For Our Own Good!

As citizens, our guard against those who would take our rights away must always be vigilant. Last week, I read on Patch.com that County Executive Steve Ehlman may veto the County Council's attempt to legislate a countywide smoking ban in bars and restaurants. After the article went online, Facebook was inundated with anti-smoking posts. One of my dear friends was leading a charge to write Ehlman in an effort to keep him from this veto. It saddens me when people whom I know, and many millions I don't know, can't see beyond the end of their noses — it's frightening.

It baffles me how these people cannot understand that this legislation is not about smoking or second-hand smoke, it's about taking away the rights of hundreds of small business owners to choose how to best operate their businesses. Steve Ehlman sees the big picture and that is; when does government stop crossing a very delicate line between the rights of the people and the servitude of communism. These misled people who are so ambitiously trying to stop smoking in the places which they frequent will go to any length to remove the rights of law biding citizens and their answer is to make laws. They do not understand that free enterprise is what built this country and in their efforts to remove rights from those who would try living the American dream are essentially eroding the foundation of the United States.

I saw one comment on Facebook to the effect; I hate going into restaurants where there's smoking, it makes me so angry. She went on to talk about how there's such a long wait in the no smoking section and there's hardly anyone in the smoking section. She concluded by saying that she and her family are no longer going to bars and restaurants that allow smoking. BINGO, she solved the problem, of course it came at a price — no more dining in her favorite restaurants. If more of those who believed in their cause would follow her lead, those very restaurants and bars that lose revenues because of lower patronage would conform or go out of business. Free enterprise works! But it is easier to bitch and write your representatives urging them to make new laws which will take more rights away from their neighbors than to simply picket those places that they have issue with.

I often wonder what would happen if the government infringed on the rights those who are so interested in a smoking ban. What if they were to outlaw Twinkies because of the high sugar content or McDonald's because it's turning our people into blimps, clogging arteries, and generally creating all sorts of medical issues? What then? What if you didn't get paychecks anymore and your money was deposited directly into the Federal Reserve and you were issued a card to use for shopping? And then, what if the government allowed you to only buy those items that were approved for you to buy? That would solve a lot of problems that so many liberals are working for today. If you were diabetic or overweight your card wouldn't allow you to buy those sugar-loaded items or fast foods that aggravate your condition. Your card would not allow you to purchase luxury items if your credit score is too low or behind on your mortgage, rent, or other debts. These things may sound like a stretch, but are they? They could then better control the health of the nation, relieve individuals of the burden of filing taxes each year, bring financial stability to the people, and keep big businesses from giving CEO's vulgar amounts of money. Damn, I think I've just solved all the problems of our country in one paragraph; take away the rights of the people and businesses "For Our Own Good!"