The smoking ban dynamics are not hard to figure out....80% of voting adults in Minnesota don't smoke, and are most likely to support a complete ban and resist any attempts to revisit the issue. Personally, I think a total ban on smoking is a crock and a violation of privacy rights; I think the partial ban in St. Paul is reasonable, with a small number of "bars" still open to the smoking public. These establishments are far fewer in number than their non-smoking counterparts, and offer the remaining 20% an option, albeit a limited one. Anyone who doesn't want to sit in a smoky environment can stay away; people who don't want to work in this environment will have a wide selection of non-smoking food/beverage establishments to work in (the idea that a handful of smoking bars will discriminate or restrict anyone's employment opportunities in this town is just plain stupid). I think this compromise is very reasonable, and hope St Paul's policy doesn't change, and Minneapolis/Hennepin Co. revisit their restrictive policy. Just for the record, I'm not a regular smoker myself, nor do I condone or encourage anyone to smoke; but do indulge in an occassional cigar, especially in certain situations, such as getting together with the "guys" to watch a sporting event, which I may do once or twice a month. The fact that there's no longer any public venue to enjoy this age-old simple pleasure in Hennepin Co. is sad. Lastly, I want to comment on the remaining 20% of adults who do smoke. A very high % of these folks happen to be working class or working poor. Not only do they have to shoulder a disproportionate load to help balance our budget (read: the new tobacco "fee"), but now have no place to go and unwind with a drink and a smoke after work. Just one more indication that this "new" breed of hoity toity liberals have their heads up their a_ _ _ s, and have completely lost touch with working class America.
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