The True Enemies of Human Society - Essay Example

The smoke-free laws are based on the rationale that it is fundamental to protect people from the effects of second-hand smoke and such people run the risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, emphysema, etc. The strong evidence of the link between passive smoking and lung cancer reminds everyone about the importance of controls over smoking in public places. According to Michael Calnan, “Control over smoking in public places has become of increasing importance as a measure which governments might adopt, mainly because of the attention given to the increasingly strong evidence of a link between passive smoking and lung cancer than CHD. Certainly, it is a measure that might be favored by those who place great emphasis on the freedom of the individual and who are antagonistic towards more direct government intervention through fiscal policy or controls on tobacco promotion.” (Calnan, 56) Therefore, I strongly believe that smoking in public places must be checked by stronger governmental intervention because it is highly harmful to non-smokers, it causes pollution of public places, and it is a strong case of violation against individual liberty.

Smoking in public places should be prohibited because such practices illustrate strong cases of violation against individual liberty, and public smokers not only challenge the health issues of the people around, them but also the basic freedom of human beings to live a healthy life. Whereas there are already strong oppositions against such practices, I feel there should be stronger activities to counter these practices of apparent violation of basic human rights. The regulatory activities to limit smoking in public places have been on a tide over the past few decades which include a variety of both public and private sector initiatives. “More recently, antismoking efforts have been fueled by growing evidence of adverse health effects associated with passive or involuntary smoking and the 1986 Surgeon General’s Report. Private polls show that a majority of American citizens now support the rights of nonsmokers and favor policies that ensure those rights.” (Godish, 328-9) Therefore, smoking in public places is strongly opposed by people across the country and I request you to join this mass movement against all the practices, including smoking in public places, which degrade human rights and liberty and challenge healthy living in safe surroundings. Most essentially, smoking in public places must be prohibited because it is highly harmful to non-smokers, it causes pollution of public places, and it is a strong case of violation against individual liberty. Let us all join hands to counter one of the basic issues affecting safe and uncontaminated social living, and challenging the human rights to healthy living and individual freedom. Read More