Smoking In The Boys Room

The May 16^th primary is soon approaching, and I have one thing to say to the voters of Lexington Kentucky. That is, if you vote for Theresa Isaacs, or are planning to do so, I have one thing to say to you. If you all had one neck, I would hack it. No, that is not original, that is a quote from the histories of the Roman historian Tacitus, which he attributed to Gaius “Caligula” Caesar.

The last time the former Lexington City Council member ran for mayor, I defended her against charges that she was unfit, based on the fact that she had lost her children and was behind on her child support payments. It was said that this was a sign of a deceptive person, a person of bad character.

In her case, at least, the charges were correct. As soo as Issaacs won the election for mayor, for which she is now running as incumbent, she lost no time in pushing through a law that would ban cigarrette smoking in all bars and restaurants and all other public buildings. Not even a small smokers section was allowed. Funny, I don’t recall her campaigning on this issue. But so it goes. This is a perfect example of the philosophy of the American politician. Sometimes you have to make a clear cut decision, one way or another. Sometimes you either have to uphold the wishes of the majority, or you have to defend the rights of the minority. In many cases, there is no middle ground, suppossedly anyway. So, what to do in these cases?

The wishes of the majority-uphold them if it furthers your agenda

The rightsof the minoriy-defend them if it furthers your agenda.

Get the picture? I do, I think it’s called the old bait and switch. Whichever position is most convenient for you at an given time, you have a ready made excuse to fall back on. And so it goes in this case. Only here, the issue is, well, shrouded in smoke, as it is incresingly unclear who is the majority and who is the minority.

Oh well, who cares? Restaurant and bar owners, perhaps? Sure, they will make it, I guess, the better financed and established ones will anyway, the ones who can afford to adapt, the ones who can cut corners to make up loss profits. The higher class restaurants for the most part, of course, will still do fine. Perhaps more will come to take up the slack, I don’t know. Lexington does have some first class places, but there is always room for more. Perhaps a nice French restaurant. Humm, what should we call it?

Hey, I know- Robespierres.