Thursday, July 26, 2007

Large Scale Apathy, One Lone Voice

Yesterday, I mentioned that State of Michigan is considering anti-smoking legislation which, according to the crafters of this freedom crushing legislation, would be the most stringent in the United States.

In that post, I neglected to mention that Ottawa County, Michigan is also debating this issue, which would become a moot point if the state enacts their draconian ban.

My brother, The Wizard, who has been following the developments in Ottawa County’s anti-smoking crusade, hit me with a link embedded email regarding my post, above, inquiring if I had seen the latest regarding Ottawa County, which I had not, so I hit the link and read the story.

The most interesting point I found in the story surrounding Ottawa County’s most recent “debate” over whether to ban smoking in private establishments and county parks and such was this.

All but one person who spoke at the hearing favored the proposal,...

Only one solitary individual spoke out against the ban.  One.  That is pathetic.

And was this dissenting individual one of the potential business owners who could possibly be negatively effected economically?  No, it was my brother, The Wizard, and this was reported on this way..

However, some believe the proposal is an attempt by government to dictate to the private sector what to do.

Zeeland resident Peter Venlet believes companies should make their own decisions whether to allow employees to smoke. He applauds companies such as Herman Miller that have chosen to do just that.

“They created their policies of their own volition and their own incentive, and that is exactly how it should be in a private-sector business,” Venlet said.

A spot on analysis.

Wizard has some of his own thoughts posted regarding the anti-smoking crusaders which is worth a read, which also notes that one of the main arguments utilized by the anti-smokers, second hand smoke, may not be the argument it’s purportedly cracked up to be.  The post is titled Another Subtle Erosion of Freedom.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/26 at 06:55 AM
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