Here's how it works: The smoking ban limits choice. Everybody now, today, has a choice about smoking. Bars and restaurants can be smoking or non-smoking based on their market and their customer base. Non-smokers can decide to stay away from bars if they are smoky (I do). Smokers can stay out of places that don't allow smoking if they must light up.
But the fact is: everyone has choices about smoking today. What the ban does is take away everybody's ability to make a choice because, I can only assume, that the choices available today are overwhelming and unpleasant. So rather than enjoy the freedom to make choices, even though some may find those choices unpalatable, ban proponents have managed to just get everyone's freedom to make a choice taken away. That doesn't help anybody, and ultimately hurts everybody more than second-hand smoke ever will. Mike Thompson Windom ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brandon Lacy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 9:18 AM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Smoking Ban > I'm unclear as to how a smoking ban limits ones ability to smoke. It simple > limits where one can smoke. As a matter of fact a smoking ban is the best of > all occassions. Smokers can feel free to step outside into the wide world > where they can smoke blissfully while exhaling their potent toxins into the > sky and then return inside the establishment where non-smokers are busy > breathing clean (er) air. The smoking ban doesn't limit your ability to > smoke, it enhances the places where non-smokers can go to be in public > fellowship with their smoking buddies. The only catch is that you have to > step outside for a moment to enjoy your nicotine. That isn't too much to > ask. > > -Brandon Lacy Campos > -Longfellow > > > > Writer, Poet, Playwright, and Rabble Rouser.... > > Lavender Greens: www.lavendergreens.org > YouthAction: www.youthaction.net > > > > > >From: "Michael Atherton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: <[email protected]> > >Subject: RE: [Mpls] Smoking Ban > >Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 15:43:43 -0600 > > > > > >Jim Bernstein wrote: > > > > > The Minneapolis restrictions on smoking do not ban that > > > activity. Like drinking, gambling, sex (and other necessary > > > bodily functions) the public does put some limits on where > > > and when you can engage in these activities but they are not > > > banned outright. > > > >Funny, I thought that commercial sex and casino gambling are banned > >in Minneapolis. > > > > > Indeed, life may be unfair but people ought not to quit > > > working to make it less unfair. > > > >It seems to me that it is YOU who is making life more unfair. > >You are not increasing my choices you are limiting them. > > > >Michael Atherton > >Prospect Park > > > > > >REMINDERS: > >1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. > >If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil 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. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil 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. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
