[Mpls] Smoking Ban

[Michael Atherton]

Terrell Brown wrote:

>  [TB]  Now you're comparing smoking bans to the behavior of 
>  the Nazis?  Get real.

I think that I am being very real.  I guess I've just studied
too much psychology to not see a difference in the degree
of intolerance, i.e., people who do not recognize the rights
of others on small things are no more likely to recognize
them when there is more on the line.

>  The behavior (smoking) does affect others.  Breathing smoke, 
>  be it "second hand" or inhaled is a known health hazard.  
>  There is no way to safely smoke.

Also I know that there was no way to scuba dive without a 
risk of a fatal accident, but I dove anyway. I know that 
there is a risk of a fatal accident while snow skiing and 
I skied anyway. But, I also know that it is possible for 
me to sit in a bar, smoke and have no effect on your health: 
just don't come through the door.

>  For years it has been public policy in this country (a good 
>  policy in my opinion) to promote safe work places.  Auto body 
>  shops have special rooms for painting to protect workers from 
>  inhaling dangerous fumes.  Workers wear ear protection to avoid 
>  injury to their hearing.  

AND, there are special rooms to protect non-smokers and employees
from second-hand smoke and they are effective.
 
>  The smoking ban is merely an extension of this good public 
>  policy in an area that has been ignored for many years.

Dictating my diet would be an advantageous extension of good
public health policy, but please please don't.

>  Then there is another way that smoking by others affects us. 
>  Economically. When people insist on smoking, I am forced to 
>  spend money to clean the stuff out of my clothing.

Only if you voluntarily go to places where people smoke.  I 
can think of not one business or government office that I am
forced to frequent where I would legally be exposed to 
secondhand smoke.

>  Probably instead of the mere smoking ban that we've passed, 
>  we should put tobacco in the same class as other drugs such 
>  as cocaine and heroin.

I just don't understand how anti-smoking activists can be so 
worried about the questionable effects of secondhand smoke 
20 or 30 years in the future, but seems unconcerned about 
the far more immediate risks of irresponsible driving.  

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park