Bread and Circuses.

You know what the main question economists get from man-on-the-street? “Why doesn’t the government just print enough money to make everyone rich?” An electorate who doesn’t intuitively know the answer to that question will continue to be fucked over by its political class.

The Peoples Republic of Minnesota voted for a state wide smoking ban in all work places a few years ago. This includes bars. Many rural neighborhood bars, especially in northern minnesota have been struggling financially and some just out right went out of business because of lost patronage. If people couldnt smoke in the bar, they would just buy off sale, sit at home and drink where they could light up. So, who really was effected by the smoking ban the most? People on the lower end of the economic ladder; your bartenders and waitresses. It is true that even in rural bars, bar staff can make very good money, (I know this to be a fact because I bartended for several years). However, 90% of the income that barstaff depend on are gifts (tips) from the customers. When customers stop going to bars, barstaff incomes go down.

The people of minnesota decided to take away a bar owners right of choice; to be a smoking bar, or a non-smoking bar. And in the end, it is the employee who suffers most.