Post-Gazette Editorial – 2/11/07

This page was last updated on February 11, 2007.

Asides; Editorial; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; February 11, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“HERE’S a variation on ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’ In Pennsylvania, where there’s tobacco smoke, there’s disapproval. According to a survey done by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, a proposed ban on smoking in all Pennsylvania bars, restaurants and public places is supported by 60 percent of the public, with 37 percent opposed. Women support the ban more than men, but a majority of men are still for it. This finding should be taken as encouragement by weak-kneed legislators who are fearful of offending smokers and haven’t woken up to the fact that smoking is a dying habit -- in more ways than one. The only unfortunate part of the poll was that southwestern Pennsylvania was the only region to come out against the ban, with 51 percent opposed to it and 49 percent in favor. The poll director, Clay Richards, observed that people here are often more conservative than others elsewhere. ‘They don’t like change,’ he said. That truth could be the region’s epitaph.”

[RWC] I checked the questions asked in the poll. Though the poll asked, “There is a proposal to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants and public buildings in Pennsylvania. Do you support or oppose a ban on smoking in these places?”, the poll did not ask respondents why they answered the way they did. That seems like an important question to omit, don’t you think?

Perhaps aversion to change had nothing to do with “no” responses. Perhaps it had to do with property owner rights and the already existing ability of individuals to choose where they work, dine, drink, et cetera.

Regarding the comment about alleged aversion to change being “the region’s epitaph,” I haven’t seen that comment when local voters consistently elect liberals – either Democrat or Republican varieties – to office. Anyone care to guess why? <g>

Here’s another question the poll didn’t ask. Do you support making any use of tobacco illegal in Pennsylvania?