Jim Bernstein writes, "Since none of the other arguments don't work". Jim Bernstein is correct, none of the other arguments DON"T work, because most of them do.
However the only ones that I happen to agree with are: 1. That just as non-smokers NEED places to go that are smoke -free, smokers need the same. Smokers "and their friends" are not lobbying to prevent a bar owner from having and running a smoke-free environment. They support the right of business owners to run an establishment that allows patrons and owners to choose. 2. That I would rather have smokers confined inside establishments licensed for that purpose than gathered around doors outside in public space. (I remember a sitting Council Member and Ban-supporter making the same argument in favor of massage parlors and prostitution before the last election. The difference he seems to forget was and is that prostitution is illegal in this State, but smoking is NOT.) The smoking ban folks need to think of some of the reasons they get mad at the religious right about wanting to ban things like choice in marriage, body, and bedroom and then ask themselves how they are different. Please remember a case can be made by someone (with their own statistics) for health issues in all those circumstances. If the "Banners" and "Pro-Breathers" are seriously interested in the public health issues of smoking they should make a case for banning smoking altogether in this State. Something I could support by the way! Not arbitrarily infringing on someone else's rights to enjoy a LEGAL substance inside establishments dedicated to that purpose, and run by proprietors who wish to run such businesses. A logical plan would be for the City to ban smoking anywhere except in establishments that it "Licenses" to have smoking. Just as it does the drinking of alcohol! It is what responsible law makers attempt to do with legal substances that they do not want consumed in public. Well that ends an ex-smoker's attempts to interject logic and ethics into an illogical argument whose different sides have NO time or mind for such. Like the old guy from the television of my youth use to say as he slapped his hands together to indicate he was now totally out of the argument, "I've had my say!" --------------------------------------------------------- For "lizski", The difference in switching money around comes with NRP. The neighborhood groups and the NRP Policy Board had to approve the use of the one million dollars for "additional" police services. State legislation establishing NRP specifically stipulates that NRP dollars CANNOT be used to "replace" regular City funding. Joe Mullory the present Chair of the NRP policy Board and a State Legislator has made this clear many times. Perhaps he could clarify that point for "Issue" readers. You are correct Liz about the use of NRP dollars to fund additional police services. The reason for this use was that the City of Minneapolis refused to budget adequate dollars for that purpose. For that reason I am amazed that City officials now plan to cut 135 more officers. Didn't these same City Officials, just a couple of months ago, come to NRP Neighborhoods begging for NRP dollars because they had not budgeted enough to provide adequate police to address Minneapolis' crime problems? Talk about your "Bait and Switch" scams. 'Please give us your money because we don't have enough police' - to three months later claiming 'we don't even need the police we have' - is a reach at best! And you know what it is at worst! Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips Community Planning District, Third Precinct, and Sixth Ward 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
