Phyllis' seniority notwithstanding, she is a minority in a Republican House.
This focus on rights and privileges vs. public health is getting very old. We regulate all sorts of behavior to protect the public health, behavior that many see as their inalienable right - personal or commercial, but that has not stopped wise policymakers elsewhere from seeing the larger picture, let alone their official responsibility. It is what the public interest is about. Smoking, though legal, is NOT an inalienable right, especially when, like drunk driving, it's a choice that harms others. Stop it now. This discussion about rights and responsibilities is so obvious on its face that all the libertarian and civil rights issues are overwhelmed by the public health evidence, whether you wish to believe that evidence or not for your own purposes or agenda. This is a slam dunk, no contest issue, and no anecdotal fears and fortunes will actually counter what will finally be a railroad train of good government. It is grasping at straws to believe we can and should hold out against this for the sake of a few bar owners and smoking establishments. Period. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- on 6/18/04 12:33 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Thanks for the transcript of Ms. Bartmann's testimony, David. > > I figured the reason why she didn't ban smoking at her establishment was that > she wanted a level playing field. Reasonable enough. But city-wide bans will > only give suburban restaurants the competetive edge. > > Let's get going on a state-wide ban to truly level the playing field. > > It's my understanding that Representative Phyllis Khan wants a smoking ban. > Could she initiate legislation for a state-wide ban? > > > ---------Peter Schmitz Downtown St. Paul > > > > ________________________________________________________________ > The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! > Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! > Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
