standing up for property rights

[d_goddard]

Handing out the entire eight-page report to people so they can find their district's reps seems wasteful.

The latest-greatest town-by-town version has all the same data, but is just 2 pages:
http://www.nhliberty.org/files/2007%20House%20Rating.pdf

Ever though of printing up individual cards (business card–size) for each district/county/city/whatever, then handing the right one out at the right place?

We'll be creating a voter's guide on a town-by-town basis (another GIGANTIC lump of work that will need volunteers when the time draws nigh, probably summer of '08).
It will select the most illuminating (or damning) votes for each Rep.

The theory here is to use the Report Cards that are all printed up, and intended to be given away for exactly this kind of purpose.

[KBCraig]

A report from Day One:

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Smoking+ban+has+bar+owners+worried&articleId=3aa67081-367c-4b28-8e86-4f08f48db545

Smoking ban has bar owners worried

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff

MANCHESTER – Police yesterday were called to investigate a complaint of loitering on a street corner.

"Turns out it was just a bunch of people smoking outside a bar," said Manchester Police Capt. James Kinney.

Pockets of people puffing on sidewalks and street corners is something everyone will have to get used to -- a side effect of the state's ban on smoking in public places, which went into effect Sunday at midnight.

While it's too soon to know what other side effects will surface -- from enforcement issues to dwindling customers -- John O'Keefe could already see a visible shift in business at his Elm Street bar less than 24 hours into the ban.

He took a break from hovering over his five indoor customers at McGarvey's to see how the sidewalk crowd was faring.

"There are more people outside than in," O'Keefe said, as one of his bartenders followed behind to empty a round of ashtrays for two outdoor tables of patrons.

"I'm absolutely worried about it, and so is every other bar owner I've talked to," O'Keefe said.

Outside his place, smokers and non-smokers shared tables and opinions on the ban.

"It's the beginning of the end of our rights as citizens," said Nick DiMartino. "I'm a non-smoker and I'm in protest of this law. I think it's a disaster and the demise of small business here."

DiMartino, owner of the now defunct downtown bar Nicky D's, said it's not a smoking issue. It's a matter of principle.

"You just don't need the government to tell you what to do," DiMartino said.

"It's saying the government doesn't trust business owners or the populace to make their own decisions," said fellow non-smoker Tom Boudreau.

"And it makes 'Live Free or Die' look stupid," said Lanie Kirouac, enjoying a Parliament light under the stars.

DiMartino said he resents the intrusion into the lives of taxpaying adults.

"They can't keep crack out of the schools, but they want adults to not smoke? There's something wrong there," DiMartino said.

O'Keefe said he's never been a smoker and, in reality, figures the ban must be a law meant for good, not evil.

He's still struggling to see the good.

"I'm against someone forcing it down my throat," O'Keefe said. "And what really bugs me is they've forced it all over the state -- except at private clubs. What, are those people, expendable or something?"

He said if the law is meant to protect the health of those working in smoke-filled environments, why is it all right for veterans at the VFW to take in second-hand smoke?

Exempting private clubs -- which abound in the city -- is a double standard, O'Keefe said.

"These people are out here tonight. But they won't be out here when it gets cold. They will seek out private clubs. Where's the fairness in that, to bar owners like me?"

Marsha DuMont, a regular at McGarvey's, sat with a drink in one hand and her blue Bic lighter in the other.

"I'm here tonight but I'm not happy. I don't know if I'll be here next week," DuMont said. "To me, going to a private club isn't an alternative; it's an answer."

LeeAnn Kirk, bar manager at the member's-only Lafayette Club a few blocks away, said she expects to reap the benefits of the law, which is sure to drive some diehard smokers in her direction.

"We're anticipating more business, and we welcome it. The problem is that those who make the laws aren't the ones whose livelihoods are affected," Kirk said.

"I think it comes down to personal choice on all fronts. The law is supposed to protect workers, but those who choose to work in bars knows that smoke goes with the territory," Kirk said.

Peter Petros, owner of Luigis Pizza, Bar and Grille on Valley Street, said the law is an invasion into how he runs his business.

"It's an invasion of everything. It should be up to the individual owners," Petros said. "People who come here to relax want to be able to have a beer and a cigarette, if they want to," Petros said. "This is taking half your pleasure away."

Over at Raxx Billiards, the smoke-free crowd was thin.

"Wait until Friday or Saturday, then come back and see how it's going," said owner Roy Arsenault.

He said he expects some of his business will shift to one of the city's many private clubs.

