NationStates Jolt Archive

Please view the "Smoking Ban" (proposed by me, "Ashoria") proposal in the UN's proposal section and vote to bring it into the attention of the entire UN.

Smoking is a serious problem requiring a solution. I hope you'll do the right thing and vote to outlaw this filthy practice.

- "The United States of Ashoria", "Ashoria", "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

Smoking Ban
A resolution to ban, legalize, or encourage recreational drugs.


Category: Recreational Drug Use Decision: Outlaw Proposed by: Ashoria
Description: In all areas (public and private), smoking will be banned. Cigarettes poison our air and kill our citizens. It is up to us to outlaw this filthy practice. Cancer is a leading killer among peoples of every nation and a root of this evil is cigarette and cigar usage. Some may disagree but please think of your nation, wouldn't it be better as a cleaner less intoxicated place?!?

My proposal is that smoking and cigarette/cigar sales be banned in every member nation (of the UN) to promote cleanliness and rid the air of carciogenic agents produced by this practice. Also, the cancer agents directly inhaled by smokers harms them requiring that they "abuse" the healthcare system and therefore raise taxes for all.

Consider it, smoking is just paying someone to kill you, slowly and painfully. Band together, ban smoking!

Approvals: 3 (Sectors, Ashoria, Benfinan)

Status: Lacking Support (requires 145 more approvals)

Voting Ends: Sun May 30 2004

I don't know. I almost think this is covered under one of the national issues. I'm not sure.
If it isn't, I almost think this should be left up to national governments.

Smoking hurts, look at its impact on the real world.

- "The United States of Ashoria", "Ashoria", "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

I agree. I don't smoke.
I'm just saying, I don't think it's a UN matter.
Having said that, I could personally suport a proposal limiting smoking in public places, with the support of my region's nations.
Your proposal's limiting of smoking in the sanctity of a person's private home however, I can not support.

NewfoundCana, I see what you're saying. My point is that smoking never should've been in the first place and that it'd be better if it never was again.

I agree with personal freedoms but people paying to destroy themselves and harm others aswell as damage the planet they live on. That's just kinda wrong wouldn't you agree.

In a better world, smoking never would've started. But sadly, it did. The only way to rectify it is to ban it and remove it from existance. Do you see what I am saying?

- The United States of "Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

We had this issue in my home-city (in real-life). Smoking has been banned in all public establishments that are minor (underage persons) accessable. I however would like to see that go further but it did not (and I hope Mayor Smith won't flip-flop).

(I guess in some measure, my opinion is biased due to me being an asthmatic)

My point is Smoking hurts everyone. Even you... Consider that. Even in private, the fact is smoking shouldn't be, it's just plain bad.

- The United States of "Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

NewfoundCana, I see what you're saying. My point is that smoking never should've been in the first place and that it'd be better if it never was again.

I agree with personal freedoms but people paying to destroy themselves and harm others aswell as damage the planet they live on. That's just kinda wrong wouldn't you agree.

In a better world, smoking never would've started. But sadly, it did. The only way to rectify it is to ban it and remove it from existance. Do you see what I am saying?

- The United States of "Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

I can't argue that the world would be a better place if smoking never was and be a better place if was gone.
I can't argue that that it's wrong to destroy the planet and yourself by smoking.
And I do see what your saying. My province has a provinvce wide ban on smoking in public places, period. I'm not sure about bars, I can't remember, but restaurants that are accessible to minors are included, and I applaud the ban.
It's the private home ban that would worry me. It's a slippery slope. Maybe it's worth it, but it could be a wild slide.

For the good of The World, Ban Smoking.

For the good of The World, Ban Smoking.

- The United States of "Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

*Forgot my Signature

I will consult with the member nations of my region, and I will support your proposal if they are agreeable to it.

Thank you for your consideration.

- The United States of "Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World"; UN member and UN Delegate (of "Ashoria")

Bugger that. Should be left up to consenting adults. We would support an international rehab initiative though.

So I guess we should ban drinking soda then?

