The Story


Questions for Debate:

1.) Is using political office to promote personal opinion acceptable?

2.) Was she just proving a point or was she abusing her authority? Perhaps both?

3.) Were her actions justified? Was she right in saying "once you start toying with people's liberties, you never know where it might end"?

4.) Did she go to an unneeded extreme to vocalize her thoughts on the issue?

Caveat: I like smoking in DC Bars.

1.) Is using political office to promote personal opinion acceptable?

Yes, it's the point. But concurrent with that is the idea that your personal opinions were known when elected.

2.) Was she just proving a point or was she abusing her authority? Perhaps both?

She was just proving a point. If you've ever listened to Ms. Schwartz speak, you get the impression she may smoke several packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day, possibly washing them down with straight bourbon. She's also the lone? Republican on the DC city council, a very liberal city, which pretty much puts her in the old school of "keep your hands off my money and leave me alone" conservatism. I dare say that, if it were a viable option, she'd be a member of another party now.

3.) Were her actions justified? Was she right in saying "once you start toying with people's liberties, you never know where it might end"?

Darn Tootin'. I've always liked her (even though she usually votes against my pay raise). She usually personally responds to emails within a week. Seeing this quote has improved my already favorable estimation of her.

4.) Did she go to an unneeded extreme to vocalize her thoughts on the issue?

Not at all. The DC council seems much more informal than many, and despite the recent puritanical bent of some of the current members, they all know they'd never get re-elected if they made DC a 'dry' town. Furthermore, DC is trying strike a delicate balance between rennaissance and anti-gentrification, and requires the money of young singles and couples spending money in, and hopefully moving to, the district. A vibrant nightlife is a requisite for this. I think the smoking ban is a dumb idea, and is only entertained because of the artificial scarcity of bar space in the district. If you are lucky enough to own a on-site liquore license in DC, you have a license to print money.