Wednesday, February 15, 2006

"the world capital of insufferable paternalism"

Responding to yesterday's UK government decision to ban smoking, Simon Jenkins, a committed non-smoker, makes some fair points in today's Guardian concerning the manner and the reason of their policy.

"The nation was last night coated in parliament's disinfectant self-righteousness.

I dislike smoking as much as I dislike swearing, drunkenness, blaspheming and race-hate cartooning. I have boycotted smoking places for years without serious discomfort, and watched nonsmoking areas expand in response to public demand. Yet to hear some MPs (or broadcasters) talk you would think smoking was a ricin attack on the nation state. I hold John Stuart Mill as sacred in this matter: 'The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community against his will is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.'"

Passive smoke: no dangers.

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