Smokers prohibited from being foster parents

I am a smoker with 2 adult children. I never smoked in the car or house
and neither one of them smoke. I always told them of the dangers of smoking and to NEVER start or they will end up like me, hooked and unable to quit. This is just one more way for people with power over others to punish them for something that they don't approve of.

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I know a woman who has been smoking for over sixty years, although she hasn't had children of her own she has raised several groups of children all are very healthy. There are worse problems happening in our country like illegal drug usage. Drug use has done more damage not only in our county but the world than smoking and some users are foster parents. It has significantly contributed to homeless children and families, HIV, Hepatitus C to name a few. Our society has jumped on an issue such as smoking or not smoking to blame all our ills upon sort of like displaced anger. It appears that since we have lost our sense of security (Sept. 11th) we lost some of our confidence as well and who do we blame for that smokers and fat people.

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Since smokers can't be foster parents, I think people should be thoroughly screened to make sure they don't eat at McDonald's either! That would show they are too lazy or busy to provide the kids a healthy meal! Check their refridgerators, freezers and cabinets to make sure they don't have junk food! Otherwise they will make obese kids with health problems!
So too many people have too much time on their hands, no life and have to impose their views on others. This country is getting more like Russia every day!

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your right to make a fist ends where my nose begins. who can breath smoke? smoking kills. nobody have the right to kill -in the park, home, at bus stop, anyplace people can't step away, neighobrs (can't pluck up your house), at entrances, 20' from structures, cars, persons, & can't just throw cigarattes wherever - have to put them out & dispose properly or if caught, pay like the stiffist parking tickets (fire hazard). weapon that kill from both end is the most deadly - it should go extinct.

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this is in response to what Steve said above. No, if you have a few cigarettes and get in the car, you won't get pulled over for driving recklessly, but if you're sitting and having a drink with someone, you're not endangering THEIR health. And any one who drinks and drives is a moron..and has nothing to do with this discussion..so I'm guessing you must drink and drive.

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so let me get this straight...these "loving parents" who would give these kids a home...are saying they want the right to bring the kid into an environment that is basically polluted toxic air quality as well as the toxic emotional environment that has people USE cigarettes and nicotine to avoid dealing with their emotional issues...

and they're objecting that the feds don't want them to do this??? hooray for the govt. for making a health related decision for a change....

if the cigarettes "aren't so bad" then give them up and see how you behave without them...then once you go through all the crap of your addictions being handled, then apply and give the kid a TRULY healthy loving environment....

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Yes there have been studies that prove 2nd hand smoke is more deadly than smoking!!! TRUTH! What they won't tell you is that the exhaled smoke is accompanied by your normal breath which is the harmful part not the smoke!!! ..........Duh!!!

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you people dont deserve to breath my air. theres a old saying live and let live, any body who supports this law should be put on a space ship a nd sent in to space. this shit is getting out of hand, take care of your life and leave your fn nose out other people life. the people who try to pass this shit wouldnt give their time to a child or sacrifice any time whatsoever for a child. go find obama board that space ship and live on mars fn nazis.

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With all due respect. Some of you people are just plain dumb!!!!! After smoking for the last 44 years and 4 children later. I must say smoking is a personal choice!!! Two of my children started smoking after leaving home and the other two do not smoke!!! GO FIGURE!!! By the way they believe in social drinking in the UK. For all you rightous people complaining about smokers check your facts!!! Alcohol drinkers have been responsible for rapes,car accidents,CHILD and spousal abuse, etc... However ciggerettes only hurt the users who abuse!!! Many people whom don't smoke still die from cancers as well as many smokers who DO NOT!!! Come on folks even the doctors cannot agree on the harm of smoking

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I am a Scientist who has spent many years researching the scientific facts of cigarette smoke and its adverse health effects. I was also born with asthma that was further exacerbated by a parent that smoked in the home and car till I was of age to move away. As a result, I have horrible chronic asthma, COPD, and a hypersensitive allergy to smoke. If anyone had a bone to pick it would be me. BUT, I disagree with this article. What I would agree to would be that foster parents were not allowed to smoke in the home or car.
While I believe it is toxic, I still believe in our rights and freedoms to do as we choose as long as you don't inflict i on others. I also agree with the other commentators, that drinking is a bigger issue! And, what about gambling, poor spending and credit issues, it's a slippery slippery slope...

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Ok well if they are not going to allow people that smoke to become foster parents than they should not allow people who drink alcohol to become foster parents because we all know that while your under the influence you make bad decisions and are not as alert as if sober also i think people that do not eat right you know the people that always eat out at fast food, thats is really bad for kids also. I also think that people who live in bad areas should not become foster parents either because it will be bad on the kids. The list can go on and on. Why are they JUST concerned on the smoking cigs? There are alot of other dangers that should be foccused on as well.. You people are a freaking joke. Get a life !!!!

