What Mr. Atherton always wants is no government whatsoever, no public control of any private enterprise, and that means no dictation of public health moves to keep the air breathable. What never seems to occur to libertarians is that Minnesota and Minneapolis have for two centuries regulated private business by insisting on licensure to keep food uncontaminated, and facilities and toilets clean and as free of disease as humanly possible.
Would Mr. Atherton prefer a solid dose of salmonella for the same customers who breathe the poison others create with their stogies and cigarettes? Without other health regulations, that's what we'd get. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men: Plato "Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity." - Lord Acton -- Visit our weblog: http://newswired.blogspot.com > From: David Shove <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > This is a misrepresentation and slander of most people's motives to want > to ban smoking. My own motive is SELFISH - I (ME, D.S.) don't want > PERSONALLY to have to put up with godawful smoke. Personal. Selfish. For > me. I want it for ME. > > And that is where most other people start. > > I also want if for all the other people who want it for themselves. > People can smoke as much as they want, as long as it is not near me or > anyone else who doesn't want it near them. > > A lot of people HATE being in dense cigarette smoke. Personally. for > themselves. > > Of course, if you're for smoking, or for Big Tobacco, or corporate > dictatorship, then you're likely to make up the nastiest sounding motive > possible for the anti-amoking people and ban. > > David Shove > selfish in Roseville > > On Sat, 2 Apr 2005, Michael Atherton wrote: > >> Robert Lilligren wrote: >> >>> The place was full. Many people, including two smokers, >>> commented on how nice it was to be able to breathe cleaner >>> air. One smoker said, "This will probably help me quit >>> smoking," which is, I believe, the objective of the ban activists. >> >> This goal, and the people who support it, are soooooo narrow >> minded that they can't tell the difference between oppression >> and freedom. >> >> "I will lead you to Jesus and Salvation." A goal that throughout >> history has been the "intended good" used to torture, persecute, >> and kill millions of innocent people. A well intended goal >> does not justify ignoring the beliefs and desires of others. >> Isn't that what multiculturalism is about? Honoring the customs >> and desires of others? At least now that they've won, smoking >> opponents are being honest about their true intentions: to Save us >> from ourselves. I hope that everyone see the parallels between this >> and dunking, public humiliation in the stocks, and witch burning, all >> practiced by our Puritan ancestors for the "good" of their victims. >> I'm sure that they honest felt that they, just as the anti-smoking >> advocates do, that they are helping others. I would hope that rational >> people can see that ANYTHING can be justified in the name of helping >> "purify" others against their will. At least the Nazis never >> bothered to rationalize the Holocaust as being for the good of >> their victims. It's very scary to know that one of our city >> council members is ignorantly promoting such "intended good." >> 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
