I think I saw a few of the Smoke Less ads when I was in Cincy this weekend. I really want to know -- do they really think Ohioans believe that California and New York are now completely devoid of bars and restaurants? 'Cause, um...we're not.

MIL called this morning to see how to vote. MIL: Should we vote for more sales tax to build a new courthouse? Me: Do you need a new courthouse? We aren't in the same county so I haven't read enough about it. Chances are they need a new courthouse, and need to pay for it. We upped the sales tax in my county a couple years ago for schools and parks and both of my kids are in new shiny schools instead of the portables they used to be in. Taxes for stuff we need makes sense. Taxes for waging war, not so much.

do they really think Ohioans believe that California and New York are now completely devoid of bars and restaurants? 'Cause, um...we're not.

Hell, there's still more than one or two bars that will quietly provide you with an ashtray if you ask, i.e. the regular clientele contains enough smokers that they've all tacitly agreed to ignore the law.

I almost miss the tiered system they had in the last place I lived. Some were smoke-free, some had separated, and some were all play. You knew when you walked in the door what the environment would be, and the smokers could be happy too.

I'm sure from a smoker's point of view that's kinda like me saying they're welcome to sit in the back of the bus.

we do owe a debt to each other, payable through the State.

Commie. If God intended for people to have health care, he'd have made them all rich enough to afford it.

At least, that's what lots of my neighbors say.

Hell, there's still more than one or two bars that will quietly provide you with an ashtray if you ask, i.e. the regular clientele contains enough smokers that they've all tacitly agreed to ignore the law.

There's a few bars here that are staffed exclusively by the owners and can therefore allow smoking.

I think I saw a few of the Smoke Less ads when I was in Cincy this weekend. I really want to know -- do they really think Ohioans believe that California and New York are now completely devoid of bars and restaurants? 'Cause, um...we're not.

When the local bans were being enacted (Columbus proper and the surrounding 'burbs) lots of bars were screaming about how they were going to go out of business. Funny thing is that they didn't. I hate that they managed to get the constitutional amendment on the ballot--and all of their advertising was misleading.

I was pregnant with Olivia after the ban passed and we went to a local bar to see a band--one that we had frequented before we had Owen. I sat there for about 15 minutes before I realized there was no smoke at all. It was fucking awesome!

Our smoking regs aren't as tough as CA or NY. The bars with minimal food still are stinky smoking zones. Restaurants no, but lots of them have outside sections. Of course this is probably more the case in Florida than other states.

It would be a wonderful thing if they would prohibit the smoking in bars here. DH strips and leaves his clothing on the front step when he comes home from shooting pool. Then heads straight for the shower.

Our only smoking related amendment this time is about spending funds for education. We have 6 amendments. Budget forecasts, % of people to pass amendments, tobacco money spending, 2 bills on homestead exemption, and eminent-domain stuff. My son was reading off my sample ballot to MIL while driving to school so she would know how to vote. I suppose that it is better to ask a trusted loved one than to just vote yes to all, or no to all.

Locally the big issue is a 1/2 cent sales tax increase to pay for a public health care program for the county. It would provide health care for the poor who are not covered by Medicare/Medicad. This would put our sales tax as the highest in Florida at 8%.

There are some people who are against it because it's a tax and that's enough for them to vote against it. There are others who have been trying to say that this will cause economic ruin for the area because everyone will go out of town to buy stuff to save that 1/2 penny. Which I don't believe for second, in large part because there isn't any town less than an hour away that has stores where large purchase would be made.

Other people are against the tax because it will help people, they seem to be against anything that might be considered a "hand out" to anyone.

The two most hotly debated issues around here are this tax increase and whether the head football coach should be forced to step down because we've been losing for several seasons. This issue is so very important that it's the front page story on election day.

The thing that sucks about sales tax is that it's regressive - the more money you make, the less percentage of your income goes to sales tax. They should really raise income tax rates - especially on the wealthy, except for all the fearsome whining this would generate.