How Would You Vote?

[Architeuthis]

Unlike most recent Squid Polls, this one is completely serious. The question I pose is as follows:

Cigar Smokers are a varied group of people who don't really have a lot in common with each other aside from a love of cigars. Unlike other groups which have developed strong P.A.C.s and political lobbying groups, we just haven't done so. As a result of this the anti-cigarette people have literally destroyed our ability to smoke cigars in a large portion of America. Would YOU, despite your individual political feelings, vote AGAINST a local, state or federal candidate if you knew that candidate was going to support anti-cigar legislation once elected?

This poll will help me greatly, so please be honest and ask everyone on CigarLive to vote in this one. The results are going to remain PRIVATE although public comments are welcome of course.

Thanks,

-Squid

[Architeuthis]

Hmm... Fifteen views and only four votes. This doesn't look promising. America may be heading for a nation-wide complete cigar ban and none of you care?

[Shelby07]

This is a tough question. I didn't vote because I don't know how I'd vote. As much as I dislike smoking bans, the truth of the matter is that I can live with them as long as I can smoke in my own house or backyard, and that isn't going to stop. There are other issues that would take precedent over a smoking ban when it comes to who will represent me in government.

The only way to defeat a smoking ban is to let it go into effect and then have a group of affected people (restaurant and bar owners) ignore the law, get fined and fight the penalties in court to try to get it overturned.

[terrasco-cl]

I believe in property rights. It's obvious to me that any official that would vote to ban smoking lacks the commitment to property rights that I believe in.

[alanf]

Tough one. I'm not a one issue voter. All things being equal, the pro cigar candidate would get my vote. But all things are rarely equal. It would certainly be something that I would strongly weigh, since a person who was committed to a ban has an overreaching view of government - IMHO. Government has so much more to do than worry about smoking.

[Shelby07]

Originally Posted by alanf

Tough one. I'm not a one issue voter. All things being equal, the pro cigar candidate would get my vote. But all things are rarely equal. It would certainly be something that I would strongly weigh, since a person who was committed to a ban has an overreaching view of government - IMHO. Government has so much more to do than worry about smoking.

This I totally agree with. Every time I see something like a smoking ban or a helmet law it drives me crazy. People forget what our government was founded on. Every founding document from the constitution to the federalist papers was written with the idea of limited government. The phrase "Congress shall pass no law..." is the basis of our constitution. Our representatives live in a world where they need to pass laws to get reelected. If someone ran on the platform of not writing frivolous laws I'd vote for them in a heartbeat. But they probably wouldn't get reelected since they wouldn't have anything to show for their time in office.

...and that's about as deep as I'm gonna get in this.

[prophetic_joe]

I agree with both Terrasco and AlanF on this. Smoking bans are really about property rights to me and the governments lack of respect for them. If the candidate were anti-cigar however but was very in line with my beliefs in other catergories while his opponent was vastly different I would have to vote with the candidate that more strongly followed my values.

[Viper139-cl]

I would use it as one factor in my decision but I can homnestly say it would carry little weight, there are much more important issues that would sway my decision on one person or another.

[SingleMaltScott-cl]

It's not just a 'one issue' issue. An elected official who would proactively go against the freedom to chose what you do or don't do, or tax it into oblivion is going to do the same in other areas. The loss of personal freedom is a VERY slippery slope and once you start down it, there is very little chance of turning back.
I don't want a politicain in office governing ANY of my personal choices. They have all already proven themselves to be the most incompetent group of 'executives' over the past 30 years.
It's become a standard joke with comedians that politicians cannot be trusted. I think it's a sad statement on our nation as a whole. I was in a book store today and saw Lee Iaacoca's book "Where have all the leaders gone?"
Good freakin question.

[Architeuthis]

Thanks to everyone who has cast a vote and stated an opinion in this poll so far. It gives me an idea of what to look forward to. Please continue if you haven't voted yet.

[CgarDan-cl]

I agree with what many others said. Although anti smoking laws suck I can't vote strictly based on this one criteria. There are issues that are much more important at least at the present time: terrorism, Iraq, healthcare, etc.

I think if voting for nosmoking ban the most effective way to do so is in local elections, borough, county , neighborhood, etc. As these officials will have very little to do with major issues affecting our country as a whole but have much more presence when it comes to the laws our particular neighborhoods follow

[Dogwatch Dale-cl]

Originally Posted by Viper139

I would use it as one factor in my decision but I can homnestly say it would carry little weight, there are much more important issues that would sway my decision on one person or another.

Same here. In local elections, the weight given on this issue may be higher than for a national election. Generally, candidates who feel as I do about issues that are very important to me will also be on our side of the smoking ban debate, but those other would issues carry the day.

[BigBuddha76]

Originally Posted by terrasco

I believe in property rights. It's obvious to me that any official that would vote to ban smoking lacks the commitment to property rights that I believe in.

I agree wholeheartedly with you. I have seen the blatant disregard to property rights...dont even get me started on eminent domain.

[Cigarista-cl]

I have to vote for the overall "best." It's getting harder to pick those. I will definitely vote against any one who doesn't support our troops. Period.

I saw a writeup years ago that suggested in all elections there be a choice of "none of the above." If "none of the above" won, you had to start over with new candidates. That has some appeal.

[NullSmurf-cl]

There is no shortage of tobacco nazis. However, many races boil down to the best of bad choices where both candidates favor some kind of smoking legislation. A candidate has to be weighed on all the issues, not just tobacco. Anti-cigar is only one, albeit a weighted one.

Colorado has the casinos to thank for saving out cigar bars and B&Ms. Unfortunately, the slim Republican majorities recently have failed to deal with the outrageous taxes on cigars (40% of MSRP). The Dems have both houses and the Gov now.