"We the people in order to form a more perfect union establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity do ordain and establish this constitution of the United States of America."
Banning smoking in public places is in the tradition of promoting the general welfare of the public's health. You could say it provides a common defense from exposure to toxic substances while preserving the freedom of someone to smoke. Following is the definition of liberty from a law dictionary which would be pertinent to the discussion of public policy at hand. http://dictionary.law.com/default2.asp?selected=1155&bold=%7C%7C%7C%7C liberty n. freedom from restraint and the power to follow one's own will to choose a course of conduct. Liberty, like freedom, has its inherent restraint to act without harm to others and within the accepted rules of conduct for the benefit of the general public. I do not believe either the law or our tradition would hold to Victoria's definitions below. We must remember that the call for "liberte" and "egalite" went hand and hand among the many enlightment philosophers who so influenced the founding of our country and included the context reflected in the preamble to the U. S. constitution as quoted above. Therefore, the city's smoking ban is squarely within the historic tradition of our country. Thanks, David Strand Loring Park --- Victoria Heller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I am utterly amazed by the number of people who have > no knowledge of > American history and thus cannot distinguish between > "group think" and > Constitutional rights. > > Not long ago, it was OK to hang the town drunk from > the nearest oak tree -- > for the "public good." Lots of outrageous conduct > has been justified by > claiming it was for the "public good." What do > those two words mean to you? > > Political whims come and go, but our founding > principles stand the test of > time. A good reminder of this can be found on the > coins in your pocket or > purse. Why do you think the word "Liberty" is > stamped on them? > > What does the word "Liberty" mean to you? To me it > means.... > > Live and let live, > Mind your own business, > Freedom, free markets, free choice. > > Slow down and think about it. Don't let yourself be > swayed by pop culture > and junk science. > > 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 > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Send holiday email and support a worthy cause. Do good. http://celebrity.mail.yahoo.com 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
