Smoking in France a thing of the past?

[NirvanaMan]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

What you say makes sense, and like I said, i realize I'm on the losing side of this argument. But this last line scares me.

I concur. While I completely agree with CP's statement, I hardly find it governments responsibility to protect the stupid by penalizing personal choice. People are stupid, let them choose their own demise. I know a lot of bikers that prefer to ride without a helmet. I think they are idiots, but shouldn't it be their choice (so long as our dollars are not paying for their healthcare).

Now, this clearly crosses into a gray area when your personal choice impacts the health and comfort of others. That is where I begin to have a moral dilemma. Government = bad. However, I do enjoy the benefits of coming home from a bar smoke free. It is odd now to go back to places where they do not have these laws. However, in principal I am still opposed. It is simply because I enjoy the side benefit that I do not complain too much about the government imposition in our lives.

I suppose the argument could be made regarding the choice of venue. Whereas an airplane or restaurant is something that people should be free to use and enjoy without putting their health at risk, isn't a bar a place of vice anyway? People are hardly going their out of need, hunger or to live a more healthy lifestyle.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

It is simply because I enjoy the side benefit that I do not complain too much about the government imposition in our lives.

Yes, and that is a valid reason to support it. In fact, that's the only reason we should support governmental impositions on freedom, because the specific imposition benefits us.