Clearing The Air

Thank you for stopping by.....now go......read Westover

The few who come to this site know they will likely encounter a smoking ban issue, but by no means do I have a corner on the market.....and as always I defer to the master himself Captain Westover and his latest Pioneer Press column.

........That Stasiu's is virtually empty, that more than 20 such taverns have closed since the smoking ban, is inconsequential to the powerful, the influential and the arrogant.

Stasiu's is just one inconsequential working class bar; Jerry, Greg and Stasiu's patrons just inconsequential working class stiffs. Says the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco, 74 percent of Minnesotans favor smoking bans. Is that a surprise? When at no cost a majority can impose its whim on a despised minority, why not? Individual property rights and freedom of choice are just inconsequential rhetoric in the collective vision of a smoke-free Minnesota.

Ironically, $1.5 million in tobacco money garnered on taxpayers' behalf is used by MPAAT for "political action" that has taxpayer Jerry raiding his loose change and selling his memorabilia, taxpayer Greg selling his home, and both men fearing for their jobs. No matter. Jerry and Greg don't fit the plan.

Were he not on the politically incorrect side of the issue, I dare say Westover would be considered for a Pulitzer.

posted by marcus aurelius @ 10:30 AM