SMOKERS
Lawmakers shouldleave people alone
Its time for the lawmakers in this state to quit thinking they are God and judge over the people of Idaho. I am not and never have been a smoker. However, I feel that the smokers, while not doing anything illegal, are being treated like third-class citizens. They cannot go out to eat, go have a beer, go to the park. What next? Are you coming to their houses to arrest them for smoking in front of their families? I know the lawmakers think they are helping those who smoke to quit, when in reality they are taking away their rights and punishing the families of those who choose to smoke or cannot seem to give it up. Maybe those who overeat will be your next target.
We all want less government in our lives; let’s quit making all these laws that should in this free country be everyone’s personal choices.
The people of this state might think about making a personal choice of not voting for those who waste time and money making decisions for us.
DONA WOOD, Caldwell
It’s easy to quit
February is tobacco prevention month. Fact: Americans could prevent about one-third of all cancers by not using tobacco. Pretty amazing statistics, don’t you agree? During the past three years, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network has played a significant role in statewide smoke-free campaigns which protect the health of millions of workers and patrons. ACS CAN has been integral to achieving 23 smoke-free states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. This means 57 percent of the population lives under smoke-free laws at the local and state level. It also means that we are making it easier for smokers to quit. There are kits to help smokers quit once and for all. Just call 1-800-ACS-2345 or go online to www.cancer.org.
Together we can help our loved ones, co-workers, friends and community quit tobacco for good.
NATALIE DAY, Meridian
New law is good
I just want to say a big thank you to the Boise City Council for passing the laws that went into effect in January, making bars and nightclubs in Boise smoke-free. I love being able to enjoy Boise nightlife without being shut out of so many places like I used to be, since I didn’t want to be exposed to so much secondhand smoke. I don’t come home from an evening out smelling like an ashtray, and I no longer have to feel bad for the bar workers who used to have to inhale other people’s toxins all night long.
JAN MANDROIAN, Boise
THE CONSTITUTION
Labrador lawviolates freedoms
A number of readers have pointed out that a section (1022) of the NDAA legislation, signed into law on Dec. 31, violates the U.S. Constitution by authorizing indefinite detention of persons without due process of law. This clearly violates the “equal protection” clause of the 14th Amendment.
Legislation co-sponsored by Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador, HR 3146, section 101, also contains wording that limits the freedom of an employer to hire an immigrant at a wage the employer deems appropriate. Rather, it specifies a procedure that must be used to determine the wage for that individual! Outrageous!
How does legislation get to the floor of Congress with these blatantly unconstitutional provisions? Isn’t there a quality control group associated with Congress where bills are vetted for constitutional errors before being released to the floor? Clearly in these two cases constitutional quality control would have been beneficial.
A private sector company could not release and ship a product without quality control and expect to stay in business. Congress is in the business of creating constitutionally correct legislation. It needs to be of the highest quality.
CARL BOEHME, Boise
