Mises? Hmmmmm, is this libertarian lit? My roommate in Rome was, and she gave me some stuff to read. I did, but I don't remember who wrote it.

-Dolce

Listen, I think I've made it pretty clear that I am alot more comfortable addressing social issues than economic and international ones. Yes, in the social realm, I believe to each his own, and I don't believe it is the government's job to advocate some of it over the other's. But as to labor, education, etc. No, I'm not so sure where I stand on what the government should or shouldn't be doing. Though, as of late, I am getting more and more sure of what it shouldn't be doing. I guess I let the candidates set the discussions on that and I just listen. While most people's hiearchy of voting issues tended to put stuff like gay marriage and stem cell research at the bottom of the list, that's still ontop of mine. Probably because I have a stronger vision of where I think this ocuntry should be when it comes to civil liberties. Something I don't have as clear an image of in other situations.

-Dolce

In Italy you'd wait hours in line at the bank and the teller would just sit back, relax, and suck down a ocuple cigs. Honestly, it doesn't bother me too much, so I'm with Tony on this one. I think its pretty unappetizing when eating, but frankly, that's the restaurant's call. If all they do is get smokers, and everyone else who could appreciate their cooking has gone elsewhere, then they'll have to make the call to keep it that way of not. I've never seen a restaurant where the plates are really expensive, that allows smoking. The restaurant considers it something that could ruin subtle tastes of food, etc. Mostly, smoking I've seen (In Chicago, because Boston and NY didn't have it) has been in diners and some coffee shops. It didn't bother me, I just went elsewhere if I didn't want to deal with it. I guess I don't have nearly as big an issue with banning smoking in restaurants and public buildings as I do in bars. Public buildings, people are not their by choice. If you need to get your drivers license, you can't just up and go somewhere else to get it if you don't like breathing second hand smoke. So there shouldn't be smoking there. But privately owned businesses. Its your call. Bars...I've just noticed that in bars were a couldn't smoke I end up drinking waaaaaay more (I know...shocker). So bars probably would do it on purpose just to make more money, lol. But I do think there should be some recreational spaces for it, and late night establishments that 11 year olds don't wonder into would actually be the best place. Plus, I could not picture a rockabilly bar with The King playing in the background not being at least a little bit smoky.

-Dolce

I find it incredibly hard to believe that we practically disagree on every single issue and you still think I'm in the closet of your political ideology. Maybe you're just a closet Democrat???? Ever think of that? I mean, you did vote Nader originally right? Lat I checked the Greens weren't all that closely associated with the Rupblicans.

-Dolce

Oh c'mon. There's a big difference with saying marriage is open ended and can be defined by the individuals and religious institution that they are constituents of, and saying "Marriage is only between a man and a woman." Excuse me but those liberal's definitions are more open ended, and do in fact remove the government from making the decisions, instead placing it in the hands of the institution. The government's job is just to respect that institution's ultimate decision. That is a bit different of a definition of marriage than a constitutional amendment that pretty much says, "Hey Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, we don't care what you decided is okay for your followers. We're not going to recognize it on a civic level."

-Dolce