[Mpls] Re: smoke or drink

[Michael Atherton]

Paul Skrbec wrote:

>  It is now week 2 of the smoking ban and here are my limited
>  observations. My partner and I quit smoking in November and 
>  as a result, have rarely gone into a bar because of the smell 
>  and fear of relapsing. With the smoking ban here, we have gone 
>  out both weekends so far and plan on continuing more frequently 
>  because there is no smoke.

Well, I hope that you don't need a ban on fast food to go on a 
diet. :-| A lack of self-determination should not be a justification
for forcing everyone else to conform to your needs.  

Consider this argument:  "Homosexuality is destroying the American
family.  In order to provide support for families to be happy
and prosperous it is necessary to ban homosexual marriages and
so called 'civil' unions. Doing so will not only benefit families, 
but will help protect homosexuals from their own self-destructive 
behavior. This is also a matter of public health because research has 
shown that the frequency of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases 
(STDs) is higher among homosexuals than the normal population.  It is also 
a scientifically proven fact that STDs can be transmitted to the general 
population though contact in public restrooms and homosexuals are known to 
immorally and recklessly engage in sodomy in public places, especially parks 
where they risk infecting small children."
 
If you either accept this argument or don't see the parallels
between it and the anti-smoking campaign, then America really is
at risk and not from secondhand smoke or the gay community.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park