Did you know that soda can cause kidney failure? well, it does, it deterioirates your kidneys, happened to my brother.

When you pour a little bit of coca-cola on a car and leave it over-night, it'll take the paint off

also, when I was in basic training, my drill sergeant made me clean the toilets with coke.

So yeah, smoking sucks a lot huh

Sigh, just ban it.

- Ashoria

Sigh, just ban it.

- Ashoria

We believe this is not an issue of international significance. Furthermore, it is a breach of civil liberties. We prefer to adopt a policy of allowing recreational public institutions the choice of whether or not to allow smoking.

John Boone
Speaker for Rights & Wellbeing

Fine, just don't say it's of no "importance". Let your citizens smoke themselves to death, just don't complain.

- "The United States of Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World" - UN member and Delegate

Fine, just don't say it's of no "importance". Let your citizens smoke themselves to death, just don't complain.

- "The United States of Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World" - UN member and Delegate

that's right! we should ban all things harmful!

*throws away pesticide, soda, cars, trucks, cigarettes, magic markers, glue, nail polish, etc.*

everything is banned from my country........... I'm going primitive

While we agree that smoking is deeply hazardous to health, and that those who choose to indulge in it should not be allowed to harm others, we consider that this is clearly a national issue.

There are a great many things that are bad for you. We don't force citizens to exercise regularly. We don't control the number of calories in their diet. We don't stop them if they want to engage in dangerous sports. We'll do what we can to educate our populace about the risks, but whether it's worth it, on balance, is their call.

PDK Orthmann
Ministry of Wu-Wei

Fine, just don't say it's of no "importance". Let your citizens smoke themselves to death, just don't complain.

- "The United States of Ashoria", "Ashoria" (region), "The World" - UN member and Delegate

havent complained yet :)

I support you 100%.
Out of Character:Here in Ireland, the smoking ban came in on March 28( I think).
I say to everone, please carefully think of who you are hurting when you smoke, nothing to do with Nation States, please pause and think.

Yet another issue that should be left up to the individual nations. Banning smoking in UN nations isn't going to help the rest of the world, and will hurt the economies of those nations that have a large tobacco industry. And as has been said, if we're going to start banning things that are harmful, we'd need to ban almost everything. One example, light bulbs. These vacuum filled globes of thin glass get hot enough to burn, and when dropped they explode into thousands of small shards that you can never get totally cleaned up, leading to cuts and blood and all that gorey stuff.

James Moehlman
Asst. Mgr. ico UN Affairs

The government of Cabinia has banned smoking indoors in public places. The majority decision by the Supreme Court upholding the ban mentioned not only the medical effects, but likened the social effects of second-hand smoke to "sitting on the faces of non-consenting strangers and farting for ten full minutes."

However, the government of Cabinia respects the rights of every citizen to destroy themselves however they choose in the privacy of their own homes, and will not support this bill.

That's horrible. People shouldn't be allowed to destroy themselves however they choose, or period! And smoking is much, much worse than dropping a lightbulb. Seriously people, think realistically!

- Ashoria

@honourable representative of Ashoria

"That's horrible. People shouldn't be allowed to destroy themselves however they choose, or period! And smoking is much, much worse than dropping a lightbulb. Seriously people, think realistically!"

We are talking your argument seriously. But what should be the consequence of that????

"People shouldn't be allowed to destroy themselves however they choose, or period" - People are destroying themselves in different ways. For example one is suicide. Do you want to ban suicide?????
Do you want to ban alcohol????
We don´t see a ban as an apropiate method. The state should not impose laws which are IMPOSSIBLE to inforce. The experience with prohibition in the US from 1919 to 1933 proves that.
Therefore we are rejecting your proposal as an inapropiate answer to a legitimate question. We favour to ban smoking in public areas in order to avoid and to diminish the effects of passive smoking. We are in favour of warning signals like: Smoking causes cancer, smoking makes your impotent, smoking reduces your live expectancy down to 10 years, e.g., banning of smoking for people below 18, e.g. But we don´t think banning it is going to do any good. That would only establish an illegal market which would be completly out of reach for government regulation.

