Must-Read Article

A blogger by the name of Jeff stumbled across our site, and wrote an article that  referenced Ban the Ban Wisconsin.  I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to read such an intelligent, independent-minded post. 

Here, in it’s entirety, is Jeff’s post. 

Some good friends of ours invited us to the Northwoods of Wisconsin on a snowmobiling trip. What a blast.

But one of the things I’ve enjoyed about it most (been here since Saturday the 9th, leaving tomorrow) has been blasting on the snowmobiles (or “sleds”, as the locals call them) to the different little small town restaurants and taverns where the bartenders and locals are just as friendly and talkative as any group of people I’ve met. And they all, without exception, have been smoke friendly, the vast majority are cigar friendly. I cannot tell you how much I’ve enjoyed that. Having lived in IL for so long, and with the recent BS the entire Chicagoland area has experienced with these smoking bans, I’ve forgotten what joy it is to sit in a tavern with a group of friends, yukking it up, jukebox playing, sipping a bottled beer and smoking a cigar. JG&AH is about the only place anymore that happens for me. Its been fantastic little bonus to an already fun trip.

But of course, the anti-smoking Nazis are marching in lockstep. They’ve already marched in and conquered IL. Before that, they marched into the state capital of MN and conquered that territory as well. WI has become the 21st century Stalingrad, with the Tavern League of Wisconsin fighting like snipers in the tall buildings to keep the anti-smoking Nazis out of their establishments once and for all. The battle is still raging, and resistance in the conquered territories fights on. See blogger David Drake’s comments about the “jackbooted thugs” against smoking in bars and restaurants and the impact on business in his state of MN (from October, a few days after the ban passed there). I share a lot of his passion about this topic, as many of you frequent patrons of JG&AH know (see also, the blog “Ban The Ban” here).

I tried to go onto the Fresh Air Minnesota Website that David links to and post this comment amongst the many the Goosesteppers have posted in fav0r:

I want to thank the MN governor and legislature for signing this intrusive, nanny-stated law into existence. I used to enjoy sitting at a bar (owned by a private citizen) and smoking a cigar. I can’t anymore, thanks to people like yourselves. Smoking is a legal activity enjoyed by educated adults who are well aware of the risks. If the public truly is craving smoke free establishments, then the FREE MARKET will accommodate their demand. In fact, irrespective of legislation, many establishments have decided to go smoke-free without your intrusive, busy body mandates.

I think I’ve just enjoyed my last vacation in WI where I’ve had the now rare luxury of being able to smoke a cigar in certain taverns where the owner has made the business decision to allow it. It has been fun, something I haven’t been able to enjoy in MN or IL. I’m sure you busybodies will have that freedom wiped out in WI next year when we come back.

Thanks.

Appearantly, the site is no longer taking comments. The last I had heard from one of the locals was that the ban didn’t have much chance of passing and the only solid report I could get to verify that was WPR’s report of January 22nd. Long live the resistance. I haven’t been able to verify this, but the locals that we spoke to in the taverns told us that, by legislative procedure, if the measure is defeated in a vote it cannot be reintroduced for another five years. So, hopefully, this offensive goosestep into Wisconsin will be halted at the border of MN and WI and I can enjoy the same type of vacation next year that I did this year.

More, from the Ban the Ban WI blog [...]

• [...]private businesses are not “public” places, in the legal sense of the word. No one is forcing anyone to go into a bar, cafe, or restaurant that allows smoking. Ban the Ban Wisconsin fully supports the banning of smoking on truly public property – property that is owned by the taxpayers.

Add to that, no one is forcing anyone to WORK in a bar, cafe or restaurant that allows smoking.

Again, long live the resistance.

Thank you, Jeff, for giving us hope, and for respecting and enjoying our beautiful state, our culture, and the good people who live here. 

We hope you come back soon, and we will work to ensure that you’ll always be able to enjoy a cigar in one of our typical, friendly taverns.