Gabz is taking the libertarian line that if someone wants to do something they ought to be allowed to do it without government restriction. I was pointing out that that is hogwash - some people would like to have brothels and opium dens too but the rest of the public doesn't want that to happen.
Likewise, the majority of the public does not want smoking in bars and restaurants. Some folks may want it, but they are out of luck.
First of all, smoking in bars is hardly akin to having brothels and opium dens.
Likewise, the majority of the public does not want smoking in bars and restaurants. Some folks may want it, but they are out of luck.
Who is this majority of the public? Are we talking statistical majority (if so, where are the numbers?) or are we talking vocal "majority"? Sort of like the majority who wanted prohibition, eh?
Look: people know what to expect when they walk into a bar. A bar is for drinking and smoking and other potentially nasty habits. If folks don't want to deal with that, then they should stay home or go to a Starbucks instead. This smoking-ban-in-bars thing is friggin' ridiculous.
I was in a bar several months ago, smoking and having a beer just like everyone else around me and some preppy punk said something about my cigarette smoke offending him. Now mind you, the air in that place was positively pea-soup thick and had been long before I walked in. I refrained from exhaling in his face and replied "then why are you here? Find some other place where nobody is smoking. There are plenty. Don't chase ME out just to suit YOU. You know what to expect when you walk in here." He backed off right quick.
I speculate that the majority of people doesn't want tofu turkey, guano coffee or beef tripe menudo, either. Does that mean that those products should not be available to those (perhaps eccentric) individuals who DO want them? Are those individuals out of luck? Huh? Huh?
The majority of the public could care less.
It's the bought and paid for anti smoking groups that are pushing this town by town, county by county, and state by state using boards of health, city councils, state legislatures to gain their controlling ends.
The only state, so far, that has put it to a vote of the people is Florida.
A whopping 23% of the voting public turned out for that one. The majority of those that turned out did vote for the ban and it went through and into place.
Personally, I believe it's a mistake but at least Florida did it right.