Smoking Ban? No!
I had this published in the Rock Hill Herald last Saturday in response to a letter to the editor from a doctor encouraging a government enforced ban of smoking in all "public" places. Of course, by public, he meant restaurants and other PRIVATE businesses.
The original link is here.
The nanny-state-government action supported by Michael Laughlin terrifies me to my very core.
Nobody can deny that smoking is an unsafe habit, though many can legitimately question whether secondhand smoke is even a fraction as dangerous.
At issue here is the right of private citizens to assemble in private businesses to partake in a legal activity without the iron fist of government declaring an end to any personal choice in the matter.
Several businesses in Fort Mill have already taken it upon themselves, for reasons of profit motive, to eliminate smoking sections from their restaurants. Their patrons have spoken and they listened. Others have chosen to continue to allow smoking, to the cheers of their customers.
The point here is that there is no place for the government to enter into this debate. This is and always should be a market decision. Nobody has ever forced me into a restaurant I did not want to visit, and personal preference is not the place for governmental interference. It is not an issue of health because no one is forced to enter the premises to begin with. I accept my inability to mandate that all restaurants allow smoking, please accept that you do not have the right to mandate they do not. That's just too slippery a slope for me in regards to governmental power.
I find this a rather un called for debate,given that am a chain smoker and was recently on safari in Kenya where we have such a policy in effect,I actually found my desire for a smoke diminished quite a bit and though am back in the States I actually intend to quit the habit altogether.The government may just cut the rate of smoking by a slight percentage if they take up this,my support they have.
……………………………..
mani kanna
addictionrecovery.net/arizona
Thanks for posting on my oft’ forgotten website!
I hope you enjoyed the safari, could use a vacation myself.
My question to you is simply this…
Do you want the government to just take over your life and free you from any form of responsible decision making?
I admire your desire to quit, and it would be good if you did, but wouldn’t that sense of accomplishment feel better knowing that you did it on your own? Are you really so weak (no offense intended) that rather than stopping the habit yourself, you would have the government mandate, force, and dictate to OTHERS what they can and can not do?
Personally, I trust you to take care of yourself. I encourage you to help others with addiction to conquer their problem. But using the government to accomplish this, to remove choice and freedom from the equation, just smells bad to me.
If you want to quit, great. But what right do you have to tell someone else they can’t smoke in their own business? You never have to go there.
Thanks.
Way to go on the letter to The Herald, man. I think Greensboro, NC is trying to impose a similar ban. I’ll keep tabs on it.
Thanks Jeff.
It’s just so frustrating to me. I’m only an occasional smoker…and only cloves at that…so this won’t really even affect me that much. For some reason or another this has just become a pet issue of mine due to the larger debate of just what constitutes “public” vs “private”. My home and my business are private and I should be able to set whatever rules I want so long as no one is harmed against their will.
2. Outstanding work once again. Thanks a lot:)
Smoking Ban? No! | SaveTalkRadio Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read much more Smoking Ban? No! | SaveTalkRadio again from you. Thanks For Share .