Cafe 227

Monday, April 03, 2006

The Triumph of Fascism in DC

As DCist reported last week, today marks the first day of the workplace smoking ban in DC. As of today, it's illegal to smoke cigarettes restaurants. The ban will be expanded to bars and clubs on January 1, 2007. At best, it's government paternalism. At worst, it's mild fascism.

What I don't understand is why state and municipal governments throughout the country view this as an all-or-nothing proposition. Has anyone considered the market solution - that is, auctioning off a limited number of smoking licenses to bars and restaurants? Bars and restaurants win - the establishments that value the right to smoke will pony up the money to buy the licenses and pass the cost through to their patrons. The city wins - by holding an auction for the licenses, they maximize their income from the sale of the licenses. Restaurant/bar workers win - they are free to choose between working at a smoking or non-smoking establishment based on their own personal risk/reward analyses. And patrons win - those who abhor cigarette smoke (and, in turn, freedom) can choose to go to the non-smoking establishments, while those who value smoking will be willing to pay incrementally more for drinks at smoking establishments. Tell me, why wouldn't this work?

If I thought the country were ready for an Arab president, I would run.

7 Comments:

  • Thank you. I have been saying this since the 2003 NYC ban. Why don't they just set a 2:1 alcohol to tobacco license ratio? They could be both economically rational and paternalistic, like the Catholic Church.

    By Blogger Conor, at 6:38 PM  

  • How can you call the system fascist when in spite of every government "hating" them and them paying out billions of dollars in settlements, the tobacco companies STILL make money? That sounds like an efficient market to me. Further, does anyone else enjoy watching those "Truth.com" commercials knowing that they're paid for by tobacco money? It's like an abusive spouse taunting you... "Look. Look how BAAAAD we are for you. And we LIE. Oh, yes, we LIE. But you still need us. Yeah, you do. Come on over and sit on our nicotine laps." I think it's great that our government still allows us the freedom to kill ourselves slowly! Johnny & Conor, I expect you two to check out before 2020, so keep puffing!

    By Blogger Chico's Bail Bonds, at 9:27 AM  

  • The over under on you is 2015, Chico. Keep eating.

    By Blogger Johnny Shades, at 10:17 AM  

  • Examples of mild fascism:

    - Military leaders discuss overthrowing an elected government.

    - The government threatens journalists.

    - Labor unions are made illegal

    Not examples of mild fascism:

    - Banning smoking.

    - Discussing a law to build a fence between the US and Mexico.

    By Blogger Wicketywack, at 12:04 PM  

  • Thank you.

    I've always been a strong proponent of mild liberty. You can check my record.

    By Blogger Wicketywack, at 12:51 PM  

  • Is the smoking ban in line with the libertarian platform of free markets and no government intrusion in personal lives? No, it's certainly not. Therefore, ideologically, I must object.

    But, do I want to be able to go to a bar and not have to take a shower and air out/wash every article of clothing I wore to rid myself of the cigarrette stench? Yeah, that would be nice.

    I'll sacrifice my ideals on this one.

    Most importantly, this comment is what Cafe 227 is all about. Nice work, Shades.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:54 PM  

  • Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Just not in a bar!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha! Yes I did!!!

    By Blogger red storm, at 12:56 AM  

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