North Carolina's smoking ban is proving to be a political winner. Almost six months after it went into effect 68% of voters in the state say they support the new measure with only 24% in opposition. That level of favor is even higher than what we found when the bill was being discussed last winter. A February 2009 poll on the issue found 64% supportive and 31% opposed.
There's not even really that much of a political divide when it comes to the current level of popularity for the ban. 75% of Democrats, 67% of independents, and 60% of Republican say they like it now that they've seen it implemented.
There is no demographic group of the electorate that doesn't support the ban. Governor Perdue and the Legislature may not be too popular but this is one thing they've collaborated on in the last couple years that does enjoy broad public support.
Full results here
Here in Illinois, as the second winter was approaching, many small neighborhood bars had to decide to allow smoking, or close. The only snitchline complaints occur when someone gets 86ed, smoking or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd eleven-twelfths of Americans think people with Scorpio birthdays are more selfish than them.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm sure the popularity of this government limitation on individual action is more proof of how "a majority of Americans support the Tea Party" somehow!
ReplyDeleteSure, "bob" or "generalsn" or "anonymous," whatever your spamming ID is today, you just keep on lying about "Here in Illinois" (google it) on message boards across the country.
ReplyDelete"But I'm sure the popularity of this government limitation on individual action is more proof of how "a majority of Americans support the Tea Party" somehow!"
ReplyDeleteY'know, Christian Liberty hasn't been around to spout nonsense like that yet this week. Maybe he's out fighting the good fight. Or maybe he found another country where they believe what he believes.
You mean he's taken the Cartman solution and moved to Somalia? We can only hope. Everyone would be much happier all around if that happened. Sane Americans get to have a more rational political culture without the freakshow and the large contingent of teabagging racists, the teabaggers get to explore the wonders and beauty of a country where their no-government ideals are really put into practical use, and the Somalis get to laugh hysterically, wipe them out, and take all their stuff while they're busy refusing to 'limit their freedom' by cooperating with each other.
ReplyDeleteAs Hobbes put it - nasty, brutish, and short.