Reflections on smoking vote

It appears that the recently defeated smoking ban was a classic case of fear mongering -- a classical case of liberalism, a for your own good policy, and an argument of taxpayer costs for health care due to smoking.

If we are going to ban habits based on what it costs taxpayers, it would seem that "junk food" costs taxpayers more due to medical costs than smoking.

A 2009 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with RTI International (a not-for-profit research group), found that the direct and indirect cost of obesity "is as high as $147 billion annually."

But this is not about health care costs, it's about political correctness and controlling business owners and citizens. It is about fundamental, God given rights that are protected by our Constitution.

God also gives each of us free will. You are free to over eat, you are free to enter a smoking facility, and you are just as free to choose not to.

Enough of this "nanny state!"

CLINT E. LACY, Marble Hill, Mo.