Viewpoints
The Majority does Rule
By Samuel Bergeron
July 16, 2007
Monday PM
When I'm alluded to as being bigoted and un-American for infringing
on the perceived rights of smokers by bringing a clean air initiative
to Ketchikan, it makes me wonder what it is they're smoking.
Just for the record I celebrate
your freedom to smoke but I don't celebrate your smoking where
it affects other people. This is indeed the land of the free
but with caveats: Keep it to yourself.
Without a doubt, smoking kills, second hand smoke kills and in
some cases makes others instantly ill, sometimes sending them
to hospital and worse. It is a scourge.
A clean air initiative sends a message to our children not to
smoke. It helps those who wish to quit smoking quit. It makes
our community safer and healthier. A civilized society demands
limitations on personal freedoms as not to infringe on other's
rights of life, liberty and happiness. This proposed initiative
is good public policy and I am confident, when given the opportunity
at the ballot box, the majority of my fellow citizens will agree.
Samuel Bergeron
samuelbergeron[at]gci.net
Ketchikan, AK
Received July 15, 2007 - Published
July 16, 2007
About:"I'm a life-long
Alaskan and clean air advocate who has had enough of second hand
smoke."
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