The State of California's campaign against demon weed expanded into high gear on 1 January 1998. On that date, smoking became illegal in most of the state's 35,000 bars, as well as in card rooms and casinos.

The original smoking ban was passed in 1994. Citing dangers from second-hand smoke, supporters, including the California Labor Federation, backed the legislation as a worker safety measure. Starting in 1995, the prohibition applied to offices, restaurants and most other enclosed places of business. It was extended to bars and casinos after state officials failed to determine safe levels of exposure to tobacco smoke.

OK. Now that we are free from tobacco smoke in virtually all public places in the state, we might ask ourselves: What is behind such a law?

Offices, restaurants, and enclosed places of business are one thing, but bars?? Last time I checked, most of the people who go to bars either smoke, or don't mind the environment enough to stop coming. What's going to happen--and why bother with such a Draconian law?

I have two answers, neither of which are very pleasant to contemplate.

At first blush, we have what the police would call another tool for enforcement. Since it is clear that absolute enforcement of this law is not possible, the authorities now have carte blanche to harass any bar owner they don't like. Or, they can use the threat of enforcement to gain favors.

Tools of enforcement aren't necessarily bad. Maybe the local cop on the beat knows about all kinds of nefarious activities at the corner saloon, but has been unable to do anything about it. Now he can! Under the guise of smoking enforcement, he can torment the owner every day, forcing him to either change his ways or name names.

The second answer has to do with mankind's need for some sort of structure in their lives--rules of behavior, as it were. We used to call this "morality."

In the old days, laws of morality were based on the Ten Commandments. About 30 years ago, this fell out of fashion, and conventional morality became relativistic. That is, what is right or wrong depends on the situation. There are no longer any absolutes. People must become less "judgemental."

This trend has progressed to the point that a sizable percentage of college students won't even condemn the Nazis, because it's not up to them to to judge another's situation.

Like it or not, man IS a judgemental and discriminating creature. Whether we are deciding which brand of toothpaste to purchase, or which nanny to watch our kids, we are making judgements all the time. If the popular culture has determined that we can no longer exercise judgment in former moral areas, we simply judge other matters. These days, we need a "cause" other than conventional morality or objective truth.

Smoking is bad. In fact, it's about the worst thing one can do in public. Foods high in fat are bad (except Ben and Jerry's ice cream). If you don't like Toni Morrison's books for ANY reason, you are racist (except if you are black).

People support animal rights and the rights of nearly everything and everyone (except white heterosexual males).

In short, we've substituted a plethora of causes, some justifiable, and most ridiculous, for simple, basic morality.

To say that this society has lost its way would be a laughable understatement. But then, that would be judgmental.