Thank you for smoking.

I stand outside my office building taking a break smoking a cigarette. Some stranger walks up to me and starts to tell me off. “That's a disgusting habit.” Shunning me. Becoming indignant. That is bad for you or worse that is hurting the people around you.

I hate those conversations.

Little Kids will walk up to me and tell me that smoking is bad for you.

I usually tell them it's not as dangerous as telling other people what to do.

Society is spreading hate at smokers.

In England smokers are banned from being foster parents

The new frontier in bigotry is to discriminate against people for the habits they have.

Fired for smoking

I don't see why that is OK.

I have been a smoker for 15 years. I chose to smoke. I like it. Yes I pay a price. But I enjoy it. It is legal and I chose to smoke in spite of the risk and the cost.

For some people that isn't good enough. They wish me harm for smoking. I have been baned from doing it in public. Because of second hand smoke health dangers. Perhaps there are risks. But the smoking ban in Minnesota is costing people their business.

Over 300 bars and restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul are out of business in the 2 years since the smoking ban.

The people that the smoking ban is meant to protect are out of work or out of business. They didn't want the ban.

The nicest people I have met have been smokers. I stand outside a bar or restaurant and I meet people. We stand there and smoke and chat. Smokers are approachable. A smoker can hold a conversation with anyone. Why does the world hate us?

I smoke 2 packs a day, yes I know that is a lot. Soon $1.01 of every pack will go to the federal government. It is funding the children's health care initiative. Paying for medical care for children.

In Minnesota I pay $1.504 per pack in taxes also to pay for health care. Lets do some math...

2 packs a day

$2.514 x2

$5.028 a day

5.025 x 365.242199 days a year = $1,835.34 a year

That is what I pay to provide health care for other peoples children.

If the taxes had been this high as long as I had been smoking I would have paid $27,530.13.

So when I stand outside in the cold Minnesota winter and people walk by and sneer or say something nasty I get a little angry.

My habit is helping kids I have never met. What does their bad habits support? Starbucks

Every single one of them. They should be thanking me for smoking.