“That is up to the democratic process.”
Democratic socialist is what you mean. Hence, we are supposed to be a representative republic, where private property is sacrosanct!
“I voted against it on philosophical grounds,”
I am very aware of the electtion you referenced, and am glad to see that you did not support it with your ballot.
“does not seems to have done appreciable damage to bars and restaurants as businesses. It turned out that most people preferred not to eat or drink with the odor of cigarette smoke about them.”
All of that is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that the cigarette, cigar, or whatever policy should only be decided by the owner of the property. The fact that we have somehow decided that this is now legitimate, simply means there there is no longer ANY private property rights.
I could ban all sorts of activities on any property now. I can also force behaviour anywhere now. We are seeing this exact thing with regards to gay “marriage.” The smoking bans gave them the tools, now we get to reap the whirlwind.
Welcome to “The Brave New World.” It is a well earned utopia.
“That is up to the democratic process. A few years ago, Florida adopted by referendum a constitutional amendment banning cigarette smoking in bars and restaurants. I voted against it on philosophical grounds, but the measure won by a large margin and does not seems to have done appreciable damage to bars and restaurants as businesses. It turned out that most people preferred not to eat or drink with the odor of cigarette smoke about them. Arguably, this also has health benefits for nonsmokers”
How about letting the business owners decide? That used to be the American way.