Quote:
Originally posted by Yorick:
All I'll say on this are two things.
Choice seems to be a selective word used by critics of the smoking ban.
It's not a government, but smokers that force nonsmokers into either breathing their tobacco, or changing their lifestyle because of smokers. Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot and it's not fair? Smokers have been trampling all over the civil liberties of nonsmokers for decades. How is the democraticaly elected government suddenly elevated into the bad guy? Life, liberty and happiness? Smokers have been taking these things from nonsmokers all along!
Secondly, if you're championing choice and freedoms and rights, champion states and cities rights. As I stated in the other thread, this is a localised response to a localised problem within a localised lifestyle. New York is not Savannah, Georgia. It has different issues, problems and solutions. Civil liberties in New York have been curtailed before because of the extreme problems our city has faced. With the blessing of the populace. If you are advocating choice, then allow the majority of New Yorkers to excercise their demcratic right, and create laws which will benefit the majority of New Yorkers, given the unique situations our city faces each day.
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But, Yorick, you are turning right around - using the flip side of the coin, to gang up on smokers and remove
their choice. Most of the people advocating smokers freedoms here are not smokers themselves. They just don't want laws stating what kinds of recreation one group can have over another.
Yes I advocate a locality's right to govern itself. NYC has different problems from even say - Bayonne. But, my question: was there really an uprising cry from 9-8 million New Yorkers to ban smoking in all restuants and bars? Or was it imposed on them by a vocal minority? By exapmles you cite (nigh impossible to find a smoke free cafe) it sounds more like it was imposed. But - like I said, that is an issue for New Yorkers to decide.
I think this whole debate has spun into should they need to make that decision? Timber posted an execellent compromise that doesn't impose one groups will over another - thereby liberty of choice preserved.
[SIDE NOTE]
[img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] Over 19 pages on this topic?!?! [img]graemlins/crazyeyes.gif[/img] I'm getting dizzy!
[ 05-14-2003, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: Night Stalker ]