Sincerely yours

Marc Smith, president of Kybernetia

Cabinia shares Kybernetia's position with regards to the health of the nation. Along those lines, the Supreme Court of Cabinia has also upheld increased rates for health insurance for smokers as not in violation of the 13th Article of the Rights of the Citizens, which protects us from various forms of discrimination. They considered that the reverse would be discrimination, that, "It would be unfair treatment for smokers, who over their lifetimes have been proven to need specialized medical attention above and beyond non-smokers, to pass their increased costs of care on to the non-smoking community. It would be the non-smokers who suffer undue discrimination, for being forced to accept the costs of a lifestyle choice that they do not practice themselves."

The higher cost tier of health care is substantial, and it has convinced many a Cabinian to quit.

If someone wishes to destroy their body it is their choice...period! It is not the same as someone getting drunk and then driving and killing someone.

I am not a smoker, nor will I ever be one. I dont think it is a habit I will like to pick up just because I dont like the smoke from it, but that does not mean I will stop others from doing it.

I really hate it when people are always against people who smoke. Its a right that they have and they shouldnt be told not to do it. I think some great points came up in the HBO show Penn and Teller's Bullshit. Although this may not sound like a legit show, it is very good. It brings up many points and they even show proof for what they are talking about. I suggest that people look into this episode of Bullshit.

Hey Ashoria ! did you know that having sex can cause cancer?! it's called papaloma virus. Yeah 80 million american men carry it it can and will cause cervical cancer in American women. Should we ban having sex as well? Should we not breath in public? hey there are lots of carcinogens out there. maybe i SHOULD ONLY EAT BOILED MEAT BECAUSE if I grill it it has too much carbon build up on it and that will cause cancer. Too bad you have weak lungs. deal w/ it and be a warrior; not a whiner.

With all due respect, the UN has no jurisdiction on the personal decision of my citizens, when it does not affect world issues.

If you don't like my citizens smoking, then don't come to my nation. Plain and simple.

This is just another ridiculous idea by a UN that has gotten way out of it's own way, in respect to micromanaging the affairs of member nations.

With all due respect, the UN has no jurisdiction on the personal decision of my citizens, when it does not affect world issues.

If you don't like my citizens smoking, then don't come to my nation. Plain and simple.

This is just another ridiculous idea by a UN that has gotten way out of it's own way, in respect to micromanaging the affairs of member nations.

<Blasted double posts>

We of The Black New World believe that no action has only good consequences. To ban something that is 'bad' would mean banning everything.

We respect a persons right to harm themselves.

Desdemona,
UN representative,
The Black New World
Do you know what ‘gay science’ is?
Meet The Reps (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132588)

Polish Warriors, I hope you die in agony. I'm asthmatic you a**hole, yes, "weak lungs". You misunderstand everything, have you only a grade-6 education or equivalent?! I'm not about banning everything, just smoking. Never did I say, we should ban all practises that may have negative consequences, just smoking. Realize how the proposal is called "Ban Smoking"?! F**k people, this bloody proposal is only about smoking!!!

- Ashoria

Our point is that you can't produce a substansive reason to prefer to ban smoking rather than other dangerous activities.

OOC:
What is a 'grade-6 education or equivalent'?

Ashoria, you say ban smoking because it's bad for people, then you yell at Polish Warriors saying that you're not calling for a ban on ALL practices that are bad for people, just smoking.

That tells me you have other reasons for wanting smoking banned, most likely because it bothers you personally.

We're saying that's not a valid reason for us agree to your call to ban smoking.

This proposal is not "only about smoking!!!", it's about personal liberty. It's about precedent. My point of view is, ban smoking today, that opens the door for some atheist group to push through a ban on prayer tomorrow.

James Moehlman
Asst. Mgr. ico UN Affairs
The Militant Mercantile Alliance of Greenspoint