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That's a good question and I'll think about it. I was thinking more along the lines of sex, or watching TV or eating lots of chocolate or indulging in any other "guilty pleasure". It's okay to watch a TV program and decide that it's okay for your kids to see. Parental privilege. You get to choose what your kids listen to. You get to choose what you tell them about sex and at what age. You get to teach them eating habits, sleeping habits, manners and prejudices. You can give your child candy, lots of fast food, video games and never teach them to act right if you want. Your child might grow up as a menace to society, unhealthy and forever hating you for being such a lousy parent - but it's your right to raise them that way.
I was thinking that if it's okay to "poison" your child with bad ideas, poor parenting, terrible nutrition, no exercise (or too much), then how is it different from letting them inhale second hand smoke? A free society means that to some extent we are free to make mistakes, even disastrous ones.
I'll think about the dilemma of multiple living spaces. That's not one I had thought of. Nor had I seriously considered the level of second hand smoke from a neighboring house to be significant enough to be worth debate. On the other hand there have been houses I've passed that smell of mildew and rot (I don't live in the best of neighborhoods), so it's not like such smells don't travel.
Mary Baker East Side
From: Jeanne Weigum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mary Baker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [StPaul] There's nothing immoral about smoking per se Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 14:16:16 -0500
Just curious, Mary. If it is OK to poison your kids, is it also OK to pollute
the air of the people who live above you or next door to you in an apartment
building? What other kind of poisoning is ok as long as it is all among friends
or family?
Mary Baker wrote:
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> REMINDER: Only 2 Posts Per Day Per Person
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>
>
> I think it should be remembered that nicotine is an addictive substance and
> many people report enjoying the effects quite a bit. While I don't have any
> problem with the state regulating the where and when and who of smoking, I
> do have a problem with the laws being so broad or punitive that it makes
> smoking impossible. I think it is not the state's business to keep people
> from doing self destructive things (having a wanton sex life, picking fights
> with people bigger than you, or inhaling carcinogenic vapors).
>
> I'm all for a general public smoking ban, but what someone does in their own
> house is up to them. Even if that includes poisoning their kids with the
> smoke.
>
> Mary Baker
> East Side
>
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