Where is the 'Land of the Free?'

Editor,

Once again, I see the political correctness crowd imposing their agenda on smokers with the restriction on smoking in restaurants, rather than letting the owners make the decision themselves. This country is supposed to be the Land of the Free, yet more and more I see an influx of people who think it is their duty to impose their morality on the rest of us.

I value my freedoms, and mourn the passing of freedoms we have taken for granted in the past. Where is my freedom to not wear a seat belt, or a motorcycle helmet? What about the freedom to only associate with like minded people in a private club? Or the freedom to smoke in a restaurant if the owner is willing to serve me?

Why do I feel my freedoms are being eroded for my own good? Am I not the best person to decide what is in my best interests?

Secondhand smoke has not been scientifically proven to be the deadly killer that the mainstream press labels it as. And the decision to allow smoking sections or not should rest with the restaurant owners. Let them decide which path will generate the most returns in their individual businesses. Let them vote with their bank statements, I then will vote with my feet.

Rich Beauchamp

Polson