Post-Gazette letter to the Editor

This letter was published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As the Post-Gazette is a rabid supporter of smoking bans, they elected to publish it on a holiday in which government offices were closed. On such a holiday it would be less available to politicians who were not in their office where they get the news. The Post-Gazette also titled the letter "Anti-smoking zealots are free to move to France". The author of the letter made no such reference and disagrees with the title. Since hatred is one of the many motivators of anti-smoker zealots, they attempted to show the letter was hatred inspired. One only need read the letter to see it is informational in an attempt to awaken the apathetic.

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
--George Orwell

POST-GAZETTE ARTICLE 1/21/08 MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08021/850855-35.stm

Anti-smoking zealots are free to move to France

France went smoke-free ("France Stubs Out Smoking," Jan. 3); they have a history of capitulation to fascism.

Government-imposed smoking bans breach the freedoms on which this country was founded. Siding with special-interest groups that have spun data by twisting science and manipulating the English language is not government's job. As a republic, government exists to secure and protect pre-existing rights. Democracy is tyranny of the majority and the reason our Founding Fathers secured a republic, not a democracy. Freedom is the absence of government coercion.

In a free society, all people have individual freedoms and that includes making choices of their own. The free market should allow private property to remain private and not claim it to be "public places."

If the government applied critical thinking rather than emotional reaction to this issue, it would be mute.

Science is composed of evidence, not opinion of tainted "experts." A little investigation would quickly reveal no merit to use the force of law to control the choices of individuals and private businesses.

Freedom of religion should include no laws imposing the dogma of anti-smoker zealots onto free people and business. As with any religion, they are free to believe as they wish.

ROBERT GEHRMANN
Pennsylvania State Coordinator
Citizens Freedom Alliance/Smokers Club International
Crafton