-----Original Message----- From: Jared Chester Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 7:55 AM To: '[email protected]' Subject: Re: [Mpls] How quickly we get used to a smoke-free environment (but not to Hooters)
Michael Thomson wrote: A mature outlook of the smoking ban is the ability of an individual to look past their own turned-up nose and the microcosm of their own life and understand that other people, despite their lifestyles, should have the ability to use a legal product, and that businesses should be allowed to allow people to use said legal product. Choice, of course, would be a natural consequence of such an outlook, allowing anyone to patronize any business by choice based on their like or dislike of tobacco smoke. Instead, we have yet another example of "I don't like it, so let's ban it" (yet balance the state budget on it.) No one has said that people are not allowed to smoke. They are not allowed to smoke inside. Comments using "nanny-state" are inaccurate at best and inflammatory at worst. No one complains about the "nanny-state" when traffic is managed, fire is put out, the homeless are sheltered or the poor children receive medical assistance. Further, we are not allowed to dump motor oil down the drain or let our dogs run around the city without a leash on for good reason. These could both be argued to limit personal freedom. These "nanny-state" rules are not much debated. This country is all about the freedom and liberty to do what you want as long as you do not hurt other people. I believe we can all agree that smoking is not good. It kills people. It stinks, its expensive, its annoying. Whereas smoking used to be cool, smoking is now seen much more like a neighbor's large dog barking all night. . . and then coming over to your house and eating you. The smoking ban is not about limiting freedom, its about livable communities. I would say the smoking ban keeps Minneapolis a liveable community. P.S. "livable wages" being earned at Hooters? Where do you live? I want to move there, sounds cheap. Jared Chester Nokomis East 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
