I generally agree with most everything you opine about, and I especially appreciate your diligent, thoughtful approach when discussing various issues. However, I must take umbrage with your stance on those of us who would like to see public smoking banned. I am not on the left. In fact, most of my friends consider me too far to the right for my own good. And I am a staunch defender of freedoms, especially freedom from government intervention. But when it comes to smoking, my desire for a ban has nothing to do with protecting the health of the smoke. of indeed, even the health of those around the smoker. These are both fallacious arguments. I, in fact, often partake of a good cigar myself. However, I do so where it will bother no one else. Now I agree in general that we err too often in society on the side of protecting people from being randomly offended. Freedom from offense is not something I beleive in. With smoking, though, I equate the nuisance to those around the smoker to that of those around someone creating raucous commotion. We have laws limiting how loud I can, for example, play my music at the beach or elsewhere. This is not because we choose to limit my rights to listen to music in public places, but because we choose to uphold the rights of other to use these same public places unencumbered by my blaring music. This seems fair to me. Now, if there were a way to smoke without spewing forth the fumes, I would immediately switch sides in this debate. But for now, I remain firmly in favor of the bans. And firmly ensconced on the right.