In Michigan, the health nazis are seeking to pass a complete smoking ban in bars, restaurants, etc--though time is almost up, as the legislative session is about to end:
"Wrangling among lawmakers resumes this morning in an eleventh-hour effort to ban smoking in restaurants, bars and other workplaces -- one of several key pieces of legislation dangling by a thread on the final day of the 2008 legislative session....The Senate continues to insist on a no-exceptions smoking ban in all Michigan workplaces. The House initiated the legislation but wants to exempt horse racing tracks, cigar bars and Detroit's three casinos. It has sought a compromise plan -- without success -- since last June."
Again--if in fact there's this overwhelming public sentiment for public places to go smoke-free, why not let individual businesses make the decision for themselves? If a business doesn't go smoke-free, and a lot of people don't like it, they're free to not do business with that entity, and thus encourage it to go smoke-free, too. On the other hand, if a business doesn't go smoke-free, and enough people are OK with it, then that business will continue to make money and keep going. And yet those desiring smoke-free environments can avoid it.
That's the way to handle this--a way consistent with freedom and liberty. It's too bad no one wants to consider those principles anymore...
UPDATE: and the numbers of people wishing to consider those principles grow smaller and smaller. Another example today: the NY Times' Nick Kristof praises Governor Paterson's proposed tax on soda pop. Why? He says Americans are too obese and so such taxes are the best way to "change social behavior."
He tries to suggest that this is about convincing Americans to change their behavior.
Of course, that's not true. By using taxation, he wishes to FORCE Americans to change their behavior. He's right--soda companies will fight this tax and others like it. Know what? If you care about freedom, you should support their fight.
