That's a bit harsh, don't you think? I think the majority of people who support smoking bans do so out of ignorance or mistaken reasoning, not out of a disregard for the fundamental principles of our country.
The state of political education in this country is so bad, and the influence of collectivist propaganda is so strong, that most people can't process the issue properly. I know it sounds incredible, but I honestly believe most people don't immediately comprehend the conflict between smoking bans and private property rights. For the typical smoking ban voter, it's not a matter of consciously deciding to subordinate the business owner's liberty for their own convenience. They don't even realize that someone else's liberty is at stake.
Many people who think they support a smoking ban will change their mind, once they are challenged to think through the implications of what a smoking ban means. No need to condemn them as America haters on the basis of their often-curable misconceptions.
Now, when we are talking about the dedicated, well-informed anti-smoking zealots...that's a different matter.
And with your writing skills, I know that is what you try to do. :-)
That's a good point. Most citizens and even part time state legislators/realtors/dry cleaners have no idea what is really going on.
Not because they are stupid but because in the former's case, they are too busy trying to make ends meet and drive their kids to soccer practice to care. All they know is that smoke annoys them.
In the latter, they are woefully uninformed because there is no alternative view given to them because the impotent big tobacco companies sold their soul as part of the MSA and restaurant associations have no money. Plus they have 534 other bills to vote on.
You can reason with them and explain things. Calling them 3rd grade names like assface or buttmunch won't accomplish anything.
In almost every case I point out how illogical and anti-freedom smoking bans are I can get people to agree. But then the same people vote for the bans anyway because they "don't like" smoking. There are a LOT of things that people will vote to ban because they "don't like" them. Look at the hysteria over today's news about that town that wants to ban people from wearing their pants pulled down so they can show their underwear. A vote for banning this style would certainly pass. But the ACLU would be all over it. Not so when it comes to adults making decisions to enjoy a legal product.