By Anthony Cash
The idea that an individual’s well-being is largely his or her own responsibility continues to lose favor in this century. For evidence of this, we need look no further than our hometown. The recent passage of Louisville’s smoking ban is yet another attempt to eliminate personal responsibility, relegating any and all decision-making to a higher authority.
A smoker knows of the inherent risks involved in his behavior, just as any motorcyclist knows that a person is much more likely to die on a motorcycle than in a car. Smoking is similar to any other pastime that involves an accepted level of risk. No one has banned rock-climbing on the West Lawn or tackle football in the quad, despite the danger posed to participants. When you’re scaling walls, as in most activities, it is ultimately a matter of personal responsibility to take care of yourself, to balance potential enjoyment with anticipated risk. Call it the sky-diving quotient.
Instead of issuing a smoking decree from on high, Louisville should explore a different option, one that lets individuals take responsibility for their own actions and choices. If a person dislikes smoking, he or she could support one of the many restaurants in Louisville that were smoke-free prior to the ban. If there truly existed a majority desire for smokeless establishments, then proprietors of smoking restaurants would reconsider their individual policies as they saw their customers going elsewhere.
As for those who work in such facilities, I can empathize, having spent four years working in a small, locally owned restaurant that allows smoking. Despite the constant smell of smoke in my clothes, I never looked for other employment because the money was good. I felt it was a fair trade-off for the dim haze I worked in most nights. If an employee of a business that allows smoking doesn’t reach the same conclusion, then they should seek alternative employment. Job openings in the food service industry are plentiful; surely such a person could find a job that is suitable to their particular wants or needs.
Ultimately, the problem is that we live in a world that encourages the shirking of responsibility and the placing of blame. Customers sue McDonald’s because the food made them obese, victims bring litigation against gun manufacturers because firearms are used irresponsibly, and countless cities ban smoking — all acting as if Americans weren’t aware of the dangers associated with these products and behaviors.
Big Macs will make a person fat. Guns are dangerous, and owners should lock them up and treat them with care. Smoking is bad for you, and even if you don’t smoke, you should be diligent and self-aware enough to avoid environments where other people are smoking.
These are simple issues, and we aren’t ignorant of their realities. Let’s quit encouraging politicians and judges to treat us as if we are.
Anthony Cash is a sophmore majoring in Political Science, and is a contributing writer for The Louisville Cardinal. E-mail him at:opinion@louisvillecardinal.com