"Frankly, if cigarettes are that dangerous, then ban them. Otherwise, it doesn't seem fair to say you can't smoke them here, but you can someplace else. The government has no problem collecting my cigarette sales license fee. Frankly, it's hypocritical of the state. They shouldn't pick and choose who they are going to punish with a law like this." Arsenault said.

"You know, I don't like jalapeno poppers and I'm not sure if they're good for you, but I don't stop other people from eating them," he said.

[Rifkinn]

"It's the beginning of the end of our rights as citizens," said Nick DiMartino. "I'm a non-smoker and I'm in protest of this law. I think it's a disaster and the demise of small business here."

DiMartino, owner of the now defunct downtown bar Nicky D's, said it's not a smoking issue. It's a matter of principle.

"You just don't need the government to tell you what to do," DiMartino said.

"It's saying the government doesn't trust business owners or the populace to make their own decisions," said fellow non-smoker Tom Boudreau.

"And it makes 'Live Free or Die' look stupid," said Lanie Kirouac, enjoying a Parliament light under the stars.

DiMartino said he resents the intrusion into the lives of taxpaying adults.

"They can't keep crack out of the schools, but they want adults to not smoke? There's something wrong there," DiMartino said.

O'Keefe said he's never been a smoker and, in reality, figures the ban must be a law meant for good, not evil.

He's still struggling to see the good.

"I'm against someone forcing it down my throat," O'Keefe said. "And what really bugs me is they've forced it all over the state -- except at private clubs. What, are those people, expendable or something?"

Maybe this can end up helping to get more ppl involved.  People see this, get upset over it and have their eyes opened about other things that are wrong.

[supperman15]

i hope so, i hope they don't just scoff and say to themselves, grow up its the law!
so what can we do?  we didnt find anywhere on elm st which wasn't a big surprise, most of those places were voluntarily non smoking.  Error thinks we should hit bars a bit latter... is there something else we can do.  i have been searching for ideas, a smoke out on the capitol steps the first day the reps are back in office???

[d_goddard]

smoke out on the capitol steps the first day the reps are back in office?

I would not recommend this tactic.
That's breaking out the Special Forces in a war that is won by drinking tea, and getting natives to come to our side.

Hitting up the bars where people are smoking outside and giving them any kind of literature is going to have amuch more direct and positive payoff. Again, I'm happy to donate NHLA report cards to such an effort, and I've posted the raw data about who voted what way earlier in the thread.
Of course, even better would be a flyer specifically targeted to this purpose. Maybe a half-page with a few catchy taglines & quotes about the definition of Fascism, private property rights, etc.... and, most importantly, a place where people can connect if they want to get active. That could be the NHLA, could be NHFree, could just be a pointer to FTL... whoever puts in the time & energy to create such fliers gets to choose

[Bald Eagle]

I reformatted the spreadsheet to fit on the front & back of a standard legal size paper, and made it look a little more like a flyer to be handed out to businesses.

It should be cheap to print out a few hundred to hand out to local businesses.

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How soon can we submit a bill to repeal the smoking ban?

[CNHT]

If the internationalists, globalists, and global warming fear mongerers have their way, there will be no more private property and you won't have to worry about whether you allow anything to happen...it will all be decided for you.

[supperman15]

I reformatted the spreadsheet to fit on the front & back of a standard legal size paper, and made it look a little more like a flyer to be handed out to businesses.

It should be cheap to print out a few hundred to hand out to local businesses.

id be willing to chip in for this and help with the footwork

[d_goddard]

How soon can we submit a bill to repeal the smoking ban?

Technically a repeal can be submitted in '09, after the general election.
Realistically, this issue will be determined 100% by whether the Republicans gain back the the House and/or Senate.
If the Dems keep control of both... save your energy, the ban will remain in place.

[enloopious]

My 2 cents:
The person who owns the establishment should have the freedom to make their own rules in their own place. I don't like smoke either while I eat but I would much rather respect the OWNERS wishes than ANYONE else in the world.

[EthanAllen]

My 2 cents:
The person who owns the establishment should have the freedom to make their own rules in their own place. I don't like smoke either while I eat but I would much rather respect the OWNERS wishes than ANYONE else in the world.

This law is really about regulating the workplace.

So you have two rights in conflict.

Private property vs. the government's ability to regulate commerce.

[Braddogg]

Horse shit, Ethan.  Government doesn't have the right to do anything.

[CNHT]

Horse shit, Ethan.  Government doesn't have the right to do anything.

+1 for Brad (for saying Horse Shit)

[Braddogg]

Horse shit, Ethan.  Government doesn't have the right to do anything.

+1 for Brad (for saying Horse Shit)

I haven't even been drinking, and I'm still swearing like a sailor