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Celebrating Universal Ban on Smoking... by Republicans?By pauldpeterson, Section News
OK, so what'd I miss? As a conservative candidate for the Republican nomination for State Rep of the 79th District in 2010, I'm left scratching my head that people in my own party, the Party of Lincoln and Reagan, the Grand Ol' Party, are trumpeting about the smoking ban in Michigan along with Democrats who have ruined our state, giving a failed governor a Leftist victory in removing more freedoms from the citizenry as she, evidently, follows "scorched Michigan" policies leading up to her finally leaving office. When she came, Michigan was a great place with a great economy, competitive in the nation. When she leaves, we have record high unemployment, a continued Exodus of residents and businesses leaving for better, Right to Work states, and new special rights to raise and smoke marijuana (an illegal, controlled substance), yet the removal of the freedom to decide the policies within your own business regarding the smoking of legal tobacco products or enjoying the same in public. And people wonder why I want to lead MY party back from the Wilderness to the Promised Land, which is to the Right where the Rule of Law reigns. Have Republicans forgotten those are laws that promote freedom, liberty, and unlimited rights reserved to the States and the People? (See 10th Amendment to the Constitution.) I must dissent on this ban: This is NOT a true conservative position.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a smoker; but I am a defender of individual rights. As a non-smoker, I understand and champion the right of others to have clean air to breath. It's a classic case that one person's rights end where another person's begins. Where I think the breakdown has happened in society is a lack of politeness, civil discourse, consideration of others, and simple public manners; all these things contribute towards a long tradition of smokers who would ask present company's permission to smoke; fast-forward a couple generations. Today, smokers have brought the wrath of their representatives upon them through years of preaching that they have the "right" to smoke above the rights of others in public, and the rest of us must put up with it. (I've witnessed this myself, which normally prompts me to order pickled eggs, pork `n beans, and dark beer to spoil their atmosphere.) But do people settle disputes among themselves anymore? No, of course not. We run to the government now instead of our neighbor to force people to "do" or "not do" things.
If you're confused by this apparent dichotomy, let me clarify. Is it within the role or authority of the government to ban smoking in public colleges, universities, or other publicly paid-for buildings? Sure, I can agree with that; but let's talk about the private sector. If people respected each other's rights, and still had mutual trust born of mutual respect, politeness and a confidence in reliable public civility, they wouldn't be afraid to talk to each other in public, and then go away to smoke if they were told "no". Barring that behavior, what is a viable solution that respects the rights of business owners? Conservatives (what Republicans are supposed to be) believe in market-based solutions. Business owners should decide whether they want their business to cater to smokers or non-smokers and display what kind of business they have prominently. The free market will enable the People to decide if they want to patronize that business or even work there. I think the labor market can handle that. If you fear second-hand smoke (yet another scientific hoax perpetrated upon the rest of us), then don't work for a smoking business. No one "has to" work where people smoke. If you do, you must want to be there; simple as that. Since smokers are in a clear minority, I would bet the free-market would strike the right proportion both among patrons and workers. Meantime, people need to take responsibility for the results of their own choices, and government needs to refrain from making laws that drive people away from our state, and a smoking ban is yet another reason for people and businesses to move away, just like Illinois, home of the corrupt Chicago Machine!
Paul "Revere" Peterson
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Celebrating Universal Ban on Smoking... by Republicans? | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
Celebrating Universal Ban on Smoking... by Republicans? | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
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