Get ready to diet

EDITOR:I would like to express my opinion on the proposed Wisconsin Smoking Ban.

First of all, this issue is not between smokers and non-smokers. This issue is actually between individual choice and big brother government.

This issue is between the free market and obstructionists to the free market.

With that being said, let me define individual choice in regards to the smoking issue.

I firmly believe that business owners can decide for themselves whether or not to have smoking in their establishment. I also believe that any customer can choose which establishment to patronize based on smoking.

I also believe that any employee can choose which establishment to be employed at based on smoking. If any customer or employee does not like a smoking establishment, they have the choice to patronize/work at a non-smoking establishment.

This is where the free market comes into play.

If there is enough demand for non-smoking establishments, then any smart business person can recognize this niche market needs to be filled.

This would give incentive for current establishments to voluntarily change to non-smoking or for new establishments to be created. Therefore, within the free market system, both smoking and non-smoking establishments would exist.

Isn’t smoking a health issue? Sure it is, but this too is part of individual choice for both smokers and non-smokers alike for the same reasons already stated above.

We cannot allow big brother government to eliminate individual choice for citizens.

Today it’s smoking. Tomorrow it’s individual maximum weight limits disguised as a health issue.

Get ready to diet.

Daniel W. Wysocki

Non-smoker

Marinette County

Libertarian Party

Goodman, Wis.