[Mpls] Who's winning the Tobacco War?

[Michael Atherton]

David Shove wrote:

> All it will take are a few holes in the dike, exceptions to 
> the ban, and Big Tobacco will make sure by its unlevelling 
> of the playing field that places will want to scurry back 
> to where the Big Tobacco $$$$ is.
> 
> So the ban must be total. No exceptions. No holes in the dike.
> 
> Time for a total loss for Big Tobacco. A total win for public health.
> 
> Total. Now.

Even though I'm an ex-smoker I have a lot of trouble
understanding why people continue to smoke.  It doesn't 
make you feel euphoric. It doesn't taste very good. It 
doesn't endear you to the people close to you. It reduces
your ability to excel in sports. And, unless you're
really lucky, it will lead to an early death.

However, there are a lot of other things that people
like and I don't understand why.  I don't understand why
people like Network Television, McDonald's, Bowling,
Golf, Spectator Sports, Gay sex, Christianity, etc.
But, people's participation in these activities doesn't
really have much impact on what I do or don't do; except 
for maybe Christians, many of who seem to think that they
have some kind of moral authority to decide what is
good and bad for me. 

The problem with making moral decisions for people other 
than yourself is that if you fail to respect the rights of 
others to choose for themselves, you should be willing
to forfeit your right to do the same.  It's the only way
to maintain a consistent moral philosophy, without relying 
on the will of gods or goddesses.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park