[Vision2020] Big Brother Strikes

[Saundra Lund]

Hi Wayne,

I feel your pain -- really, I do!  I'm looking forward to Tom getting the
video up so I can see just how disgusting the "process" was.

However, call me jaded, but the writing was on the wall from the first time
the topic was brought up, which is why I didn't bother to attend last night.
Thank you for going, though, and for providing us with the details of the
further erosion of business, choice, and liberty in Moscow  :-(

Many of us have seen a real change in City Government since the GMA Hawkins
Five constituted on the Council, and it's not been a change for the better,
I'm sorry to say.  Did you follow the Great Water Give-Away Across State
Lines or the noise ordinance?  And more recently, did you follow how the
parking from Sixth Street was removed?  If so, I need say no more:  never
has it been clearer that local government ***isn't*** listening to its
citizens.  In Moscow, it all depends on who you know rather than decisions
being made on the basis of any esoteric (certain council members are
encouraged to use their dictionaries!) notions such as liberty or justice or
fairness.  Indeed, there's plenty of blame to go around with this
"decision," unless the proceedings tonight were remarkably different than
what we saw previously.

The whole thing stinks.

In any case, if anyone cares to organize a Smoke-In to protest, count me in
on attending:  while I knew it was pointless to show up at the committee or
council meetings, I'm happy to participate in an organized protest once the
students get back.  This should be a much easier protest to pull off than
one where women needed to bare their breasts to protest the unconstitutional
nudity ordinance back in 2002  :-)

You know, it's absolutely mind-boggling to me that the full council & mayor
supported this while come winter, we'll still be dealing with the HUGE truly
public safety problem of unshoveled walks and dangerously narrow streets
from cars being left in place for days & weeks at a time.  They have the
microscopic cajones to tell private business owners that they can't allow
lawful activity on their private property, but they clearly lack the real
stones to deal with what's rightly their prevue:  public safety on public
streets, sidewalks, and right-of-ways.

It really doesn't say much for them as a group when they are gung-ho to
meddle in affairs that really aren't theirs to meddle in while continuing to
ignore the legitimate issues they've got on their plates.

Barring a successful revolt <g>, I can only hope that our local
establishments don't experience the loss in business other areas with these
kinds of bans have experienced . . . and that if they do, they don't take it
out on consumers by raising prices to preserve profit as is commonly done in
these situations.  OTOH, raising alcohol prices would be perceived by many
as a social positive since drinking is bad for people and for society as
well  :-)

However, the bottom line is, I think, that folks who patronize bars should
be prepared to pay more for their alcohol in light of the smoking bans while
businesses in economic self-defense raise prices to make up for lost
business.

Perhaps folks should start hitting up Bill Parks and our individual City
Council members for free drinks when they are spotted in drinking
establishments???  Let's all encourage them to put their money where their
votes were  :-)

And, if any local establishments do wind up going out of business, I hope
they put big signs on the building exteriors highlighting this nonsense as
the cause.


JMHO,
Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
~ Edmund Burke

***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2009 through life plus
70 years, Saundra Lund.  Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside
the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of the
author.*****


-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Wayne Price
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 9:52 PM
To: vision2020
Subject: [Vision2020] Big Brother Strikes

Well, we got the kind of government we deserve based on the ram- 
rodding thru of the non-smoking  law passed tonight by the council.  
Lets start now and remember this in NOVEMBER.
REMEMBER that the current council said it will NOT effect business!


No smoking within 20 feet of a door way of anyplace where smoking is  
banned, so effectively the seating areas of Mikey's, One World,  and  
Nectar among others, is now a non smoking area  that will according to  
the council be enforced by the Moscow City Police Department. This  
also effectively closes the smoking room at Buccers. And the idea of  
an indoor area, designated for smoking was also removed prior to the  
final vote.  They did throw out one bone, IF there is a patio area  
that fits Big Brothers ruling, it can have a roof, just no walls and  
has to be non-accessible from outside!

Think about this one this coming winter: Smoker, who can't smoke in a  
bar, decides to go out to his/her car and starts the engine to keep  
warm and have a cigarette, God help you if you're over the limit,  
because now big brother can get you for DUI!

Think about WHERE on the sidewalks in downtown Moscow there is 20 feet  
on a side walk  not effected by Big Brother

Also to "level" the playing field, PRIVATE clubs are included in the  
ban.

What a great place Amerika is!

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