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Blogs Liberty and Power Tavern Wisdom

Mar 24, 2005

Tavern Wisdom

by Liberty and Power

Two nights ago on the Showtime Network Penn and Teller explored the lies behind the idea that second-hand tobacco smoke is so dangerous that it requires government to step in and hurt businesses as well as curtail individual choice. In one scene an unidentified New York City bar patron said the following: When fascism comes to America it will come wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope.

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M.D. Fulwiler - 3/27/2005

Studies have shown that a non-smoker will inhale the same amount of smoke that a smoker does by smoking one cigarette if he spends 200 hours in a very smoky bar. Clearly, secondhand smoke poses only the most minimal amount of risk, if it poses any risk at all. It still stinks and is unpleasant, but that's another issue.