I have a new appreciation for something that I used to despise. I hated the smoky haze of restaurants and bars. I’d always dreaded the lingering artifacts of the dining experience on my clothes. “I wish they wouldn’t smoke in here”, I’d mutter, every time I walked near the smoking section. I’d think how great it would be for the owners of the restaurant to not allow smoking.

If the owner of an establishment decided that rule, it’d be perfectly fine. That’s the way it should work in a supposedly “free” market of a supposedly “free” country. Right?

Apparently not. Charlotte, NC is trying to follow the hideous trend of “banning” smoking in bars and restaurants.
Their justification for this sickening encroachment on property rights is that second-hand smoke (”SHS”) is detrimental to the health of non-smokers.

Hey GovCo… IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

While the degree of detriment is debatable, the voluntary participation of the customer in this barter trumps any SHS infliction. To avoid any risks, don’t go in the building. Seems pretty simple to me.

This issue, like just about all “problems” that our Imperial Federal Government thinks it needs to “fix” is best left up to the market for a resolution.

From the patron’s perspective, every time a person walks into a restaurant, they make a decision to either subject themselves to any second-hand smoke in environment or leave. When or if enough people make the decision to leave, and the demand for a smoke-free dining experience is apparent, the market will respond.

From the business owners perspective, If an individual works their way into an ownership position of an establishment, they set the rules. It’s their work that earned them the position. Their investment of time, energy and money was on the line. It’s their family that suffers if business is bad. It’s them who instead of being able to focus on growing their business, is forced to withstand our insidious tax code; dedicating precious scarce resources to the cause of feeding a wasteful government it’s “fair share” every three months. You’d think as long as one feeds the beast appropriately, they’d at least earn the right to run a business as they see fit. It’s their business to run.

I now embrace the smell of cigarette smoke in restaurants. It represents a time when our country was one step closer in resemblance to what the founders intended. Once again, I’m drawn back to my favorite quote: “I’d rather perish in justice than prosper under imperialism”. Indeed, I’d rather die of lung cancer due to SHS in a truly free, capitalistic nation than be healthy in a socialistic one.

The American government has dropped its loyalty and adherence to the Enlightenment’s unyielding principles (reason, rule of law, inalienable individual rights, freedom, capitalism). This country is dominated by a cancer of politicians who are morally and philosophically bankrupt. Hang on, it’s going to be a rough ride.

There are others who feel the same way.