The real last laugh is on the non smokers. Yes my fiends, when all the smokers give it up, you will pick up the slack in lost taxes. So, have a good time because very shortly your wallet will be a little lighter.

Posted by on January 1, 2008 at 11:40 AM Suggest Removal

llyons: I would be elated to see the loss of tax revenue as people give up the habit. I'd much rather see my smoker friends live longer and am glad to do without the second-hand smoke I've had to breathe in the past.

Happy New Year!

Posted by JRR on January 1, 2008 at 12:14 PM Suggest Removal

Yeah, what "lyons" said! I am a non-smoker of the past 23 years and I quit because the new taxes going into effect back then raised the cost of a pack of cigaretts to 75 cents. At the time, I was buying them by the carton to save money, they were only costing me about 45 cents a pack that way, but I wanted to quit altogether anyhow, the tax increase was just added incentive.

I would suggest that smokers who do not want to quit smoking a legal, heavily taxed, heavily regulated product, buy their cigarettes out of state so that Illinois gets none of the tax money they are addicted to!

I would suggest to tobacco manufacturers and distributors, stop selling cigarettes in Illinois and any other state that dis-allows smoking by law.

Gee, I wonder how much crying and moaning you would hear from the legislators and other "leaders" when they have to go through "cigarette tax income withdrawl" cold turkey. I would love to see it!

Posted by FReRydr on January 1, 2008 at 12:19 PM Suggest Removal

I will say it again in case the politicians missed it. Where is teh free patches, pills and treatment programs that should have been paid for by the tobacco settlemant? To all smokers out there, when you see a nonsmoker driving a gas powered car, confron them and explain the danger they are posing to public health with their exhaust. Tell them to walk and also to refuse to work for any place that emits toxins at any level into the air. We need to know that their opinions are genuine.

I also propose a tax boycott. but ciggarettes and other products out of state to deny springfield the tax dollars that they are so addicted to. If you take away teh money, you smiother the snake and it's freedon grabbing organizations like the groups who lobbied to remove another freedom from us.

Posted by on January 1, 2008 at 7:36 PM Suggest Removal

I know the smokers will have an adjustment. I wish you all good luck with quitting when you are ready.

As for my feelings about the law, I am so relieved. Each time I enter a building with smoke, it causes a headache that feels like a needle poking into my brain. I then have to either try to ignore it, or leave the occasion... this matter has caused me hours of pain no matter what I take to relieve the pain, only time helps. Usually the next day I am still suffering from the headache.

I rarely attended concerts at bars, rarely went to the restaurants that had bars with smoke... the pain and ruining of my evening out, paying babysitters, paying for a meal wasted..

I hope you all do understand this law is not frivolous. Health and wellbeing are important to everyone.

Posted by on January 2, 2008 at 10:27 AM Suggest Removal

I think the only real issue with ban was the bars. Everything has been naturally going this way with restaraunts, and public buildings. Smokers should use their voting power. They made a change in city elections for Champaign. Just think what you can do statwide. Stay away from all bars all year long. Yes it hurts the owners, but the finacial data may help. But in the end it is good to know that nonsmokers will now start paying for perfection with their paychecks.

Posted by bpercival on January 2, 2008 at 11:01 AM Suggest Removal