a disgusting, unhealthy habit and should not be permitted in places where its effects are unavoidable to other patrons.

Basically, as I said at DCist, I think both sides in this debate are putting forward disingenuous arguments that don't really address why it is an important issue. And I think that although it would be great if smoking weren't part of the bar scene, it's probably not really appropriate for there to be a government-mandated smoking ban.