[WFTR]

Letting local governments handle their own affairs is traditionally a Republican value, but so is backing big business. The state's restaurant association and the mighty tobacco lobby, Cohen said, is against a smoking ban. Change will come only when more citizens like Plunk and more local communities lobby the legislature for change, he said.

Actually, the real Republican value is not having the government involve itself in personal and business decisions. A restaurant should be allowed to make it's own choice about whether to allow smoking and should be then accept the business consequences either way. If a restaurant bans smoking entirely, it will lose the business of some smokers. If it refuses to ban smoking, it will lose the business of some non-smokers. If it finds a way to design a non-smoking section that effectively segregates the smokers and the non-smokers, it will lose only the business of those who can't stand letting other individuals make their own choices. Unfortunately, that group seems to be getting bigger.

Bill

[Gabz]

Unfortunately, that group seems to be getting bigger.

You are correct. And it is amazing just how many FReepers are proud to be in that group.