Tom writes: "I guess I would like to know what empirical data there is to back up that statement? Have there been studies done to see what the citizens really want? What and how was the question asked? Were people given options or just asked if they supported a ban, but not given the opportunity to elaborate? Questions can be skewed to get whatever results one wants to obtain. Let's see the questions asked and the data from that."
Shorter version - you have no polling data and polling data is unreliable anyway. The better test is not polling data, but data from polling places. Smoking bans are being passed in countries (like Ireland) and municipalities (from New York City to El Paso to Lexington, KY - yes, Tobacco Road itself is banning smoking). So where are the voter revolts against this totalitarianism? [cue the sound of crickets in the otherwise silent night] Nowhere to be seen. Sounds like the consent of the majority to me. Tom cries out for "common sense." I couldn't agree more. Smoking is bad for your health. It is bad for your health whether you are smoking or the person next to you is smoking. People have figured that out and are acting accordingly. The arguments against sensible regulation of a known carcinogen are the ones sounding like sophistry. As I always asked my father, "If it is really 'common sense', why don't more people have it?" Try Googling +"municipalities" +"smoking ban" and you may find that common sense lies with cleaner indoor air and better health. And more people are getting it all the time. Michael Lewis Mac-Groveland ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
