Eric, Chuck, et al
I have no fear that this strays from the City focus because it can be directly connected to the smoking ban (right Tim?) i.e., the left is for the ban because they believe that the government not only has a right, but an obligation to regulate individual behavior to protect the collective from the proclivities of certain individuals. The right sees this as an intrusion by the government on the rights of the individual to persue happiness, is an affront to the notion of the bar owners' private property rights and represents the tyranny of the majority over the minority (since only 20% of the people smoke).
But I'm not going to rebut all of the points you've made because I think you honestly believe those things and I won't disabuse you of your religious beliefs (it's not that the left hates God, it's just that they'd rather worship government). However, I will comment on a few points that sum up where we disagree.
Eric: The Preamble says "We the People of the United States" not "We the Government of the United States" which further differentiates our beliefs because conservatives don't believe that "we are the government" like you guys do. And if you honestly believe that conservatism is not founded in the Constitution, then I suspect you won't be complaining when the president appoints strict constructionists to the supreme court, which will definitely prove that we "read the reason for writing the document in the first place." And notice which party opposes such appointments. But your most fundamental misunstanding of conservatism is your statement that "the Left believes that the government has a role in society. The Right pretends the government does not." That's most definitely not true. If it was we wouldn't bother to run candidates for political office. We believe that the role of government is to enforce the Constitution, thereby protecting our rights and property against those who would infringe upon them.
And Chuck, you spit out "buyer beware" as if it's an evil concept. Ever hear of Caveat Emptor? It's in all the law books.
Look, I know you guys don't agree with me, but that's what makes this forum fun and exciting, right?
Dennis Tester Mac-Groveland
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