My response to the smoking email below

Sorry I just don’t agree and I can easily tell you why;

I do believe that the government has a right to do what they’re doing I just don’t think what they’re doing is right. This is an important distinction.
Your point about health inspectors is not the same as smoking. The reason that health inspectors go into restaurants is because customers have no way to know whether or not the food is being prepared properly or if the facilities are safe. This is why the government steps in because the consumer is helpless to know the quality of what is being served and therefore has no ability to make an educated choice. But in the case of smoking the there is no unknown factor that the government needs to step in to protect the consumer from. If you know there is smoking on site you move onto the next restaurant. You know what the dangers are and you are able to make a clear choice to embrace them or avoid them. This does not exist with food safety or building safety. See the difference?
Overall air quality affects us all so there is no ability to make a choice so the government steps in. See the difference?
Every citizen travels in a vehicle just about every day. Again, every citizen, so choice does not apply here either?
We allow topless bars and tell the customers to go elsewhere if they don’t like it. We don’t say I want to go there because I like the food so they have to get rid of those dancers. See the difference?
We let that caller make his point for roughly two minutes. I only talked over him when he would not let me speak. But you think I was being rude because you agree with him and disagree with me.
You said, “Smoking harms everyone exposed to. Period. Junk food harms only the consumer of it.” You can choose not to be exposed to the smoke by choosing a non smoking restaurant and therefore your point in this statement supports my argument, not yours. If you have a choice, just like the junk food, then the government should stay out.
In order for all of your statements to be anything but a “straw man” you have to prove to me that allowing a business owner to open a smoking restaurant effects all citizens without choice. Can you do that? If not, you’re statement about junk food, must be true, and therefore our argument must be true; which would then mean that a slippery slope is a perfect analogy.

Thanks,

Jay Mcfarland

AM 1080 KRLD
CBS Radio