Less Government is Best Government... Well Maybe

[hal beadling]

If they were henna tattoos I wouldn't have had an objection. At least, they aren't permanent. Does their health permit fee adequately cover the cost of regulation? Or, do you believe that this cost should be born by all county taxpayers who choose not to tattoo or pierce themselves? We regulate a lot of things that I disagree with. I probably shouldn't have injected my personal opinion of tattoos, though. However, when I patronize a tavern or any business establishment, there is a regulation posted from the state that says I am not allowed to smoke in their establishment, even though we pay dearly to engage in this legal activity and the business owner wants to allow it. Talk about freedom. What is the definition harm? Can a business choose to have a policy not to hire those with a visible tattoo? Let's say that you own a local bar/restauarant and you have a thriving business of regulars and all of a sudden these freaky looking people with visible tattoos and body piercings start to frequent your establishment. Let's say that your free spending regular clientele don't like the looks of this new crowd, nor can they relate to them on a philosophical basis. Let's say that your regular clientele begins to go elsewhere because you are not allowed to choose who you allow in the door. Are you with me here? Let's say that your new customers don't spend nor occupy as many seats as your former customers. Let's say that your former business model that worked so well in the past is now on the verge of bankruptcy. What say you, now? Maybe you could just ban those with known gang symbols tattooed on them? Oh, that's right, that would be restricting their first amendment right of free expression. Here are a few extreme examples of free expression