Fellow Citizens,

So lets get this straight; Proposition N proposes to ban smoking in all public places except casinos! Currently the owners of bars and restauarants in St. Louis County make their own smoking policies. These business owners are excericising their freedom to choose whether or not to allow smoking. As potential customers we are free to choose whether or not to patronize these businesses. Is there anything wrong with the current system? The Pasta House is an example of a business owner excercising their freedome and chose not to allow smoking. They seem to be doing just fine. In fact isn’t there a great business opportunity for even more restaraunts and bars that would not allow smoking? If pass Prop N wouldn’t it take away this opportunity for new businesses?

Why is it that whenever a free market activity produces a unpopular outcome the do gooders do all they can to pass a law that authorizes the government to use its law enforcement authority to stop the practice? Why if you do not like smoking just don’t go to a bar or restaurant that does? Or if you like the bar or restarant talk to the management to modify their smoking policy? Why do we need another law? Why don’t doctors focus on developing smoking cesation technology rather than twisting obscure statistics on the danger of second hand smoke under the veil of attempting to influence public policy? Second hand smoke - which by the way the vast majority of Americans over age 40 grew up with!

Everyone knows that smoking can be harmful. Passing a law is not going to change anything except to put smokers out in the cold to catch pnemonia. So now comes our elected county officials that want us to outlaw smoking in privately owned businesses but allow it in casinos. What shameful hyprocricy! Lets outlaw smoking unless we are getting a cut of the revenue from the business- then its OK! Stand up citizens! Say NO to government hypocricy and Yes to freedom of choice!

Jim Winkelmann

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