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In true prohibitionist fashion, the pietistic up-lifters, at the Courier-Journal, bemoan the failure of the Metro Council to pass a sufficiently repressive (in THEIR opinion) anti-smoking ordinance - one that would adequately protect those, who want to poison their liver with alcohol, or clog their arteries with greasy, calorie laden, and ill-prepared food, from the dangers of "second hand smoke".

These self-appointed nannies (or, is it ninnies?), once again, feign concern for the health and safety of society at large. But, whatever rhetorical face it is given, this particular jihad, like every other, gives off the foul odor of simple paternalism. As H.L. Mencken once so aptly pointed out: “The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.” Or, as a good friend of mine is fond of saying, "All movements are bowel movements."

Fear not, my non-smoking friends; there is still hope! Instead of patronizing and/or working in establishments, which allow the deadly vice, you may exercise some personal responsibility (and initiative) for your own health, by simply refusing to frequent such establishments. It’s called "freedom of choice"; try it, you'll like it!

This simple, non-coercive device, will serve several purposes. First, and foremost, it will assure your health and safety - at least, from the specter of "second hand smoke," if not cirrhosis and/or arteriosclerosis.

Secondly, if your numbers be sufficiently large, the loss of your revenue may force recalcitrant business owners to reconsider their position.

And, last, but not least, it will save you from paying the increased cost of the fare, offered in these establishments - due to the new "regulatory fees," as they always are, being passed along to the consumer, smoking and non-smoking, alike.

As an alternative, you could always hold your "celebratory dinners" in the great outdoors; perhaps, in one of the city's many lovely, tax supported parks! You see, we've had this vehicle emissions testing program here, for the last quarter century, or so; and, although it has recently ceased, after all of the pollution that was (reportedly) removed by that program, over the last 20-25 years, or so, the air should, still, be quite acceptable "out there".

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