Up in arms, Up in smoke

Let me say up front - I'm a smoker. Not a big smoker - less than half a pack a day, most days. Let me also say that I've quit a few times and when I was a non-smoker I didn't recognize myself as well. But we'll leave that for another time.

No-smoking in restaurants is a good thing. No-smoking at the office, on trains, on planes, even in your seat at Wrigley Field is, I guess, a good thing. But in bars?

As soon as April 1st, Chicago may very well ban smoking in any enclosed public building and this includes bars. This is not a good thing. Even if I were non-smoker this is not a good thing.

I understand the argument that people who work in bars are dying from second hand smoke. But these people are choosing to work in bars - I'm sorry, but I don't believe they are not able to find other means of employment.

Why couldn't it be as simple as having smoking bars and non-smoking bars. Then those who want to work in bars and those who want to smoke in bars will have a choice.

What the hell is this country about except having a choice? Geez, I might as well have stayed in California.