Re: Radon Field Day & Smoke-free Ordinances

[maury <maury@WEBTEXAS.COM>]

A representative democracy, a constitutional government will survive

only when it is clear to all that the goals or results of that

government are limited. The Founders of this nation set these goals to

center upon the preservation of inherent individual liberties and to

prevent encroachment upon these liberties by a central government. When

the citizens move in the direction of seeking an unlimited menu of

goals, then government must expand toward equally unlimited power and

scope. The ultimate result of this process is socialism and a

totalitarian government.



I have been dismayed to watch 20 to 30 postings on these threads rail

against my earlier remarks as though I had proposed: no government, no

speed limits, that I advocated without qualification that the best

government is the least government, no DUI sanctions, no traffic

controls, no zoning, no plumbing codes, absolutely free smoking, no

licensing, no health regulations, no criminal laws, and so on. I

apologize for my lack of clarity, but I do believe that any collection

of scientists and engineers such as those on this List know full well

that no such extremes were even suggested. Obviously, compromises are

required among any collection of people who wish to live together; as

also are required so-called common sense and mutual consideration.

Government can provide a venue for these compromises; government cannot

fulfill your every whim which you think should be taken care of .... nor

can it fulfill mine -- no matter how obviously good and valid the

reasons might seem.



Of course, if any one wishes to extend the list begun on this thread (as

shown above), then you may progress ever closer to an unlimited menu for

which you will enjoy a government having unlimited power and scope --

you will be relieved of the effort to make choices; e.g., your toilet

tank will by government decree have only a single capacity and, just

think, thermostats might only have a single value so you will never

again have to think about adjusting it, and so on. Some would suggest

that, after all, government does know best.



'Nuf said. Again I'm sorry for providing sufficient confusion to have

afforded any stimulation of this radon/smoking thread in the direction

it has gone.

Sincerely,

Maury                      maury@webtexas.com



----------------------

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the

press.                                           Charles M. Province





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