Replies

You and I are not talking apples and apples. Private businesses should be able to set and enforce their own smoking policies.

Public places are streets and sidewalks, parks, libraries, city hall, etc. Places paid for by taxpayers. Taxpayers should set the smoking policies in these places (by the democratic process). As I've said, if they hold a referendum and the majority wants to allow smoking in public places in my community, I would abide by that law, while trying to change it. I wonder if the majority of smokers are that fair?

"What about the right of people to govern themselves. An example of this is a community's right to set their own obscenity laws and keep out adult businesses."

Jefferson said it a long time ago. Pure democracy is viable only at the level of a town, a small town.

That's why we have a republic. That's also why we have a Supreme Court. Combined with other checks and balances they prevent a tyranny of the majority.

yitbos

Public places are streets and sidewalks, parks, libraries, city hall, etc. Places paid for by taxpayers. Taxpayers should set the smoking policies in these places (by the democratic process).

I almost agree with you on this statement. The only caveat I would give is indoor public places. In almost every case of outdoor public spaces the problem isn't a problem.
That said, I believe that the owner of the property, in these type of cases I believe the government entity in question would be the owner, should set the smoking policy.

I wonder if the majority of smokers are that fair?

Fair enough?

I wonder if the majority of smokers are that fair?

IMO, smokers have been way more than "fair" ever since the cigarette jihad started. We confined ourselves to the smoking section of businesses and gathering places, but that wasn't enough. What I love were the tobacco nazis who said that since smoking was banned in the workplace and smokers were hearded out of the building to smoke, they noticed that smokers were sick more often than non smokers. Of course we were! We had to go outside in the cold, the rain, and snow to have a cigarette!

Regardless of how data can be manipulated to get whatever meaning desired, the tools and machinery in government and the legal system that have been and are being used to treat smokers like leppers WILL be used by some other group who desire to make a name for themselves simply because they don't like the habbits of another part of the population. Fast food, snack food, malt liquor, SUV's, clog dancers...take your pick...they'll all be tee'd up. And all the lemmings (useful idiots) will charge over the cliff when they are told that it's "for-the-children."

You and I will never have an arguement on this issue.

A self-proclaimed anti-smoker who understands the true difference between private and public property is truly a breathe of fresh air.

I agree, as do most smokers, with you about indoor taxpayer funded public places - out of doors is an entirely different story. Outside it should not be an issue whatsoever.