Kathleen Porto – 12/7/06

This page was last updated on December 11, 2006.

Fight for our right to smoke; Kathleen Porto; Beaver County Times; December 7, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“I agree with Tuesday letter-writer Jack Krchmar who said our rights to smoke are being violated. They are, and I want to thank him for stepping up and saying something.

“I have always said we are losing our right to smoke because we have failed to fight for them, and a door has opened too easily to take a right away from us.

“Nonsmokers may be happy about this, but in the long run, they have opened the door to lose something they may not want to give up.

“Smokers, let’s fight for our right to smoke. There are enough of us to change this around. I am willing to do so.

“I agree with Krchmar. This should be decided by the vote of all the people, not just by the non-smokers, not just by a few.”

[RWC] Just as Mr. Krchmar mostly got it wrong in his letter, Ms. Porto gets it wrong. It’s about property rights, not smoker rights.

Tactically, folks like Ms. Porto and Mr. Krchmar make a mistake by incorrectly whining about “smoker rights.” Focus on the true issue, property rights, and they’d have a better chance.