Thursday, May 05, 2005
KC Star urges ban on smoking
[Yael T. Abouhalkah, "To clear air, start at grass roots," The Kansas City Star, 5 May 2005.]
The range of possibilities for you to act as you see fit is shrinking - now it is smoking, will drinking and eating junk food be next?
A regional ban on smoking would protect the health of people who eat, drink and work at hundreds of area bars and restaurants.
Alas, smoke-free ordinances remain a pipe dream as long as elected officials are cowed by a limited number of business owners in the Kansas City region.
Promoters of anti-smoking campaigns need to be more aggressive in taking matters into their own hands. Grassroots efforts on a city-by-city approach — such as through the use of initiative petitions — could accomplish what weak-kneed politicians have not.
Eventually, smoking in public places could be a thing of the past across this region.
It is interesting that Abouhalkah labels politicians who refuse to restrict individual rights as "weak-kneed." I'd hate to see what he thinks is a "strong" politician. He and others looking out for "the public interest" would do well to take a refresher course in basic liberties.
[Yael T. Abouhalkah, "To clear air, start at grass roots," The Kansas City Star, 5 May 2005.]
The range of possibilities for you to act as you see fit is shrinking - now it is smoking, will drinking and eating junk food be next?
A regional ban on smoking would protect the health of people who eat, drink and work at hundreds of area bars and restaurants.
Alas, smoke-free ordinances remain a pipe dream as long as elected officials are cowed by a limited number of business owners in the Kansas City region.
Promoters of anti-smoking campaigns need to be more aggressive in taking matters into their own hands. Grassroots efforts on a city-by-city approach — such as through the use of initiative petitions — could accomplish what weak-kneed politicians have not.
Eventually, smoking in public places could be a thing of the past across this region.
It is interesting that Abouhalkah labels politicians who refuse to restrict individual rights as "weak-kneed." I'd hate to see what he thinks is a "strong" politician. He and others looking out for "the public interest" would do well to take a refresher course in basic liberties.
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