CUCKOO'S NEST

The shrinkage of private space continues apace. On Jan. 1, California --
that strange place where the future arrives on the planet -- refined the
modern social-engineering project even further by banning cigarette smoking
almost everywhere except in the home. No doubt, bylaws for home smoking are
just a matter of time.

In fact, Colorado legislators are drawing up a bill that would make it
illegal to smoke in a car that also contained a child. Soon, it seems, as
the armies of the new puritanism conquer more and more psychic territory,
there will be no private space left where we can indulge what habits we
like. As a consequence, we predict a great increase in mental illness.

Which, of course, will require an even greater state presence in our lives.
A corps of visiting Nurse Ratcheds, perhaps.

Copyright 1997 The Ottawa Citizen