Antone's Nightclub
Free Citizens?
RECEIVED Wed., March 9, 2005
Dear Editor,
I completely agree with Chip Tait in his quote of the week, "It is not up to the American Cancer Society or Lance ... Armstrong to tell me how to run my business" [“Naked City,” News, March 4].
It amazes me how "free citizens" want to have control over how others run their businesses, support their families, live their lives, and continually call in the government to pass laws to force these businesses to comply with their personal preferences with regulation after regulation. It is not really even about smoking. It is about civil liberties and the ability to have and run a business that is not doing anything illegal. There are plenty of nonsmoking establishments in Austin and also as "free citizens" nonsmokers have the right to create nonsmoking establishments. That is a free society. It is a very slippery slope when we continually hand our freedom over to government officials (which is happening all the time). Is there not a way to handle this in the "free market" or is the "free market" going to be a thing of the past? How much do we want government controlling our everyday lives? Why can't "free citizens" figure out solutions without calling in big brother to issue more control over free enterprise and our daily lives?
Oh yeah, I do not smoke. I do, however, like the idea of freedom and personal choice.
Also, in reference to the blurb about Michele Deitch and curbing human rights abuses in prisons. I heard on the news how much better Martha Stewart's fellow inmates were treated because she was there. It was a frightening thought to think what would happen after she was gone – the party will definitely be over.
What strikes me is that we have cameras filming "free citizens" everywhere, stop lights, while we shop, etc., and yet there are no cameras filming prisoners and guards to insure human rights are not being violated – not just by guards but by other inmates as well. Go figure.
I completely agree with Chip Tait in his quote of the week, "It is not up to the American Cancer Society or Lance ... Armstrong to tell me how to run my business" [“Naked City,” News, March 4].
It amazes me how "free citizens" want to have control over how others run their businesses, support their families, live their lives, and continually call in the government to pass laws to force these businesses to comply with their personal preferences with regulation after regulation. It is not really even about smoking. It is about civil liberties and the ability to have and run a business that is not doing anything illegal. There are plenty of nonsmoking establishments in Austin and also as "free citizens" nonsmokers have the right to create nonsmoking establishments. That is a free society. It is a very slippery slope when we continually hand our freedom over to government officials (which is happening all the time). Is there not a way to handle this in the "free market" or is the "free market" going to be a thing of the past? How much do we want government controlling our everyday lives? Why can't "free citizens" figure out solutions without calling in big brother to issue more control over free enterprise and our daily lives?
Oh yeah, I do not smoke. I do, however, like the idea of freedom and personal choice.
Also, in reference to the blurb about Michele Deitch and curbing human rights abuses in prisons. I heard on the news how much better Martha Stewart's fellow inmates were treated because she was there. It was a frightening thought to think what would happen after she was gone – the party will definitely be over.
What strikes me is that we have cameras filming "free citizens" everywhere, stop lights, while we shop, etc., and yet there are no cameras filming prisoners and guards to insure human rights are not being violated – not just by guards but by other inmates as well. Go figure.
Wendy Land