terratogen wrote:
]
] I used to smoke. I stopped not because of health reasons, but
] because the tax hikes were too much to afford. If you don't
] like secondhand smoke, the fact that they have to pay a
] disproportionately higher amount of tax then you do, means you
] have to suffer it. They paid extra so you may breathe their
] bad air.

Not REALLY. The current trend is to abolish smoking from indoor establishments. Its gone from I think pretty much all government buildings, and just about the only places that allow it now are bars and some restaurants. I'm not sure how old you are, but I can recall a time (and its not that long ago) when smoking was alowed just about everywhere. The little "No Smoking" indicator in your overhead lights onboard airplanes? Once you were at crusing altitude, not only did the captain turn off the "fasten seatbelts" sign, but that as well. Yes those ashtrays in the arm rests that are welded shut were actually used at one point.

] If you hold the tobacco companies responsible, you
] must also find the government responsible. The Goverment is
] probably making a better profit in some states.

Most definately. There is a cartoon someplace of Jesse Helms holding out pack of cigs and under it the caption "Drug lord" LOL!

] Since these
] are tax dollars that you don't have to pay, you should start
] thanking random smokers who happen to be within breathing
] distance. They're killing themselves so you have less to pay.
] Just sit back and enjoy the FREE smoke that this poor
] asshole's hard earned dollars were spent to share.

Again, its not nearly as bad as it used to be. Now 99% of the time smokers have to go outdoors where its easier to get away from, which is fair IMO. But you smokers should be pissed - you are getting screwed over on a multitude of fronts... you're paying higher taxes per pack AND your options of where you can legally light up are diminishing.

Do like Terratogen and my dad did - quit.

RE: CNN.com - Vaccine halts lung cancer in small study - Feb. 19, 2004