Just another sign of the times

by Benjamin S
(Eau Claire, WI)

As a sometimes smoker, especially when visiting bars, I fall pretty firmly on the side of allowing adult establishments, taverns, and bars, places people know and consent to participation in unhealthy behavior, to make their own decisions as to whether or not smoking should be allowed.

It is an infringement of rights to remove the choice a private business has of whether or not to allow smoking, particularly when children aren't exposed and when the whole point of going to a pub is often to drink and smoke. There are plenty of alternative "non smoking" choices people have for bars in Eau Claire if they choose to avoid it, and in fact this is part of their business appeal to customers!

On the other hand, the whole nation seems pretty bent on removing the choice from people making the conscious choice to risk their own health. Yes! Smokers are a burden on the health care infrastructure, but that has been used several times as justification for the heavy tax burden smokers pay (often doubling the actual price of a pack of cigarettes). Yes! It is unhealthy and will eventually kill a percentage of its users, but alcohol is arguably just as dangerous, and prohibition was an utter failure of the US trying to assert its public health will on free and independent citizens. People are going to live the way they want to and continue to smoke even if it is outlawed entirely, because let's face it - something kills everyone eventually.

It's just a sign of the times, though, where the blurry line between freedom of choice and government responsibility clash and the majority (in this case non-smokers) assert their choice as more important than the minority. Whatever the reason, be it "public health," their desire to visit a smoking establishment minus the smoke, or "protecting the children," groups of people will always find a reason to treat those they don't agree with as second class citizens and impose their will by whatever means necessary. It is at times one of the best and one of the most difficult to rationalize functions of our government: Majority Rules!