God bless'em.  They are a vital part of our democracy and we should admire them for their passion, but let's be honest, after awhile the notion that "government has no business sticking its nose into my business" begins to wear a little thin.

   If this crowd had its way there would be no stop lights, no seat belts, no ban on text messaging and more recently, no newly enacted ban on smoking in public places.

   Yes smokers have rights, but not the right to "murder" anyone with their second hand smoke…so goes the argument from the other side.

   There are times when government should play a role and 70% of the folks in this here state are in effect telling the "keep your nose out of my business" crowd to stuff it.  Last time anyone checked, the majority rules although these folks favor minority rule because they know they are right.

   Michigan now joins the ranks of 38 other states with a ban on smoking with the exception of the three Detroit casinos. The anti-tobacco lobby didn't like it, but sucked it in for fear of ending up with nada.

    The "nose" folks should actually be rejoicing because they are also the same folks who whine on about sending too much of their hard earned moola to Lansing.  This ban will save them money.

   If secondary smoke is reduced, then the medical costs for those who get sick from it, will go down thus placing less strain on an already skyrocketing health care system.

   It is cheaper to plop a "No Smoking" sign in a bar than it is too keep someone alive on a respirator.

   Oops.  Sorry.  That's a bit of logic which is a no-no for the "nose" brigade.