Will Doyle Give in on a Statewide Smoking Ban?

Oh the ongoing discussion of a statewide smoking ban in Wisconsin. I want to know if Govenor Doyle really believes he can pull it off. My answer would be no, there is no way, no how. Yes, we already have Appleton smoke free, but as a state?

Now, I am a smoker, but I also see the issue from both sides. A smoking ban is a wonderful idea, I think it would help smokers to reconsider smoking and cause smoking to be an inconvienence. I believe it will make non-smokers much more comfortable too. I also know how nice it is to sit in a bar and have a cigarette with my drink, or have a smoke after dinner.

Doyle wants to have a ban on everthing public, including bars and taverns. This right here isn't a good idea, this I believe will bring the whole idea down the drain. Most, not all, but most people who go to the bar smoke, and alot of people that go to the bar also know its a smokey atmosphere. Now there are some bars that have a gril or resturaunt inside of them, these if any bars, should be the one's who don't have smoking. I know that some non-smokers will go to a bar because of the great food, but are turned off by the smoke. They are totally reasonable for asking for a smoking ban. No one that doesn't smoke likes to eat surrounded by it. I believe by asking bars to have no smoking is unreasonable, mostly because the drinkers are smokers and smokers don't like to drink without smoking. That is the bottom line. I also live in northern Wisconsin, and this doesn't appeal to us "hicks" at all.

Now resturaunts are a whole different thing. I of course like to have a cigarette after my meal, but I also can wait to get into my car to do that. Many of my non-smoking friends get very irritated when they smell smoke when they are eating, alot of them will not eat at a place that allows smoking. Having a non-smoking and a smoking area doesn't cut it because you can still smell it no matter what. This is kind of almost favoring the smokers, allowing them to smoke wherever. I do believe that no smoking in restauraunts is fine, annoying, but fine.

Doyle being as lovely as he is, also stated he would not support raising taxes, but supports a tax raise on cigarettes by a $1.25. I believe someone is trying to beat around the bush, because he knows that there are hundreds of smokers and those smokers have no intention of quitting.

Being a smoker I know how hard it is to quit. I think Doyle has good intentions and some bad ones, but by raising the taxes, is not going to get to quit any faster. It is just going to make me give out more money and be irritated with Doyle for it. Now for someone who is so set on a statewide smoking ban also caved in for letting bars have smoking already. Someone doesn't seem to be too put forth on his idea.

In all, I believe the smoking ban is a somewhat good idea, but with all intentions of it being for the good, unlike in Doyle's case. I don't think it will ever happen, but if it does I guess I will have to pick up extra hours at work to pay for my habit, and go through the drive thru of resturaunts, while smoking a cigarette of course.