In this case, Patrick McIlheran is not “Right On”

July 18th, 2006

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Patrick McIlheran equates banning smoking in restaurants with a Chicago-area proposal to ban trans fats in restaurants.

I don’t think he has it exactly right.

While I’m personally in favor of smoking bans, viagra buy for sale I’m against legislating the “healthfulness” of the various foods a restaurant serves.

The distinction to me is that if I order fatty food, viagra buy the only person I’m hurting is myself.

If I light up in a crowded restaurant, on the other hand, I’m hurting everyone in the vicinity whether they wanted to smoke or not.

Everyone should be free to hurt themselves.

No one should be free to hurt others.

Entry Filed under: Media

7 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Nick  |  July 18th, 2006 at 12:02 pm

  • 2. Nick  |  July 18th, 2006 at 12:03 pm

    <Insert same old argument I have with Elliot on smoking bans here>

  • 3. Administrator  |  July 18th, 2006 at 12:05 pm

    Damn, from your first post I thought maybe I had left you speechless. ;)

  • 4. Dean  |  July 18th, 2006 at 1:35 pm

    Perhaps there’s some danger from second-hand trans fat we don’t yet know about. We should get ahead of the curve.

    BTW, I agree with you on smoking bans in restaurants anyway.

  • 5. Administrator  |  July 18th, 2006 at 2:22 pm

    Welcome back, Dean.

    I hope you had a good vacation.

  • 6. folkbum  |  July 18th, 2006 at 10:14 pm

    Actually, given that heart disease and other problems associated with unhealthful fats in the diet are the nation’s top medical problems, in a very real sense society pays for the poor eating habits of fat slobs like me.

    I don’t think it’s reason enough to ban transfats, though.

  • 7. Dean Mundy  |  July 20th, 2006 at 1:05 am

    Thanks, elliot, I did.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.