You deliberately acting obtuse on the issue will not make my point any less salient. If federal and state "worker safety" laws have been in place, along with OSHA for federal enforcement, then why wasn't smoking at bars or restaurants covered on >any< of those laws? (David Shove need not respond with another tired diatribe about "big tobacco" and the evil wrath of large corporations.)
If "worker safety" was the issue, why not leave it to the leaders of enforcing "worker safety"? Apparently people like you, and the Minneapolis city council, know more about "worker safety" than the experts. Yep, OSHA and about 22 other government adminitrative agencies can oversee workplace safety, but the Minneapolis city council ultimately knows even better than them (up to a point, after which more laws about "worker safety" will not necessarily garner more votes, so that where it stops.) If the labor unions are so interested in safety, how come they haven't banned smoking? Some job sites do, I understand, because the job site contract has mandated it (yep, the market at work). While other union job sites (one four blocks from my home) hasn't done so. Nice try. Michael Thompson Windom ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Bernstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Michael Thompson'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 12:55 AM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Smoking ban participation > > Michael Thompson said " In the case of the smoking ban, it is the > smoking ban proponents advocating for "worker safety," but only in this > one sphere. Other worker "safety" issues don't really matter, it's just > this one.....and it's a special case. If "worker safety" were a valid > argument, there would be a movement to really make workers more > safe....such as limiting noise. Last I checked, it wasn't happening. > > Oh come one now! There are a host of federal and state worker safety > rules and laws in place. There is even a whole federal department > (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA) charged with > enforcing the federal rules. Labor unions among others have aggressively > pursed worker safety and protection issues over the years and continue > to do so. While I am certainly not expert in industrial safety, I do > know that many workplaces have decibel limits in place and where those > are exceeded, workers have to wear protection for their ears. > > Jim Bernstein > Fulton > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.6 - Release Date: 4/11/2005 > > > > 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
