Limiting Freedom

How Oregon may continue the Socialist agenda

J. A. Hoffman


I hail from Washington. I moved to Portland to attend university. Well, I became depressed when my home state passed a law in '04 putting restrictions on land use and property rights in the form of some high and mighty "assist you in quiting" smoking ban. I thought that there must be some outcry from the large minority. Allow the free market to solve our problems, not government. If you do not want to breath smoke, go to another establishment. Here in Portland, many bars survive on customers who light up in their bar. While researching this article I viewed a clip from channel 8 on the purposed ban. One person interviewed said, "I would like to see it pass, I only smoke here, not in my home. It would help me quit." Sell off your land, forget your dreams of a start up business and get ready to socialize, the Pinko's are at the gate. I am not a heartless capitalist. I believe government is a necessary evil to provide defense, mediation and help those who do not receive help from private charity. If I sell my labor (whether for $8.50 an hour or $150 an hour), save and start a business, I should own that business. If I want to smoke in my business, I should be able to. The effects of alcohol are damaging. Why not outlaw that? I realize smoking bans are for second hand smoke. But your sucking on a burning piece of organic matter. Its your choice. The beauty is, most of the bills nation wide are purposed by democrats. Those same ones who say, "keep your laws off my body." I believe in protecting the minority. The fact is, extreme capitalism and extreme socialism do not work. We need a mix of both. I fall into the camp that says we need to champion personal choice (inside rational law). Our democratic Republicanism works very well. Let us make laws on what is acceptable and not acceptable. However, when the tyrannical majority tells the minority, who in the case hold the liberty high ground, what to do, someone has to step up and cry foul. Abortion is legal, our schools are socialized, our health care is headed that way and business is under attack. Give this liberty lover one victory and join those against this abashment of freedom. I do not even smoke, yet I know when to step up and swing for an unrepresented minority. Let us stay a country based upon protection of liberty. Let us remember it was a minority that wanted Revolution against the monarchical Britons. Write your Representative, tell them to vote no on the smoking ban.