[Mpls] Smoking Ban

[Michael Atherton]

Jim Bernstein wrote: 

>  Who said anything about casino gambling and commercial sex?  It is
>  really a simple point:  smoking cigarettes is like a host of other
>  activities - it is not something you get to do whenever and 
>  wherever you want!  

Well actually you did.  You said, "Like drinking, gambling, sex 
and other necessary bodily functions) the public does put some 
limits on where and when you can engage in these activities but 
they are not banned outright."  I would assume, not unreasonably,
that when you said "gambling" and "sex" that the general terms
would include casino gambling and commercial sex, which to my
knowledge are both banned.

>  As to the notion that "limiting choices is making life unfair",. well
>  that is quite simply absurd!  In order to live with other people in a
>  somewhat orderly social system everyone's "choices" may be limited.  

The problem here is when it is acceptable to limit others' choices.  
The Nazis (and many others) thought it was acceptable to limit the 
choices of Jews by restricting them to ghettos.  The Puritans
limited all kinds of "acceptable" behaviors.

My position is that when someone else's behavior has no effect on
you, then you have no right to restrict their choices.  I think 
that it's perfectly acceptable for me to want to open a bar where
people are allowed to smoke.  No one is requiring you to enter
my establishment. To expect to able to come in and demand
that everyone stop smoking because you find it offensive, is
in my opinion, extremely arrogant and officious.  There are lots
of things that I find offensive in American society, but unless
they put me or my family at risk I don't believe it's within my 
rights to restrict the choices of others, but I guess you do.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park