UNCOMMON CENTS 89

I HAVE HAD IT! ENOUGH OF THE CAMPAIGN TO STRIP INDIVIDUALS OF THEIR PERSONAL RIGHT TO SMOKE. RATHER THAN CHAMPION FREE CHOICE AND A VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION TO CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS, (WHICH COULD SERIOUSLY RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY) POLITICIANS, POLICY WONKS, DO-GOODERS AND SOCIALISTS TRY TO INTIMIDATE SMOKERS AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE THAT ‘THE CAUSE" LOOKS OUT FOR THEIR WELL BEING. FOLLOW THE MONEY. IF IT WERE NOT FOR A TRAIL OF IT, THE PRESSURE TO QUIT WOULD BE LESS. A WISCONSIN PROFESSOR IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS TRANSPIRING IN THE WORLD OF PROGRAMS AND LEGAL INITIATIVES TODAY. HE RECEIVES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY PROMOTING DRUGS THAT HELP PEOPLE STOP SMOKING AS WELL AS SPEAKING OUT FOR SMOKING CESSATION. HE COLLECTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, FROM CONSULTING FEES, FROM A RESEARCH FIRM AND FROM THE DRUG INDUSTRY. WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF HE IS CONVINCED OF THE DANGERS OF SMOKING OR IF HE SMOKES HIMSELF? THE 400,000 AMERICANS ( HOW ACCURATE IS THIS NUMBER?) WHO ARE KILLED BY CIGARETTE SMOKING EACH YEAR AND THE 45 MILLION (WHO COLLECTS THIS DATA?) WHO SMOKE ARE JUST A METHAPHORICAL SMOKE SCREEN FOR HIS TRUE MOTIVATON - MONEY.

FOLLOW THE MONEY. ARTIFICIAL AIDS TO STOP SMOKING AS OPPOSED TO NO MEDICAL HELP RESULT IN THE SAME PERCENTAGES OF SUCCESS. AFTER 3 MONTHS, 30% ARE SMOKING FREE. AFTER 9 MONTHS, 15% HAVE STILL QUIT. ONLY MONEY ACCOUNTS FOR THE DRUG INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIANS TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING. COLD TURKEY RENDERS THE SAME RATES OF SUCCESS AS ARTIFICIAL AIDS. I'M OPPOSED TO MY TAX DOLLARS ENRICHING OTHERS NOT TO PRIVATELY SPONSORED PROGRAMS.

SOME INDIVIDUALS - AND I'VE BEEN AROUND THEM FOR DECADES - LIKE TO SMOKE. WANT TO SMOKE. ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR BEHAVIOR. THEY CHOOSE TO SPEND ON THEIR HABIT. I QUOTE A SMOKER FORCED TO ENJOY HER HABIT OUTDOORS. "LOOK, I EAT CRAP, I SMOKE, I’M FAT. I CAN KEEP ON OR JUST JUMP IN A RIVER WITHOUT A LIFE VEST. IT’S ALL THE SAME." DON’T YOU JUST LOVE HER VERSION OF AMERICAN SELF-RELIANCE? SOME SMOKERS LEAD WITH THEIR CONVICTIONS UNLIKE POLITICIANS WHO FOLLOW THE WIND OF THE PUBLIC OPINIONS OF ELITES AND SOCIAL ENGINEERS.

HINT: IT'S YOUR CHOICE. WATCH YOUR MONEY GO UP IN SMOKE OR PUT IT TO ALTERNATIVE USES.