I have never smoked a cigarette, voluntarily or involuntarily. But the surgeon general insists that I have. Surgeon General (Who's the Surgeon Colonel?) Richard Carmona claims that all Americans engage in "involuntary smoking" through second-hand tobacco smoke. Such Orwellian phraseology naturally leads to interventionist conclusions. "Nonsmokers need protection through the restriction of smoking in public places and workplaces," Carmona maintains in a new report. I'd rather protection from meddlers like Carmona. Spread the word: smoking is healthier than fascism.

What bugs me is how the word kill is so often misused. From the CNN article, "officials estimated that secondhand smoke kills about 3,400 nonsmoking Americans annually from lung cancer, 46,000 from heart disease, and 430 from SIDS." Minus the SIDS deaths (which seems like a dubious number since I had always thought the cause of SIDS to be a mystery), I would assume most of those "killed" by second hand smoke were of a rather advanced age, most likely elderly. When one is in the twilight of their life it seems wrong to characterize their death by natural means (rather than accidental like getting hit by a bus) as tragic, unexpected, or neferious (as the world kill implies). People get old and die. That is the way the system works. No one was killed or murdered by second hand smoke anymore than they were killed or murdered by old age, because that is really all they died of, old age.

What is a "fascist" anyway?

With all of the toxins that have resulted from modern life that our bodies have to contend with, is second hand cigarette smoke really that much of an additional threat? I doubt it.

I suppose as smoking has become less socially acceptable and is offensive to some; outlawing smoking in offices was ok. Public buildings, ok. Restaurants, somewhat ok. Bars not ok. But now there are initiatives to ban smoking outside altogether and in homes where there are children? Next step might be (as with mandatory seatbelts and cell phone use) bans on smoking in the privacy of ones car.

Is this really about public health or more about government’s ability to tell us what to do? Too much regulation and squelching of personal freedoms for me as the real public health issue is to the smoker and not the casual inhaler.

Interesting post. I grew up in a small apartment with a parent with a pack a day smoking habit. (btw, This was in the northeast where in winter you can't just open your windows on any old day like you can out on the Coast.) I didn't grow up around second-hand smoke, I grew up with second-hand smoke all around me: in the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom. Everywhere. In a way I like it. Yet to this day I don't mind the smell of it. Truth be told, the pack a day habit shaved years off the parent's life. But I never caught the habit myself. I ran a 5-minute mile and a sub-19:00 5K in high school and, fortunately, have been free of respiratory complications during my adult life. Every once in a while I light up (it feels good). And I prefer rolling my own tobacco: filterless, you know -- less governmental regulation and corporate influence that way....

I think that until the early 80’s, when smoking in general was becoming less acceptable, most people smoked to some degree or another and for many often and in quantity.

Growing up, both of my parents smoked heavily as did most all of their friends and my other relatives. My Father was a two pack a day filter less Lucky man; Mom was between a pack and half a day. So, between daily quantities of second hand smoke and the volume that came from having the occasional houseful of partiers lighting up, the house was always filled with smoke.

Additionally, all of my friends smoked. As did most all people encountered and associated with in the military and in school. It seemed like everybody smoked and typically in closed spaces. I was a very casual social (read: when drinking) smoker just to fit in socially. Luckily, it never really hooked me and I participated in many athletic events that required lung power among other requirements.

So, even with all of that direct and second hand smoke, my lungs are clear and I have no respitory problems to speak of. And even for my advanced years I can still knock off 3 to 5 mile runs daily as I choose (distance dictated by desire and time) and ride a bike with plenty of wind to spare.

As said, I think this is more about government control than health as there are no really valid cases or, more importantly, science to prove that second hand smoke is a problem.