Freedom vs Tyranny

Maybe the title seems too self important for a discussion of a smoking ordinance but that is how I see it. Every violation of property rights makes the next violation easier. Pretty soon, it seems perfectly normal and if you think that I am making a big deal over a smoking ordinance, then you have already fallen into that trap.

Now, let me start out by saying that I do not smoke and do not own a bar or restaurant whose business will be affected by the ordinance. What I am is a citizen of the United States and Kansas and I know that property rights are the underlying rights for all others. Without safe property rights, the other rights become theoretical constructs. They can no longer be reliably enforced. If you are always a tenant, then the government controlled landlord is truly your master. You really need your own property to assert many of your rights.

At its July 3rd meeting, the Lenexa, KS City council passed an ordinance that would make it illegal to smoke inside any building that was not a private residence. There was a small exception for a business that was entirely a tobacco seller. The vote was 7 to 1 and the one guy who dissented had no problem with the concept of the government controlling private property. He only wanted to carve out one more exception for his favored special interest.

There was little advance notice to the public about the action so only myself and one bar owner from across the street were there to speak against it. We both had heard about it accidentally at the last moment. There were plenty of representatives from the special interests that like to run our lives (for our own good, of course) who apparently had plenty of notice.

A further insult was to take this vote on the eve of the Independence Day celebration. This shows us the disdain that our leaders have for our tradition of freedom. We need to fight to get our freedom back. We have lost a major share and we cannot let any more violations occur, no matter how trivial this individual item seems and even if you don't smoke or own an affected business. Today it is restaurant owners, tomorrow it might be your business or your political interests that are savaged.

To have freedom for yourself and your posterity, you must grant it to others; even if you don't exactly like what they do with it.