I've seen willingness to compromise by a FEW folks on either side of the issue, but even more unwillingness on all sides. Clearly, both sides have made some gestures towards compromise, but neither side been willing to bring it to a conclusion. I'll redirect my "arrows" in ALL directions, but I don't like to think about them as arrows, just opinions.
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I'd also like to thank Jeanne for all of her work on this issue and her very thoughtful response. I agree with much of what she says, but respectfully disagree with a few points.
From a public health perspective it is not really possible to justify protecting some workers and failing to provide protections to those most heavily exposed and most vulnerable. Perhaps politicians can do that in the name of getting things done but public health professionals can not easily sacrifice those least able to protect themselves.
Its an old cliche, that politics is sloppy and messy. But, its true. We will be compromising on health issues, if we allow our insistence for an full ban, right now, to mean that in fact, NO BAN is implemented.
But, we'll be transferring blame to the politicians while reassuring ourselves that we fought the good fight and lost.
If in fact, a compromise might make some workplaces safer immediately and others safer in the long run, isn't that better than leaving all workplaces as they are today.
Contrary to Jeanne's opinion, I would argue that compromises on health issues are made all the time in the name of public policy. As economics, practicality, and differing perspectives require.
We make arbitrary judgements about when to enforce DWI laws, rather than just insisting that no one be allowed to drink any alcohol and drive. Seat belt laws were phased in. Traffic enforcement as a whole, is full of comprises to public safety based upon the amount of risk that we as a society are willing to tolerate at any given time.
If a building material is deemed unsafe, there is usually a transition period of time, in which the material is taken out of commission and remediation implemented. We don't simply ban the material and insist that every building replace it NOW. Economics and practicality make that impossible.
We have known that second hand smoke is dangerous for 20 years, but we have compromised safety and allowed it to continue. There is nothing magical about this year, that requires that we solve the entire problem today.
Public policy isn't about what SHOULD be, its about what agreements and compromises that we are able and willing to reach as a community at any given point of time.
We should take pride in the fact that we are finally making progress at addressing an important public policy issue. We should be clear about the goal and make sure that progress continues.
But, in my opinion (just my opinion), we should not sacrifice the prospect of making some progress, to some ideal notion of how we think that things SHOULD be. Things are almost never as we think that they SHOULD be, because we all have different ideas about what that is.
Now, maybe the public health officials out there SHOULD keep up the good fight and insist on a full and immediate ban - that's their job. But, then maybe some of the rest of us, SHOULD address the reality of the situation and accept that some progress is better than no progress - and that we have neighbors and colleagues in this city who see this issue differently than we do - and that their concerns and opinions NEED to be considered.
Once again, this is just my humble opinion.
Best wishes,
Tim Erickson Hamline Midway [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722
[EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim
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