Thanks to Charlie, for the report from New York.
I hope that he will forgive me, for taking advantage of one of his comments, to make a broader point. I'm not so much responding to Charlie, as using his comment as an example of something that I hear quite frequently - from lots of people (at least in this forum).
I can only conclude that the bar owners here are either ignorant or in the pay of the tobacco companies; or perhaps both.
I guess I don't understand why WE (so many of us) don't allow for the fact, that the other side MIGHT just be mistaken. MIGHT just be clinging to a false set of assumptions based upon a world view that they have lived with for 40, 50, 60, or more years.
Change is hard and our city and nation are full of examples of groups and individuals who clung to outdated views, long after they were popularly rejected (sometimes with passion and great political effort). As frustrating as this is, it shouldn't be surprising.
I sincerely don't understand, why WE continually reduce our opinion of the "political opposition" to either ignorant, lying, or paid off. Is it really so hard to accept that sincere, well intentioned individuals might - "not get it." That they might, just be sincerely "wrong."
Some of my best friends, family members, and political allies have at times taken positions that bewilder me. At times, I do think that they are just "stupid." But, their track record proves otherwise and history demonstrates well intentioned individuals are very often wrong. It even happened to me once, back in 1992. :-)
As Charlie indicated, the bartenders in New York that he spoke to were sincerely surprised that the smoking ban didn't affect business. Were they also "ignorant" or "In the pay" prior to their conversion. Or, were they just good people working under an outdated (or differing) set of assumptions.
I know very SMART people with absolutely no connections to the tobacco industry, that oppose this ban. If I had my life savings or even a significant portion of assets tied up in a restaurant or bar in which a significant number of my customers smoked - I'd be scared about the ban (regardless of how many studies you show me). Because, even if a bar or restaurant owner accepts the fact that most businesses will do fine under a ban - they must live with the fear that THEY could be the exception.
NOW - none of this is any reason to stop the ban. BUT, in my opinion, resistance to this ban is typical of any kind of political change and shouldn't be surprising. We simply have to work with it, plod along, and resist the urge to assume that everyone who disagrees with us (or even scientific evidence) is under some evil influence.
Maybe - Just Maybe, they are human. Good people who "just don't get it."
But, then again - maybe I'm the one who doesn't get it and they ARE all getting secret checks in the mail from billionaire tobacco lobbyists.
:-)
Just my humble opinion for the day,
Tim Erickson citizen in Ward 4 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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