Collegiate Times

First off, I am not a smoker. I consider it a terrible and unhealthy vice. But I am outraged at the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act recently passed through the Virginia Senate. The issue here is not whether or not smoking is harmful. It certainly is. But that does not give the state the power to determine what goes on inside a private business. This question should be left to the owners and operators of the business and the customers who patronize those establishments.

At no point should government become involved. If you do not wish to breathe secondhand smoke, then why go to a restaurant or bar that allows it? That's like being a country music fan, and going to a death metal concert. We must let the free marketplace do its work in this situation. As a non-smoker, you are obviously in the majority, so wise entrepreneurs would operate businesses that cater to solely non-smokers. And in fact, they do. The article in the CT ("Smoking Ban Passes Va. Senate," CT, Feb. 15) mentioned India Garden as one of these smoke-free restaurants that decided to cater to non-smokers without being forced to do so by the government. At no point are we ever forced to eat and drink in a certain establishment. We as free people have the power to choose where to go with our dollars and spend them where we want.

Furthermore, I am outraged at the condescending tone this paper took on this issue with their editorial in yesterday's paper. The writer seems to equate smokers as secondhand citizens, who will now graciously be allowed to only smoke in their private homes. The writer also attacks tobacco farmers, insinuating that they should just feel horrible for providing a legal product that people are willing to pay for. Heaven forbid! Should we also encourage brewers to go out of business, because their product is unhealthy? What about people who make cheeseburgers? After all, that contributes to obesity, which is "one of the nation's largest health problems."

We have the choice of what we put in our bodies, and what businesses we patronize. We do not have the right to force our beliefs on other people. I encourage all readers to contact their House delegates to voice their disapproval with this gross misuse of power. You can find your delegate at www.conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform.