-Caveat Lector- ------- Start of forwarded message ------- From: Libertarian Party Announcements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fwd: LP RELEASE: New York cell phone ban Date: 11/14/02 1:53:17 PM
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =============================== NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org =============================== For release: November 14, 2002 =============================== For additional information: George Getz, Communications Director Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== Libertarians ridicule New York City proposal for government-mandated "cell phone etiquette" WASHINGTON, DC -- New York City politicians are considering the nation's first proposal to outlaw cell phone calls during movies, concerts and Broadway plays – but Libertarians say social pressure would be a better way to deter such rude behavior. "Picture Miss Manners with a gun, and you have some idea why this proposal is an overreaction," said George Getz, Libertarian Party communications director. "Civilized people can deal with minor annoyances without further empowering the Nanny State." This month the New York City Council is expected to consider a bill that would impose a $50 fine on anyone who makes or receives a call, or fails to turn off the phone's ringer, during an indoor performance at a theater, art gallery, concert hall or library. If passed in New York, the "cell phone etiquette" law could spread rapidly to other states, industry observers predict. Last year, after New York became the first state to ban using a cell phone while driving, 31 other state legislatures considered similar regulations. But the real question raised by the New York proposal, Libertarians say, is: "Should bad manners be illegal?" "There are plenty of other ways to deter someone who's gabbing on a cell phone during a movie, starting with giving them a dirty look, tapping them on the shoulder and asking them to stop, or even asking the manager to do so," Getz said. "When it comes to making people behave, social disapproval works much more efficiently than writing another law." Besides, enforcing such a measure could pose more problems than the "crime" itself, Libertarians say. "Imagine every movie theater equipped with cell phone cops who bolt down the aisle every time a ringer goes off, demand a drivers license from the offender, and issue a ticket," Getz said. "With an army of phone fighters disturbing the peace, patrons will soon long for the days when an occasional cell phone ring was their greatest annoyance. "Besides, if politicians are going to target people who talk on a cell phone during a movie or play, what about obnoxious people who talk aloud and aren't using a cell phone? Or people who butt in line to buy tickets; take too long to decide what kind of popcorn to buy; or teen-agers who smooch in the back row of the theater? "Once you put politicians in charge of defining rude behavior, expect the list of annoying behaviors to grow." That's why the best way to ensure cell-phone etiquette is to put private individuals and businesses in charge, Libertarians say. "Many private businesses already prohibit customers from eating, drinking, using foul language and other rude behaviors, so they can simply add using a cell phone to the list if they desire," he said. "In fact, simply encouraging every business to implement its own policy might solve the problem instantly. People who find cell phones annoying could patronize cell-phone free theaters, stores, and restaurants. Meanwhile, people who insist on yakking loudly on their phones would get exactly what they deserve: the company of other people just as obnoxious as they are. "There's no reason to hire more cops to impose cell phone etiquette. Let's urge New Yorkers to disconnect this ridiculous proposal before it spreads to other states." -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBPdQZWdCSe1KnQG7RAQF2tQQAimJRQqLunhFZp62+++1pj0BakkulPtSu fYiq/pAYx5eM1r64mkRjuXQcKC9g0pEPG2W86k7ITD00oi5ZqmIu/BFLdA1iNMt4 X7N1A/GQJvcapg+edXbAvP0wSiRoktaKmEGgV4/lzulFM4a7ybz3OgbFfXTdfdRP rAzJuwhAPlU= =ha8K -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For subscription changes, please use the WWW form at: http://www.lp.org/action/email.html -------- End of forwarded message -------- From ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; I don't believe everything I read or send (but that doesn't stop me from considering it; obviously SOMEBODY thinks it's important) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. 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