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Forget the smokers OMG what about the nasty people who pour perfumes and aftershave all over themselves and go out in public. Talk about asthma, and breathing problems!!! These people are infringing on our right to clean air just as much as smokers do. PLEASEEEEEEE PEOPLE think of the general public when you pour that crap on, and DO NOT think because you paid top dollar for a perfume that it smells goood!!!!!! You INFECT our air as much as cigarette smoke does!!!! Think of the children then!!!!!

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All of the comments by non-smokers here annoy me to no end. I smoke, have for several years. In spite of this I have two healthy, intelligent (GT even, imagine that), athletic, well adjusted kids. I grew up in a home where both parents smoked. I turned out okay. Oh, wait, except for that whole smoking thing. I guess I should hang my head in shame and write a long nasty "how dare you do this to me" letter to my parents. Hum, wait, on second thought, why don't you judgmental know-it-alls hang your heads while I go celebrate my wonderful life, my wonderful kids, and my ability to "judge not, lest ye be judged".

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This is totally unbelievable to me ! Yes, I am a smoker and I also drink coffee (my 2 bad habits), but there are so MANY things that many children are being subjected to that are FAR WORSE than smoking. I actually was raised in a foster home and yes, my foster parents smoked, but they were also ALCOHOLICS, lots of fighting and abuse that I was subjected to (both mentally and physically). I consider myself a very good influence to my children and my 3 year old grandchild. My kids were brought up to be honest, loving christians. I taught them not to be overly judgmental of others. They don't drink or do drugs and I'm very proud of the people they have become. Smoking is not a good thing, I will admit, BUT it does NOT change a person's character or their value as a human being!

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It would appear that Smokers have become the new pariahs in society; a dubious honor which has included Blacks, Irish, Moslems, Russians (the Red kind), Chinese... You get the idea. It seems that someone has to be the "Person it's okay to hate" in our society, and now Smokers are getting their turn.
Any way you want to look at it, it's Bigotry; something we "claim" to avoid, but the facts speak for themselves. People seem to need to hate someone in order to validate their own nebulous set of "virtues"- whatever they might be.

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The whole second-hand smoke issue is a bunch of baloney. The concentrations of harmful ingredients that are in second hand smoke are minute. If people want to complain about the smell that's a valid complaint. But the notion that second hand smoke poses any health hazard is based on phony science. It's being perpetuated by drug companies that sell anti-smoking products, by non-profits that benefit from the myth, and by anti-smoking nazis who want to impose their own preferences on others.

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What other possible excuses can they come up with to avoid giving a child a loving home.....Most people live in apartments, however, you have to own a house with a separate room for a child....many poor children share rooms with siblings and lead normal happy lives...the agencies also lose that financial allowance for that child....go figure...........

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It looks like the ANTI SMOKING FACISTS are at again. Just like the antiabortionists; You must carry that fetus to birth wther you want it or not, but once its born don't look to me to offer any help.

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From what I see, I would have to agree with many folks not being allowed to be parents. Especially those who spout off with stupid comments or want to trample on peoples rights. This is also a issue of personal choices. I smoke outside of the house. I have also traveled and drove for two or three hours before stopping and getting out to have a smoke. I have been reapeatedly trying to be respectful of others yet still have those go out of their way to start trouble. The other key word here is RESPECT, which too many idiots dont know what that means. You disrespect me, and I am one who can, will, may, and have pushed back. Respect goes more than one way. It doesnt mean that I kiss your lower posterior and you walk all over me. You try it and I just might plant my size 12 wide up it.

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You judgmental, non-smoking, pieces of CRAP make me sick. I would rather have had parents who BOTH SMOKED 20 PACKS A DAY (inside the house) than to have had any of you sick, self-rightous woosies as my parents for EVEN ONE HOUR of my childhood! What you espouse is ugly, hateful, frankly put, mentally sick. You are SO FEARFUL (of smoke... LOLLLLL) that you would deny children a good, loving home.

It is apparent that you wooses care NOTHING about children... you're own self-rightousness is what's most important to you.

Obviously, you're all so content with your BELIEFS (you're all brainwashed!) that you've never bothered RESEARCHING the crap you foist upon the rest of us.

Get this: JUST AS MANY NON-SMOKERS GET LUNG CANCER, asthma, and URIs AS SMOKERS! Put that in your self-rightous hats... and smoke it! Furthermore, people who live immaculate, TOTALLY HEALTHFUL lifestyles (no smoking, no drinking, LOTS of exercise, meditation, retreats, etc.) GET LUNG CANCER!!!

Do a little RESEARCH before you espouse your brainwashed stupidity.

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