My Rights Are More Important Than Yours

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Smoking

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uploaded by Jon Nagelmakers

There I am, sitting on the patio at my local steakhouse, just finishing my meal. This is about the time I would light up a cigarette, and of course the idea crosses my mind to do so - that is until I remember that it is against the law. It is against the law because I am sitting across from a section of the patio which is partially covered by an awning.

So first I was forced out of restaurants, now I am forced off of the patio. Not only that, but I went into the local coffee shop to read the newspaper the next day and my rights were restricted yet again. I go to this particular coffee shop instead of one which is a bit closer because it has a smoking section - a section of the store completely surrounded by glass walls, and separate ventilation.

So can I still go to a smoking club, which only draws customers who smoke and thus accept the responsibility associated with it? No, they too are being hit. The smoking laws in Ontario now say that I can't smoke inside any establishment or on its property if there are awnings, or any other cover which restricts airflow (single umbrellas are alright, as long as they aren't in contact with another).

Not only are my rights being restricted, but the rights of private business owners being restricted. It is their businesses which suffer financially when the number of customers drop (and it does).

How can the government get away with such a large infringement on our rights? Where do they become responsible for my own personal decision which hurts nobody but me, and if it does hurt others it is by their own decision?

After all, if a person does not want to experience second-hand smoke, they can go to a smoke-free restaurant. That is the beauty of the free market - if there is a demand, a supply will rise. So here we can see the public making decisions for their own well being. Smoking establishments form, non-smoking establishments form, and partial-smoking establishments form. The choice is there for the consumer.

Hell, I guess if the government can ban sexual acts between consenting adults whenever there is money involved, they can ban a private establishment from allowing a smoking customer-base. Or if the government can force an employer to pay an employee a set wage, even if the employee agrees to a lower wage, it stands to reason that they can ban an establishment from putting up a smoking shelter for their employees.

What are they going to do next, ban people from getting drunk at a private establishment? Oh wait, they have already arrested people for that.

When do we reach a point where the government becomes so constricting, that we no longer have the rights and freedoms we once thought? When do we become so self-conscious, that our rights supersede others and we need the government to put our rights above all others, even on private property? Murder, okay that is infringing on the rights of others; theft, I can see how the rights of others are being trespassed on. But running a smoking club?

How much further can government intervention go? How much longer are we going to allow our government to turn into our baby-sitter?

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that smoking is not the best of habits – but neither is eating fast food, drinking beer, or even the still-debated consumption of dairy products. Is what I eat my own business? Is the government going to make me become a smarter shopper when I am out looking for food? Should I just give up my own ability to reason, and let the government work out my health issues?

Sure, let the government do everything for me – I could really use the lack of stress which I develop from having to make decisions.

Or, I could be self-sufficient in looking out for myself, take responsibility for my actions, and be more involved in my own life. I could find a non-smoking establishment if I didn’t want to be exposed to cigarette smoke, I could call the companies and find out what is in their food products, and I could stop going to fast food restaurants. These are things that I can control, and should ultimately be placed in my own hands for the final decision. These are things that don’t concern you or the government, so back off.