Posted on 03/13/2002 8:06:55 AM PST by Osage Orange
Oklahoman Editorial: Smoke-Filled Room No Place for Children
2002-03-13
Unto us has come another example of the Law of Unintended Consequences.
This is when a law, movement or cause, usually fostered by political liberals, results in something that was not intended by its promoters.
Examples from the past include a rise in gun sales and National Rifle Association memberships when liberals try to restrict firearm ownership. Another example is a rise in unwed motherhood when the government showers welfare payments on households where only one parent is present.
A classic but timely example is the post-Watergate campaign finance "reform." This resulted in a system liberals said was so bad that they demanded more of the same.
The latest instance took place in Canada, where the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, banned smoking in establishments in which minors are present. The intent of the law is to separate children from the dangers of secondhand smoke. The consequence was a ban on children in some of those establishments.
What will be the unintended consequences of a ban on smoking in public places throughout Oklahoma? Such a ban is being pushed by the state Board of Health. The board may vote on the proposal Thursday, but the ban couldn't take effect without legislative approval and the governor's OK.
The board's proposal is extreme and should not be ratified by the Legislature and governor. A more modest proposal might be acceptable to all parties.
Smoking bans in public buildings often result in a throng of smokers at the entrances. Nonsmokers must walk through a cloud thicker than anything they encountered before, when the smoke was less concentrated.
Reason magazine reports that the Winnipeg ordinance went into effect on Jan. 1. "By Jan. 2, however, it was apparent that the consequences of the new law were not exactly what the lawmakers had envisioned. A number of Winnipeg establishments had opted to keep the smoke and ban the kids instead."
Imagine a sign with a picture of an adorable child surrounded by a red circle with a slash across it. The unwelcome mat for kids went out almost immediately after the law took effect.
A doughnut shop manager said he banned smoking for one day and lost half his business. Then he restored smoking and banned minors. His business doubled.
Some adults -- smokers and nonsmokers alike -- are apparently attracted to places where the chance of encountering a screaming two-year-old or a multi-pierced teen is slim to none.
Thus, a law designed to protect children from the evils of tobacco resulted in smoke-filled, child-free environments. Naturally, citing discrimination, the good-intent people have demanded that businesses such as doughnut shops be accessible to kids. They said the doughnut loophole must be filled!
Reason, a Libertarian publication, sees more than unintended consequences in this equation. Irony is present as well:
"There is a certain glazed tastiness in watching anti- smoking obsessives equate children's good health with facilitating their access to fried dough covered in sugar and stuffed with jelly."
FRegards,
With lead base paint.
Boy the irony in that statement is so sweet it raises my blood sugar a good 100 notches!
"Smokers or non-smokers aside, it should be quite obvious. Who has the most purchasing power? Children or Adults? Who would you want to hang out in your business?
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I suppose...if I was running a coffee shop..I'd want the adults hanging out....But if I was running an arcade, or a skate park..I'd want the kids hanging out, but of course packing their parents money. ha!!
FRegards,
BWAHAAHAA!!!!
leave it to Reason Mag to come up with a line like that!!!!
You're right. I was thinking more of the donut example in the article. You wouldn't want to alienate the original source of the dough. ;)
So, they can ban smokers but not minors.
Hypocrites.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.