Daren links to the vote on the smoking ban and low and behold 22 out of 52 house Rs voted for “big brotherism.” With one vote these Republicans rejected the conservative values of both private property rights and parental authority–embracing state power in both areas. First the bill denies the owners of private business establishment the right to determine whether or not to allow smoking on their premises—no strings attached. Second, the bill denies parents the right to determine where they can take their children and where they can’t. I guess these 22 Republicans think that the parents of North Carolina are just too stupid to make the right decision themselves. Democrats are supposed to think this way–but Republicans?
As an aside, here’s a contradiction for you. It is perfectly legal for children of any age to smoke in North Carolina but it is illegal for an adult to let them into an establishment where other people are allowed to smoke.
