Uh, no, individual rights do NOT trump the public good. The public good is NOT "group think." Orwellian intrusions may inspire groupthink, but the law protect the larger of all groups from the disastrous and dangerous behavior of any minority of people whose behavior threatens the public interest.
If anyone's missed the point of America, it's the libertarian right. The public good - the best and safest and healthiest option available for the most people is always, and I mean *always* the ethical and legal requirement of a society operating the rule of law. That crazy obsession with "hating government" and "individual rights" as if government is not "us" against our neighbors is essentially anarchy by another name. Libertarianism is a euphemism for anarchy of the right. We pass laws for the society for the collective good and that includes the Constitution. There are limits to what any one government is supposed to be able to do, but in a representative republic, the common welfare is paramount to any individual's belief. Your belief may be that only the individual's rights prevail. That does not make you correct under the law. The smoking ban in public places is to protect the public good, something we do every day in thousands of ways in order to provide the safest spaces for the most people. You have no right to do as you wish, no private entity may do as it wishes if any of those options threatens the public health. Period. Besides what a crock that smoking *attracts* customers, when in fact 80% of the public *avoids* such spaces. And we haven't even touched on OUR responsibility to protect workers in any workspaces licensed to do business in the city or the state. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men: Plato > From: "Victoria Heller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Lots of silly comments are being made by people who clearly don't understand > economics or American history. > > The economic perspective: > > Private business must ATTRACT customers. They cannot force anyone to enter > their premises or spend money there. Bullies don't understand the > "voluntary" nature of free enterprise. Only the government has the power of > force. Private business does exactly what individuals do -- what's in > his/her/its own best interest. If businesses were losing good customers and > good employees because of smoke, they would prohibit the activity on their > own -- for economic survival. > > ....and for those who missed American history: > > One of our founding principles is that the individual's rights are supreme. > This of course protects unpopular persons from mob rule. It's very > important to understand the importance of this concept: Individual rights > ALWAYS trump "group think". > > In the case of smoking, Minneapolis is attempting to cram majority (80% > don't smoke) opinion down the throats of the minority (20% do smoke). > Tobacco is a legal product, and when used by adults on private property, > it's none of the government's business. > > If tobacco is as harmful as the bullies claim, the Legislature and/or > Congress should make it illegal. Of course, they're too chicken for that > (plus they need the tax revenue). So Minneapolis is trying to regulate > tobacco out of existence -- while pretending our Constitution doesn't exist. > > Minneapolis might take the Duluth approach....by putting the question on the > ballot next November. Of course, the zealots don't want that....because > it's too fair and equitable, and they might lose. > > You see Minneapolis is a one-party town. There is no public debate. There > is no opposing opinion. There are no checks and balances. Policy in > Minneapolis is driven by a small group of vocal activists (and their chosen > leaders) who impose their wishes on the worn out, busy, and broke masses. > > A younger person might find the energy to fight the establishment, but I'd > rather enjoy my life where fun and freedom abound. Fortunately, there is no > shortage of such places around the Country. > > Vicky Heller > North Oaks and Cedar-Riverside 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
