Posted on 12/26/2016 11:16:57 AM PST by Drango
“What do we mean when we say that first of all we seek liberty? I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws and upon courts. These are false hopes; believe me, these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it… What is this liberty that must lie in the hearts of men and women? It is not the ruthless, the unbridled will; it is not the freedom to do as one likes. That is the denial of liberty and leads straight to its overthrow. A society in which men recognize no check on their freedom soon becomes a society where freedom is the possession of only a savage few — as we have learned to our sorrow. What then is the spirit of liberty? I cannot define it; I can only tell you my own faith. The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the minds of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interests alongside its own without bias...”
— Learned Hand
(1872-1961), Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals
Source: Learned Hand, in “The Spirit of Liberty” - a speech at “I Am an American Day” ceremony, Central Park, New York City (21 May 1944)
The second hand smoke issue is very overblown. However, it is beyond annoying to visit a place of business or home where the occupants regularly smoke inside. It takes a very stout air cleaning system to keep the air reasonable fresh in a bar that allows smoking. Much better to set up a smoking patio outside, where patrons can enjoy their smoke without annoying and chasing away the rest of the potential customers.
Well their Vette , maybe we should just not allow any facility that implements this foolish smoking rule to not benefit from the revenues raised with the heavy taxation and other costs imposed on tobacco? What do you think got this republic going? TOBACCO you nit. Ya know with an attitude like yours the next thing they will try to tax into oblivion will be sugary drinks to avoid obesity? OR taxing farmers because their cows fart? This “filthy” habit you speak of has raised more cash for states and the federal government than you can shake a stick at and you jump right on the bandwagon...not very freeper like of you. I also smoke where and when I want....I’m thinking of moving soon is a house beside you available?
It’s exactly the same impulse that drives the gun-control nuts, I don’t like what you’re doing so it should be banned... There is no other justification.
Much better to let private business set their own policies, and let the market decide whether it's a viable economic plan or not.
If you don't like being in areas where people are allowed to smoke, don't go there. Take your business elsewhere, because there are plenty of businesses which cater to nanny-staters and their ilk...
Exactly on target. Private property rights are more significant than the non-smoking do gooders.
PS - smoking is not a habit, it is an addiction.
to add; The free market would handle the smoking “problem” nicely if private property rights were still meaningful. A business or whatever could decide to allow smoking or not and the customers could choose to go to a smoking or non smoking establishment.
Private property and the free market; a nice combo. Cheers.
As someone who lived through the fifties, the sixties, and even during the seventies, when smoking was EVERYWHERE, where are the DEAD BODIES, (as in millions plus per year, 2nd hand smoke) you alluded to. Second hand smoke was everywhere, from airplanes to hospitals.
Obviously second hand smoke is so deadly, people are refusing to die. ROLL YOUR EYES NOW.
The following argument is made for demonstration purposes only. As someone who LOVES the CHILDREN, and it is obvious that you deplore the CHILDREN, it is people like myself that are willing to put their lives at risk, for the CHILDREN. Yes your scratching your head, what in the world is this idiot talking about.
It's very simple, I and millions of others, openly support the CHILDREN through the EXCESSIVE {Confiscatory} TAXES, we pay on each and every pack of cigarettes / cigars, etc. And you jump with joy that we pay those EXCESSIVE {Confiscatory} TAXES. Yet, you want to treat us as second class citizens. I got two words for you, and they're not Happy Motoring, or Merry Christmas.
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