Tax hike coming
So, once again the nannies are at it.
Do these members of the state House and Senate care that 60 mom-and-pop taverns have gone out of business since the smoking ban was passed? Nope.
They did not go there anyway.
Now they want to close the cigar lounges, and stop smoking at the casinos.
So how do the members of the state House and Senate propose to make up the $12 million to $15 million in lost revenue from the casinos? Oh, that’s right: increase taxes.
Karen Burhans, Morrison
That's right Karen! They are going to get their money one way or another. So now whether you smoke or not you all will pay the taxes. Alot of us have tried to warn people that that's what will happen. It's just amazing that people will buy into the smoking bull but they don't want to believe that the pollution and chemicals that you breathe everyday have anything to do with sickness and death. It's going to get worse before it gets better so hold on to your wallets!
Posted by Pagen on April 4, 2007 05:03 AMI'm fine with paying more in taxes if it puts the cabash on smoking everywhere people gather for food, drink and gambling. Hell , the dems are in charge here now and our taxes are going up regardless, so we might as well get something out of it.
I'm fine with paying more in taxes if it puts the cabash on smoking everywhere people gather for food, drink and gambling. Hell , the dems are in charge here now and our taxes are going up regardless, so we might as well get something out of it.
Ann, do you have some sort of phobia about labeling yourself as the liberal that you are? Pretty much every post you make spouts a bunch of liberal notions, other than the one's where you threaten people with your heat.
Posted by on April 4, 2007 07:21 AMNope...just standing up for my say...just like you but better.
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 07:30 AMYes, lets all become Bible-thumping conservatives, throw away the Constitution and turn the country into a police state. And let's not forget to spend our kids and grandkids into the poor house.
Posted by Libby Libster on April 4, 2007 08:31 AM
You can have my cig when you take it from my cold dead fingers.... lol
Posted by Rich M on April 4, 2007 08:59 AMAh yes.....lets turn this into a religous issue. Why do people with no moral values hate people who do have some? No one but you libby are talking about bible thumping on this thread. Get a grip and get a life.
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 09:19 AMI think every taxpayer should state they have 10 deductions on the W-4 and then not file at the end of the year.
Posted by on April 4, 2007 09:44 AMFind a place that is ignoring the ban and frequent it. Keep mailing and calling the legislature and govenor until they get the message. Freedom isn't free even when it's the freedom to poison yourself.
Posted by John on April 4, 2007 09:59 AMThe simple answer to your question, Ann, is this: You people with such "superior" - or at least self-righteously imagined as such - "moral values" keep spewing out your own hate for anyone who doesn't agree with you on everything.
Jung calls it "Projection", Ann. Where one throws all that one loathes about one's own character onto others, rather than making any attempt to discover why the negatives are within one's own character in the first place.
As with any predictably stereotyped behavior, it becomes extremely irksome at times. Especially when it does nothing to contribute to the subject under discussion.
Posted by Old Grouch on April 4, 2007 10:06 AMIf a restaurant isn't serving food I like or is too crowded or too noisy or is too smoky or where a woman is wearing too much perfume, I go somewhere else. If the establishment is OK with losing my business, so be it.
Unfortunately, folks like Ann who know better how to live your life than you do -- and have no qualms about telling people what they can and can't do ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY -- are stricken with paralysis when it comes to their own choices.
How hard is it to eat dinner somewhere else? Who is forcing bar employees to remain working anywhere?
Hey, if you dislike certain behavior, restrict it. Pay no attention to that whole constitutional freedom of association thing....
Posted by prima facie on April 4, 2007 10:07 AMAnn,
We don't have a problem with people standing up for what they believe in, but when people stand up at what cost do we decide is acceptable. For all the Mom and Pop bars who are closing, they have lost there lively hood, is this fair? I understand the right to breath clean air is a MUST for you, but what is next....every day you are breathing car exhaust fumes, air pollution, do we start a law demanding that cars can only be on the road at certain times on certain days, business be open for only certain times and days, so that people like you are happy. I used to smoke, and no I don't want to be around it, but than I won't go to places where I will be breathing it, that is MY choice. It is a choice that everyone will make, whether you smoke or not. Every person who smokes or not should have that freedom. You are expecting all smokers to give up there God given freedom for you and I don't think that is fair to them. Bar owners should have the LEGAL right to decide whether they want THEIR bars to be smoking or not, the Casinos should have the LEGAL right to decide, there is enough government interference. There must be a compromise so that everyone does not lose their jobs, homes, etc. If you were a Bar owner or Casino owner and depended on that bar to support you, would you want to lose everything to make certain people happy? If the answer is yes, shame on you for wishing and hoping people will lose everything they have; for you.
