County: Smokers Need Not Apply

I find this hard to accept when the government reaps profits in tax money paid by the smokers who buy the cigarettes. They are paid taxes by the businesses that sell cigarettes. There is no evidence to prove that smokers have more health problems than non-smokers or miss time from work only because of their smoking habit and for no other reason. An example: Two workers are injured in an automoblile accident on their commute to work. Both are hospitalized and require expensive surgeons, paid medical staff, equipment, pain medication and later on extensive physical therapy. Their health insurance policy pays specific expenses and the patients have to pay the remaining expenses out of their hard earned money. They both are required to be out of work for several weeks or longer.

What the hell does this have to do with smoking cigarettes or not?

If the government wants to save money, then they should cut the budget on "pork-belly spending. It is a known fact that many government officials are using cars, going on trips unrelated to the official position they were appointed or elected for, using taxpayers money to lavishly entertain themselves and non-business related individuals (such as prostitutes to name only one) and they are getting away with it!

The public is often unaware of these "new laws" until AFTER they are put into practice. I noticed from watching hundreds of Legislative and Senate hearings that a vote is never taken that includes the "poor slob that dutifully goes to work and has money taken out of his or her paycheck every week." Why?

Dear Donald Trump,
This business-approach to the matter is great.
To make the best business decision, you will also have to consider the number of superemployees who smoke, and the number of not-profif-yeilding non-smoking employees.
or, wait a minute,
no, donot hire the good smokers.
we need them out in the smokers lounge!!!

Dear Mr Trump,

You're right. Smoking is bad for health. Research shows that every cigaarate shortens human lifespan about 3 mins. Research also shows that passive smokers (people who are physically close to smokers) are more prone to cancer than smokers are. Tabacco companies are making a lot of money from this business. The market is huge for them. I wonder whether it is better to stop the consumer or the producer. Its a moral issue again here. If you stop the producers, many factory workers and factory staff would have no where else to go.

Prince Dudley
Systems Engineer
http://birdseyesview.blogspot.com

Maybe it should be "Government interruption of pleasure should be accepted without question, a non-threat to purist ideaology without consent of the people being affected by the biased opinion of people who don't find pleasure in doing the things they object to." A Survey of Popular Government Practices would expose more "smoke" than a full pack of cigarettes.

If you really want to make a change, why don't you look at your elected government officials and find out how much money they are making from the Special Interest Groups on BOTH sides of this issue?

Florida, is only One place to start.

Awesome! What might not be apparent is that in Florida, all the public schools are run by the county. This move means that there will be no school child in Sarasota county that will see a single worker in their schools or any bus drivers smoking- a very good example for the children. They also won't see any county sheriff, judge, or fireman smoking. There will be almost no public employee that can stand as an example to children who smoke. Teachers can get up in front of their classrooms and legitimately tell the children that if they start smoking, not only will it cut down on their life expectancy- but it will keep them from getting a job! Very young children worry about not getting a job when they are older- this will cut down on the number of kids who start smoking before they even get into high school! I wish that every school system in the country would implement this policy- not just for teachers but for all school workers- just like Sarasota.
In Florida, there already is a smoke-free policy in place that has banned smoking in state and county buildings for about 15 years. In my workplace, that means that everyone who stayed had been there ten years or more and is close to retirement at this point. It also means that there are smoking areas outside the buildings, so that when a smoker wants to smoke- they need to take a break from work- and they pollute the lungs of those who want to just get some fresh air- although in my workplace this has resulted in smoke-free outside areas also- so the smoke is just in one area. This also means that a workplace that is 90% or more smoke-free anyway is paying group insurance rates for groups that include smokers. This move should encourage the workers in Sarasota county who are close to retirement, to retire early- and since most of the health insurance for these workers are paid for by the taxpayers- should reduce the property taxes for homeowners in that county. In Florida, anything that will reduce property taxes is a welcome relief- even if it will not be a huge amount.
In doing this, Sarasota county is ensuring that their workers are more productive, our children will not be induced to smoke by people they admire in county employment, that taxes will be reduced or due to statewide budget cuts everywhere- that their money will be spent for needed services instead of higher group insurance rates. Bravo Sarasota. I think that this is something that Florida voters should encourage statewide- especially on the county level

Research shows that people who are being PAID to do research will ultimately record findings that are agreeable to the source that is paying them.

Coal Miners who end up with Black Lung Disease are not compensated for their illness. Their exposure to unhealthy conditions are considered part of their job. Their children are not compensated for any genetic alterations or future health concerns because of parental exposure to harmful elements that owners or investors of the mines profit from.

Before leaping to conclusions, it is wise to do a "history check" on generations of people who have died from "only" cigarette use or exposure.

There are many causes of early death that are not understood by mankind. There are diseases that have caused widespread death such as malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid, just to name a few.

Before you accept polls, surveys, or medical opinions from professionals who make their living being disagreeable, ask yourself, "why should I believe them?"

I have lived a good life. I thank all the men and women who have fought in wars to protect me, the courageous "lab rats" who have dedicated their time to finding cures not blame, and the many people who donate their money, time, and personal freedom to make this world a better place to live, love, work, and grow in.

If you really believe that smoking cigarettes or not, made me the person I am today.... think again!
If I never heard the word cigarette, and there are still places in the world that don't consider this an issue, I still would live as long as I was meant to. Nothing any person or group of affiliates can say will change this FACT. DEATH, SICKNESS, HEALTH, PEACE of MIND.... cannot be measured by human standards.

Courage to agree or disagree is a human right, not automatically given Power by ANY government.
As long as people continue to be led like sheep, they will continue to be treated like sheep.

It is YOUR LIFE. If you can't make your own decisions about how you want to live it... you are a SLAVE.

White, Black, Red, Yellow or Purple, you should have the voice to speak for yourself, find a place where you can live in harmony, and never be "forced" to accept someting you don't believe in.
Today, the subject is cigarettes, how many children a couple is allowed to have, what foods are healthy or not.... Why are you letting other people decide what is right for YOU?

If Florida objects to people who smoke cigarettes, invest in Real Estate (Trump University will teach you) and create a place where you and others like you can live, work, and enjoy life. Not ALL employees object to smoking. Find an environment where you are not "forced" to live by ideas and beliefs you don't personally believe in.

This is very interesting. I agree with them for saving themselves money. I believe it is a great idea and you will have a healther work force. The business way at looking at this is wonderful. Thank you so much for your time in this.

Homebuyerfirst

http://first-time-home-buyer-s.com

While it may seem unfair, employers and the US economy cannot afford the rising cost of healthcare. We are already living longer thanks to modern medicine which creates its own set of rising costs. We cannot afford to induce bad health in addition to the additional costs that will occur simply as a factor of living longer.

Once while observing an open heart surgery, I noticed the patient's lungs where speckled black. I asked the heart surgeon what was wrong with the patient's lungs - "smoking." While I have never smoked, you can bet I never will after seeing with my own eyes what it does to your lungs.

Choose to Be Healthy,
Jessica Bond
Medical Careerist
http://blogspot.jessicabond.com

I was watching an old movie on television yesterday and several of the main characters were smoking cigarettes. (Mostly men) A puff of smoke lifted behind the actor as he walked towards a guy he recognized in a bar.
At one time, this may have looked natural to viewers like me. But yesterday, I thought it looked rediculous. I watched his body language as he crossed the room. He walked like a Loser.
As the story progressed, he wanted to marry a young woman who was sweet and innocent. She didn't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or go to bars. She knew he was married to another woman, but she wanted him anyway.
In the end the two of them get together. Now, there are two Losers with the potential to have children.

The moral of the story? If you don't like drinking, smoking, cheating on your spouse, and hanging out at bars, you shouldn't marry someone who does. If they did this before marriage, what makes you think they will change after marriage?

Sarrasota nightlife hasn't changed all that much. Just because people don't smoke at work, doesn't mean they can't find a place to smoke outside of work. Testing to find out is expensive and a waste of taxpayers money if they already don't smoke in the work area.

