NEWS - Tobacco bothers them, yet freedom going up in smoke doesn't.

Well, there are enough authoritarians out there that the "let's ban smoking" meme was bound to make some headway. I left a comment on another site, but thought I'd repeat it here:

The pursuit of happiness is a basic human right. I tend to think smoking is an unwise way to pursue happiness--too expensive and not nearly worth the health risks--but I've never smoked, so perhaps it's much more rewarding than it seems. In any case, if someone else chooses to smoke, it's not my, nor anyone else's business--other people have rights, too.

Don't like smoke in the businesses you patronize, or worried about the health effects of secondhand smoke? Then stop patronizing those businesses until they ban smoking on the premises. If all the bars/restaurants/whatever in your area allow smoking, then quit whining and start a new one that doesn't. Freedom means sometimes you have to tolerate things you personally dislike.

Personally, I find the tamest calls for restrictions on smoking tend to be more offensive than the worst secondhand smoke--it really bothers me to hear people demanding others' rights be violated. However, if you still want to ban smoking, just remember--the next pleasure some moron wants to ban may be one of yours.