Posted by P on April 4, 2007 10:08 AMWhat about my 'god given right to not have to drive out of my way to enjoy food, a drink, gambling? Fair is fair. We both can go into the same place and enjoy food, drink, gambling....but you won't be happy till you can light up next to me.Not going to happen anymore. Its over and done and if you can't walk out side..thats your choice. Stop blaming me and folks like me because you don't want to have go outside to smoke. its a done deal.
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 11:57 AMDuffy's closed. A tragic loss to the history of Denver. This is a very elitist law.
Posted by Bob on April 4, 2007 11:58 AMThe closing of Duffy's had nothing to do with the smoking ban, Bob. It had everything with the owner of the buildings essentially terminating everyone's leases so they could raze the property to build a parking garage on it, or at least that was the plan a few months ago.
Again, it had NOTHING to do with the smoking ban.
Aaron
I agree with you Bob it is a very elitest law. But the (leftist) Dems want a socialist country and they will not be happy until they have total control over our money and our lives. Ask people from Canada and Britian how they like paying the enormous taxes they have in their socialist country. I am sure some of them will say it's great but I for one don't want to live in such a government controlled society. Until we notice all the control the government has and do something about it smoking is just a start.
Posted by troll on April 4, 2007 12:10 PMNothing, Aaron? I don't know, you could be right. But, that seems oddly coincidental, especially given the history of Duffy's.
And, where are the poor and downtrodden supposed to go to commisserate. Rock Bottom?
Posted by Bob on April 4, 2007 12:15 PM"What about my 'god given right to not have to drive out of my way to enjoy food, a drink, gambling?"
Not aware of that one in the Constitution. But I do have the right to private property.
Life is unfair. But rights are rights.
Posted by prima facie on April 4, 2007 12:34 PMUmmm It is now. the law is the law...Life's unfair but the law is the law.:-)
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 12:59 PMJohn is right, civil disobedience is the way to get rid of this act. Smokers do your part, just light up at your neighborhood bar and tell people that ask you to put it out to call the cops. I'd help you, but smoking is a nasty habit that I don't really want to pick up.
Posted by Pro banners are self centered jerks on April 4, 2007 01:33 PMGo ahead...do that. The cities will fill their coffers with more of your money. LOL!
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 01:56 PMYep, I'd rather have the cops writing up a ticket or two in a bar than out on the street, that's a good allocation of their time and salary.
I'd bet they'd be hard pressed for real evidence though, unless they were right there in the parking lot when that all important 911 call came in. You think they might need to call in a CSI unit? Whoops, there goes all the income from that ticket.
No one seems to see the enforcement issues the ban has, beside most LE have stated that real crime will always be the priority.
Only a psuedo-conservative wouldn't see the ignorance on many different levels in the ban.
Posted by csj on April 4, 2007 02:08 PMHow about a witness who called it in giving a statement ?....Kindof shoots down your idea huh?
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 02:11 PMNot really, but goes to prove that a true conservative sees through this ban for the bunk it truly is. How long do you think the response time would be on that one? Probably as long as it would take DOW on a loose rabbit call. How's the caller going to keep the smoker contained? Handcuffs? Tazer? or just shoot 'em?
Kinda odd that you would really condone the general public becoming enforcers of the law. Nothin' like a true Nazi.
Just giving you something to think about. Again with name calling. You'd think you could branch out more with your tired old retoric. I'm so sorry you are feeling so opressed.
Posted by Ann on April 4, 2007 02:30 PMThe smoking ban is wrong in that it did not allow bar owners the right to become a cigar/cigarette bar/lounge.
They owned the property. They paid the property taxes. The government and the people said screw you, and told them they could not be cigar/cigarette bars.
Well Ann and other non-smokers, you don't mind paying more taxes. There will be alot of unemployed casino employees that you will have to help. But then again you don't care.
Well, there is on thing I would like to ban. Screaming children running around in restarants and mommy and daddy smile and say isn't that cute. Ill behaved children. Yep, they have got to go.
Did you mean Rhetoric? Was that really that persuasive? Wow! So now you understand that true conservatives, such as myself, believe in less government, (not ridiculous bans on legal substances), less taxes, individual freedoms, and property rights, not to mention taxation without representation.
My job here is done.
When the Nazis came for the communists, I did not speak out because I was not a communist. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Catholics, I did not speak out because I was a not a Catholic. When they came for the Jews, I did not speak out because I was a not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me. (Just add your particular group here - Smoker, etc)
Posted by Rick on April 4, 2007 03:37 PMRight on Karen!!!!
Posted by p on April 5, 2007 07:52 AMWell, there is on thing I would like to ban. Screaming children running around in restarants and mommy and daddy smile and say isn't that cute. Ill behaved children. Yep, they have got to go.
I'll have to join ya on that one . I totally agree. Surprise!