I think what societies are missing is that middle ground between governing and private interaction. Groups that seek to better conditions for all, but not to bloat government or reduce personal freedoms.

I like to think that all the "get togethers" of the United States founding fathers were done in such a spirit. Neighbors getting together to make things better and seek consensus.

Reducing smoke in a neighborhood could be done voluntarily just as effectively as by decree. People are far more pliable and cooperative when someone isn't threatening them and is truly looking out for their best interests.

Congress, as a word, has lost it's meaning because of it's governmental association.

But a neighborhood congress can take place anywhere when several neighbors get together to try and improve their living conditions. If the neighbors were merchants, as many were in the old days, the congress was a dual meeting of capitalist businessmen and private homeowners. I think the power of people, with universal personal gain as the motive, will get far more mileage than rule by decree from up high with the point of a gun as the consequences for non compliance.

A fellow businessman and the public that buy from him can have far more positive sway on another businessman than can a governmental body.

Positive incentives work better than fines and punishments.

I'd be tempted to buy a smoke filter out of my own money if a community business emerged that made them available to the neighborhood and would profit from my patronage. I'd fight tooth and nail against such an expenditure if it was mandated by decree with funds going to bureaucrat looters threatening me with fines and jail.

Freedom should improve the quality of life for all in an intelligent society. The black sheep are easily corraled in such a society simply because they stand out in sharp contrast. In the end, self-interest serves the greater whole.