[Mpls] Smoking ban in Mpls -- YES!

[Michael Atherton]

Jim Bernstein wrote:

> When did smoking become a "human right"?  In fact, there is no such
> thing as "smokers rights" so lets not elevate this "nasty 
> habit" to the status of a basic human right!  

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created 
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable 
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

According to the Declaration of Independence the pursuit 
of happiness is an unalienable right.  It would seem smokers may 
indeed have a right to their nasty habit, however this right would 
not allow them to inflict harm on other individuals.

I suggested an alternative that would accommodate the rights 
of all parties: smokers, non-smokers, and business owners.
I think it's interesting that no one commented.  It seems to
me that many of the discussants hold positions that are
untenable: 1) non-smokers who believe that they are justified
in imposing their morality on others and 2) smokers who believe
that their right allows them to cause harm to others.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park