Now what? Does the government have the right to dictate what you can do in the privacy of your bedroom too?

Seems as though this post created emotional conversation. My view is that the sooner the tobacco industry is an ancient relic the better. If a way could be found to turn that industry - from the growers to the makers of the wrappers - to a different, more beneficial product, then tobacco as both a health and workplace - and political - issue would be moot.

If medicine were able to prevent people from dying it wouldn't make a difference how a person lived.
The fact that medicine cannot conquer death is obvious. The exact time and situation that causes death for any living creature is still a loss and the pain is real for those that are left in the physical world who knew and loved the individual.

Far worse than the smell of cigarette smoke, or black lungs in an adult is the suffering of children who are being treated (or not) for cancer who never smoked a cigarette or had direct contact with people who do. Many of these children are victims of environmental conditions that are growing rapidly as people look for more ways to increase personal wealth.

Pollution in our oceans and fresh water supplies, cars still using fosil fuels, toxic fertilizers poisoning our food supply, killing birds, bees and trees ... are issues the County of Sarrasota should be worried about. These are the kinds of issues that need to be researched and eliminated. Put those hard earned tax dollars to better use. Then not only will you be improving the quality of air in your workspace but you will be improving the quality of life for "future generations of employees" who will take your place when you retire or die. Or don't you think that's going to happen to you?

I like the concept but believe it treads on almost a "prejudice"...
But if it was my Company I reserve the right to enforce any matter that I choose.
Perhaps a soft pull way to approach a matter of creature habit is to introduce a sense of company culture incentive like if you dont smoke, you can wear jeans to work... (but you still have to be in a collar and tie) lol...

I agree. Cigarettes are the pits. My father smoked and when there was a knock at the door everyone ran to hide his cigarettes and coffee. We are Mormons. I sensed you helping me yesterday. What happened? I suggested marathons for several or all states. This puts your company to work. There would be jobs for my friends and family and me for homes and transportation. "Run for Homes" doesn't hurt anyone. I'm the nonprofit you need to make it work. We need to fix it. Okay. I don't know what is wrong. Don't tell me who it is. I'm a terrible liar. I don't want to know. Anonymous.

I believe in having a choice. If people choose not to smoke in the work environment, that's great. If you smoke and you don't like it because you can't smoke at work, you can leave that job and find one where smoking isn't an issue.

The price of health care is going up for many reasons, not just smoking. The technology, equipment, research, lawsuits, and operating costs are factors as well. The cost of education required to become a doctor, or specialist is sky high and will continue to get higher not lower. Insurance to stay in practice, or cover the loss of property is higher because the buildings they insure are worth more money. Bigger health care facility, the bigger the premium.

Jumping all over OPF (other people's freedom) is not symbolic of "Freedom For All." We need to be more accepting of each other's differences and less "my way or the highway" advocates. If you don't want to smoke cigarettes, that's fine. Don't! If someone who does smoke is considerate of other people and not selfishly absorbed in their own pleasure, they will find a place where they can have a cigarette without disturbing someone else. Eventually, they may not cling to their addiction for reasons of their own.

Usually one addiction is replaced by another. If this addiction can be replaced by a healthier and happier way of living, GREAT! I'm all for better health and happiness. Passing laws for every issue known to man (which the United States is going overboard on) does not create harmony among its citizens. Good and bad, black or white, thinking leaves little room for compromise. In my opinion, this is the very thing that made people risk their safety to come to America in the first place. Whether or not one religion is more popular, one form of exercise is better than another, one type of food is healthier than another, is all a matter of opinion. Hot peppers on eggs with ketchup for breakfast may not appeal to your appetite, but should it be made into a law not to be able to eat this?
Does anybody have a survey on this?

wELL, the County should also ban drinkers as well. They are just as bad as smokers, and they come to work with hangovers and smelling. They also can cost for high insurance down the line because most workers or executives drink after work, on weekends, or everyday. You offer your insurance, its your business ask them (the employees to pay it) and see how many you will have working for you.

Great tip mr trip, I've never smoked and I never will, for health as well as financial reasons.

cost of buying and cost of future hospital bills.

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