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Should smoking be allowed in public places?
Results so far:
| Yes | 40% | 1668 votes | Total: 4200 votes | |
| No | 60% | 2532 votes |
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Add to Favoritesby Tom Koecke
This topic boils down to whether public health interests exceed property rights, and the wrong side is winning as far as liberty and freedom are concerned.
Smoking should not be allowed in 'truly public' buildings, such as DMVs and City Halls. It also should not be allowed in some 'truly public' outdoor areas, but it goes too far when a person cannot smoke in any park or campground. Since the Constitution addresses liberty and freedom as ideals, and public health interests vaguely as welfare, it seems contrary to the purpose for the country to argue 'freedom from' for the sake of welfare is more vital than freedom and liberty.
When the 'public place' is really a 'private business,' banning smoking violates ownership rights. Places like McDonalds and Red Robin banned smoking considering market factors, and well they have the right. It makes no sense, however, for the ban to extend to cigar bars. For it to extend even to 'private clubs' goes so far out-of-bounds that I'm more surprised courts have not overturned the bans.
Non-smokers do not have the right to go into, and work at, these places; they have the option. It is time they face up to it, and make consumer decisions based on market factors rather than imposing their wills over liberty and freedom for all.
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