----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Driscoll" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Minneapolis Issues" <[email protected]>; "St. Paul Discuss" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 9:43 AM Subject: [Mpls] Re: Smoking ban: Night One
> Let all pretense for economics driving resistance be dismissed. It's all > about the libertarian dedication to push the public out of public assets and > public accommodations that drives the arguments. Bars are "public assets"? Just like post offices, court houses, libraries, airports, LRT stations, city council chambers, and about 332 similar examples? > Never mind that all other public health regulations dictating the condition > of buildings, the safety of food and beverage operations and the cleanliness > of storage facilities for these very same bars and restaurants have long > been accepted, if not loved, by these same owners. The hypocrisy fairly > drips from their nicotine-stained lips as they cling to their own smoking > habits, not just those of their workers or choking clientele. And what about the hypocricy of the city council and state legislators who take in millions of dollars (in the form of tax revenues) from a product they are publically admitting is a health hazard and are banning (despite it's legality). That type of situational mental gymnastics should make all of us queasy. I've read the entire thread about "Smoking ban: Night One". The smoking ban proponents were going to paint whatever rosy picture they needed to make the first night sound like the greatest thing since hot water. I have no doubt the atmosphere everywhere was different. But an n of one means exactly squat. Even if the smoking ban is a resounding success the far greater damage done is to everyone's freedom to make a choice. Voluntarily abdicating one's freedom to make a decision does exponentially more damage to all of us than second-hand smoke will ever do. Mike Thompson Windom 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
