Posted on 10/30/2001 9:18:40 PM PST by JohnHuang2
TownHall.com: Conservative Columnists: Debra Saunders
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Debra Saunders (back to story)
October 31, 2001
Freedom snuffed out
As the rest of America fears anthrax attacks from anonymous correspondents, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry is galvanized to go after an unestablished health threat. She wants to outlaw smoking in L.A. city parks and recreational facilities.
Perry explained yesterday that she sees smoking in parks as "a public health issue." Smokers endanger park-goers with asthma or hypertension, they throw cigarette butts into sandboxes, and they leave cigarette butts everywhere. Hence, a ban.
On the issue of cigarette butts, Perry has a point. The answer, however, would be to ban smoking at playgrounds. Few would object.
Unsightly cigarette butts? Fine smokers who leave them behind. Make it a big fine.
But the health argument is tortured -- and it shows a desire to outlaw smoking everywhere they can, whether it makes sense or not.
(Ken August of California Health Services said, "From the Health Department's perspective, any exposure to second-hand smoke is harmful." But anti-smoking advocates acknowledged that there has been little research on the subject.)
Hey, if second-hand smoke is harmful to people outdoors, fellow park-goers can ask the smoker to move. If the smoker won't move, non-smokers can move.
Smokers, after all, also pay taxes that fund parks. They have rights.
Not that Perry seemed to notice. Ditto Sonya Vasquez, chairperson of the Committee for Smoke-Free Parks. Vasquez said that her biggest issue isn't the health of park-goers, it's that adult smokers are bad role models for kids.
Too bad she's not content to nag. She instead advocates outlawing non-role-model behavior.
Vasquez explained: "I'm not saying that they don't have a right to smoke. My personal opinion is that, in an environment where you have an enormous amount of people, the majority of whom don't smoke, it should be the majority versus the minority who are doing a behavior that's hurting someone else."
So forget freedom. Majority rules. Minorities submit. The parks aren't big enough for smokers and nonsmokers.
She added, "It shouldn't be people's right to do something that negatively affects me or you or children."
Actually, rights do give people a right to "negatively affect" others, I replied. Free speech, for example, allows others to say things I find offensive.
To which Vasquez, no constitutional scholar, responded: "Free speech is: You can talk about something as long as you are not offending somebody or hurting somebody."
Figure freedom's just another word for nothing really learned. Or freedom is only for good people doing good things -- and Perry and Vasquez get to decide what's good.
And not just in terms of smoking.
If litter is the issue, I asked Perry, why not ban soft drinks? I see cans in parks.
Not to worry. Perry also wants to ban the sale of "junk food" at city parks and rec facilities. Latinos and African Americans, she added, "suffer disproportionately" from health problems related to high-sodium and high-fat foods.
I guess you run for office so that you can pass busybody laws. You use a health pretext where you can. You cite polls where health isn't an issue. (Vasquez tells me about 60 percent of people polled want to outlaw smoking in parks.) Oh, and you always can invoke "the children."
And if people don't want to be like you -- well, it's their bad luck not to be elected officials. Book 'em.
©2001 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
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The lifestyle police are at it again.
Not to worry. Perry also wants to ban the sale of "junk food" at city parks and rec facilities. Latinos and African Americans, she added, "suffer disproportionately" from health problems related to high-sodium and high-fat foods.
Really, now. Is that how it works these days?
Seems like I've read that there are quite a few um, "health issues" that accompany homosexual practices.
Petition drive, anyone? It's for the children...
But, omigosh...that would be PROFILING!!!! Maybe she could just get a life and let people live theirs!
ROTFL. Sure. That is real likely to happen.
There's a poll addressing this issue at vote.com that needs Freepin'.
FREEP THIS POLL to tell city officials what you think. When you vote on this issue, your opinion will be automatically sent to L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who proposed the measure, and also to Mayor James Hahn.
Or as the People's Republik of Kalifornia who is trying to get authority right now to prohibit smoking in people's own private cars and homes, aided and abetted by the EPA.
Unbelievable. Talk about some racist comments.
I loathe the nannies who think that I am going to consider their socialists game plan as active concern for my well being. They have no concern for me as an idividual, so long as I conform to their idea of right and wrong.
Buzz off lady, I am adult; I live on my own; Pay my own bills; and you, have no right, in any world, to tell me what I can and cannot do.
I would say if you want to mother a group so badly, go have children of your own, but I would not want to subject an innocent child to your mind numbing views.
Day 3, 05:23 PM EST (Results are delayed 15 minutes)
Total Votes: 2,908
.......votes.. percent
Yes (982) (34%)
No (1,926) (66%)
You don't have to take up smoking.
Become a 'political niccer'.
Carry an UNLIT cigarette and ACT like you're about to light up.
Hold it in your hand and pat your pockets like you're searching for your matches or lighter.
They'll go ballistic! When they accost you about it, tell them that you're not smoking, you're just holding one.
They'll go ballistic again.
Who knows, you might be able to get a slander settlement over it. LOL
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