To the editor:

I don’t know which disgusts me more, a City Commission that feels it doesn’t have to discuss a compromise on the smoking ban or the Appeal to Reason and Tolerance Coalition in its decision to disregard the 5,000 people who signed their petition.

People’s rights and freedoms are the larger issue. I can’t imagine myself voting for elected officials bent on dictating their narrow ideas to the public. I also can’t imagine myself backing the coalition of whiners when the city declares a ban on smoking within 50 feet of a bar or restaurant or when the commission decides that live music will damage the hearing of employees or even when the Gestapo decides that bars need to close at 10 p.m.

Ric Burke,

Lawrence