[Speed Gibson,
Friday January 26, 2007 at 11:43pm]
Does Not Compute
Governor Pawlenty now says he wants (prefers?) a state smoking ban that exempts private clubs like American Legion and VFW posts. I don't get it, at least not in the Vulcan sense.
I fail to see the distinction between the VFW, Appleby's, and Aunt Tillie's Diner. As a consumer, what's the difference? All are privately owned establishments that serve food and drink. Why can I smoke in some but not others? Why should workers at the VFW be exposed to this alleged danger when the others places' workers are not? Why should owners like Aunt Tillie or investors in Appleby's now have to compete unfairly with a non-profit entity?
No, this is our too clever by half Prime Minister trying to short circuit opposition to a bill he clearly wants to sign despite his Republican credentials. He's seen what the local smoking bans have done to the VFW's. They're still alive, but there's little money left now for philanthropy. Rural legislators, for whom the local American Legion Post or VFW is a mainstay, will be reluctant to be blamed for the same or worse in their district. That goes double near the border, JOBZ or not.
We can only hope that these rural legislators understand that their city kin will be back again to finish the job. The anti-smoking facists have to stopped here.
I fail to see the distinction between the VFW, Appleby's, and Aunt Tillie's Diner. As a consumer, what's the difference? All are privately owned establishments that serve food and drink. Why can I smoke in some but not others? Why should workers at the VFW be exposed to this alleged danger when the others places' workers are not? Why should owners like Aunt Tillie or investors in Appleby's now have to compete unfairly with a non-profit entity?
No, this is our too clever by half Prime Minister trying to short circuit opposition to a bill he clearly wants to sign despite his Republican credentials. He's seen what the local smoking bans have done to the VFW's. They're still alive, but there's little money left now for philanthropy. Rural legislators, for whom the local American Legion Post or VFW is a mainstay, will be reluctant to be blamed for the same or worse in their district. That goes double near the border, JOBZ or not.
We can only hope that these rural legislators understand that their city kin will be back again to finish the job. The anti-smoking facists have to stopped here.