WAYNE'S WORDS
AUGUST 22, 2005
TOPIC: SMOKING BANS AND MONEY

Well, well, the county council defeated the proposal to ban smoking in most public places in St. Louis County.
If you do a little research, it seems like this wasn't a public health issue as much as a money issue.
The groups that thought they would be adversely affected, bars, restaurants and casinos, were the most vocals against the ban.
Harrah's Casino sent three bus loads of folks to the meeting to tell the council why they thought the ban was bad. Never mind that these folks put the importance of their own health third, behind getting cancer from smoking and losing their paychecks every week at the casinos.
Pinnacle, who is putting $300 million into a casino in Lemay, went as far as threatening not to invest any more money in the area if the ban went through.
Every opponent's argument was money.
They want you to believe it was personal rights, but, if it IS personal rights that's the issue, what about MY personal right to be in a smoke-free environment?
The proponent's argument was public health.
Money wins.
It doesn't make sense.
I remember a nice warm summer evening outside a nice restaurant in Clayton, sitting with some friends, enjoying the evening, but, every now and then the idiot two tables over would take a big puff off his big ol' cigar and blow sickening smoke our way.
When this happens I feel like getting my boom box out, blasting out some loud rap music, something I know he wouldn't like, and rationalizing that it's just as much my RIGHT to do whatever I want in public as it is for him to smoke.
Individual freedom wins out over being sensitive to the rights of others in a public place.
I don't think I'm alone in saying I'd run, not walk to a bar or restaurant that banned smoking in all areas, including the outdoor areas.
I just think that the majority of us non-smoking, health-conscience, hard-working, all-American decent folks, just weren't vocal enough on this issue.
What to do??
I think it would be good to e-mail Kurt Odenwald ( kodenwald@stlouisco.com) and let him know we support his ban and to maybe try again.
You might want to e-mail Hazel Erby (herby@stlouisco.com) the councilwomen that cast the deciding no vote, who actually reversed her support for the measure. Tell her she screwed up and you hate her (not really).
This is just one more example of local government having the chance to make our community a healthier and therefore better place to live, but, getting greedy and letting those with money have priority over us, the people the council members are suppose to represent and watch over.
How 'bout next time we all go out, take your boom box with you and the moment someone lights up near you, put on a little Xzbit and blast them into the realization that their individual freedom to smoke in a public place can't infringe on the rights of others to enjoy a smoke-free environment.

Until next time,
Train Smart, Live Right
Wayne
whuckshold@yahoo.com