By Gary Patton Douglas, Alaska
Since a significant number of Californians regularly involve themselves in Alaskan environmental issues, I feel it is my duty to weigh in on Santa Monica’s passing of an outdoor smoking ban at the pier, beaches and local bus stops. First, as an American and an individual, I have to ask, “are the majority of people in Santa Monica and all of The People’s Republic of Southern California for that matter, really card carrying collective social fascists? Or is it just the individuals you elect to public office?”
The mayor and supporting city council members say the new law is needed to protect the environment. Huh? From what, the toxic effects of cotton, the primary content of cigarette filters? Or are they possibly concerned about the leaching effect a decomposing cigar butt in the sand will have on overall water quality in the Pacific Ocean? And oh yeah, I suppose it is plausible that all of that cigar, pipe and cigarette smoke might be contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming right? Give me a break.
No, the real issue here doesn’t have anything to do with the health effects of second-hand smoke or the environment. The real issue for Santa Monica is when are you people going to wake up from your chai tea and yoga hangovers and stop allowing government to control, tax, monitor and dictate every aspect of your increasingly freedom restricted lives?
Do you, as voters and constituents of these unabashed social engineers, ever stop to consider what happens every time you relinquish and give up individual freedoms and liberties in the name of the supposed collective good? No matter how these issues are presented and argued, or how well intentioned the individuals and special interests pushing these invasive social agendas may be, these types of laws and ordinances are an affront to personal choice, responsibility and freedom — the very ideals and principles upon which this country was founded. Principles which Santa Monica’s elected officials just might need to be reminded of during the next election.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 30, 2004. Read the original PDF.