[Smokin' Joe]

I never cease to be amazed at conservatives who whine about minority rule yet when the majority clearly decides they do not want public smoking they scream tyranny!

One of the quirks about our Republic is the concept that the rights of the few are protected against the consensus of the many. Otherwise, we would have a "Democracy", aka mob rule.

The question becomes one of whether or not you consider a business owner's right to decide whether or not to permit smoking on their premises a right.

If you don't, then you have trouble with property rights. Think about it.

Non-smoking establishments can advertise for the business of those who would prefer a different environment, and let the market decide. That's the American way.

[Osage Orange]

Good post........

[cripplecreek]

The question becomes one of whether or not you consider a business owner's right to decide whether or not to permit smoking on their premises a right.

I shocked a liberal once when I suggested that a business should be allowed to deny service to blacks. Naturally they decided that I'm a racist but that doesn't change anything but the world itself has changed. A business that denies service to blacks is likely to be bankrupt in short order because few people would accept it as is their right. Its the same with minimum wage laws. A company that pays 50 cents an hour will lose their employees to a company that pays 75 cents an hour and so forth.

A free capitalistic society is a great equalizer.