by LeeLee

Created on: May 24, 2007

Should smoking be allowed in public places? Well, a good question to be sure and one that has strong voices on either side. I could wax eloquent on either side of the issue; and, being a Libra, I am quite good at that (if you are one of those that buy into our endless weighing of each and every issue), but this should truly be about my opinion. So, here goes:

I think yes. The truth is that we are all afforded rights to live our lives doing what we wish within the measure of the law regardless of whether our neighbor agrees or disagrees with the lifestyle. It is truly the foundation of our country. To say that smoking is not allowed in public, would be the equivalent of saying at some point in the future that other evils that have proven to be unhealthy or of possible (not definite) harm could come to another. In example:

1) You go to your favorite restaurant and find no salt on restaurant tables any longer and only fish and chicken offered on the menus to keep our cholesterol lower to avoid heart attacks and other health issues;

2) Drinking is only allowed in the home but not at all if you have children in that you could act inappropriately or set a bad example by partaking. Drinking poses a huge danger to the drinker and others based on the loss of ability or sound judgment that occurs from too much. Also, drinking could lead to a loss of inhibition that would then cause the drinker to smoke (gasp).

3) Fast food chains are only allowed through a pass system where each family is allowed one fast food meal a month (I actually wouldn't mind that one at all).

4) If you've had more then one speeding ticket in a one year period, you pose a threat to others and lose your right to drive.

The bottom line in my opinion is that if we institute law in this regard we open ourselves up to future constitutional issues that are frightening. Where will we draw the line?

When the government (whether state or federal) starts enforcing laws that inhibit people from personal choice, whether deemed to be for the good of the many or the individual, when does that end and who will be making the choices for you over the years once we start down this path?

It is conceivably the equivalent of censorship but on physical action rather then speech. Certainly, many arguments have arisen regarding free speech over the radio as of late and while many of those arguments are just and honest, don't we run the risk of creating larger loopholes later in life for our children by suppressing the very

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