To the Editor:
I am curious if Jon Wisniewski '07 intended his column against the proposed ban on smoking in New Hampshire restaurants as satire ("Not a Fan of a N.H. Smoking Ban," Feb. 22). His comment that employees of such establishments who don't want to breathe second-hand smoke should "bug their bosses" to change the policy smacks of either a bad joke or of someone who has never held a job in which his boss wasn't mommy or daddy.
Out here in the real world, the bosses will listen to you and make an economic business decision. Most will say, "Stop bugging me and get back to work." The worst will simply say, "You're fired."
This proposed law has nothing to do with reducing the number of smokers (at least not directly), and has everything to do with protecting the health of those who work in and frequent bars and restaurants. As a former waiter and bartender, I could and did choose to work in a smoke-free bar, but not everyone has the luxury of picking and choosing among multiple places that wish to hire them. Like most low-paid hourly workers, I had no private health insurance. Those costs would fall to the State of New Hampshire! I'd call that a compelling interest.
There is a choice for opponents of the ban. Either no smoking in restaurants, or your tax dollars can pay for my medical care.
