As Good As It Gets
The usual problem with zealotry is its inability to compromise, especially when it is getting 90-percent of what it wants. Most reasonable people understand that in politics, when you are working toward a goal there comes a point where what you get is as good as it will get so you take it and move on. The anti-smoking Indianapolis crowd is at that point.
They were politically out-foxed this week when outgoing Indianapolis City-Council President Ryan Vaughn introduced an ordinance that would ban smoking in all bar and taverns in the city, with the exception of hookah bars, tobacco shops, private clubs and cigar bars (full disclosure, I love those places).
By introducing his ordinance, Vaughn has not only taken the number of smoking establishments in the city down to about 60, but he has also boxed in his opponents by offering up the only measure that the Mayor will sign. The anti-smoking crowd was not ready for that. In fact, they weren’t expecting Greg Ballard to win re-election. (See my latest political cheat sheet for details and how politics can make for interesting political bedfellows).
Another way I can tell the anti-smoking crowd was caught off guard is that the usual political arrogance that comes with their position was notably missing from their news conference. My theory is that they don’t have the votes to override a Mayoral veto. Under Council rules you need a 2/3rds majority to override a veto, or 20 votes, and they don’t have them. If they had the votes, they would have gone ahead as if nothing was happening.
The only bright spot for the anti-smoking zealots is that the group, Indiana Bar Owners, is supporting their position for a total ban. Their logic is that if they can’t be grandfathered into any new proposal then they would rather not see smoking anywhere in the city. Not a ringing endorsement of the smoke-free folks, but an example of of someone expecting the political reality on the day.
If the anti-smoking people are smart, they will take the Vaughn-Ballard proposal and smile and shut up. They’re getting 90-percent of what they want. And unless they go into a hookah bar, cigar bar, private club or tobacco shop will never have to worry about being exposed to secondhand smoke and they will also know the only people being exposed to secondhand smoke are doing it by choice.
They couldn’t take the hint earlier this year at the Indiana Statehouse because they couldn’t compromise so they walked away with nothing. Hopefully this time around they can take a hint and realize this proposal is as good as it is going to get. They love to talk about how a smoking ban will save lives, I think they should recognize that they have one, and move on with theirs.
