HELLLLOOOOO PATRICK!!!!
Thanks for "Food For Thought" regarding Philip Morris....This will be long winded, but bear with me...I am a smoker, unfortunately..I do not say that with pride...I came from an era where you could be rich, successful, popular, sexy, sophisticated, smart, accepted.....OR NOT SMOKE...PERIOD..THERE WERE NO OTHER CHOICES AS FAR AS MOST OF US WERE CONCERNED, AND TOLD EVERY DAY!!...The implications were there and very strong. It was not only acceptable, but almost expected in some groups....What we didn't know at the time, was how terribly addictive smoking was...It has been proven over and over, that cigarettes/ tobacco addiction, can be as addictive, and possibly even surpass, the addiction to other drugs such as herion or cocaine. While the "withdrawal" symptoms are not as severe, it has been proven the craving lasts for many, over a lifetime, which is not always the case for stronger drugs...For those who have given up other "drugs", sometimes a change in the group they hang around with is all it takes after initial withdrawal....But for those getting off of tobacco products, one cannot just change "groups"...One only needs to go into any local store to see them lined up in all different shapes, sizes and brands, or go to a tavern, or even go outside in their workplace, where current smokers have to go...Talk about temptation staring you in the face...So, for those trying to break away from the tobacco addiction, everywhere they go, it is staring them in the face....And unlike other drugs addictions, such as alcohol or drugs (cocaine, herion, etc)...there are no half way houses or places of refuge to go in order to "dry out" and get away from it...While the gov. has finally acknowledged the addictive properties of cigarettes (which is funny, because most smokers have already known it), it has done nothing about it to help those really wanting to quit.
What is even worse, is what states like California have done in their last prop. They increased the tax on cigarettes $5.00 a carton, while the tobacco co. have also had to increase their price to pay for settlements, leading to over a 100% increase in the price of cigarettes...And there is rumor that the Federal govt. may also impose another tax increase soon.
What makes me angry, is the California prop. was started and pushed by Rob Reiner, the actor/director, an anti-smoker, who has major ties, with some very powerful groups....In Calif., only maybe 20% people smoke....So, the smokers did not stand a chance...It is my opinion, that this was totally unfair, but an easy way, once again for California to RAPE a group in order to gain more taxes...What is sad, is if you look at real statistics, you will find in California, that it is mostly the lower class that smoke (myself, not included in that group, but am there anyway in smoking), like everything else, they use that vice just to cope...While the more affluent are able to go out and eat at restaurants, plan trips, buy things, etc., as life is much better for them...I know of many people who have had to cut their "living budgets" in order to make up for the increase...And it really makes me angry to see that happen....There's a little less milk for the week for their kids, and a little less meat...Because like it or not....The money that was there to go around for the week, has been thrown out of balance....And like it or not....The truth is....Anyone who smokes more than a half a pack of cigarettes a day is addicted!!! The gov. knows that, the tobacco industries know that....So while states like California tout the good they are doing.....TRUST ME, THEY AREN'T DOING ANY GOOD!!! JUST FINDING ANOTHER WAY TO COME UP WITH MORE $$$$ FOR THE STATE!!! NOT ONE PENNY OF THE EXTRA TAXES WILL BE GOING TO ANY KIND OF PROGRAM TO HELP THE SMOKERS STOP!!! WHY?????? BECAUSE IF THEY REALLY DO STOP....THE TAXES WILL STOP...AND WE WILL IMPACT THE TOBACCO COMPANIES...IT IS ALL BS...THEY JUST WANT THE $$$$..HOW CAN A GOVERNMENT TAKE A STAND AGAINST TOBACCO COMPANIES AND PEOPLE BUYING IT WHEN THEY ARE STILL SUBSIDIZING THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY!!!!!!! THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE FOLKS..AND IT IS MY OPINION THAT A NON-SMOKER SHOULD NOT EVER BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION REGARDING SMOKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ODDS ARE SO TILTED...I have stated, that if the extra tax dollars were going to go into direct programs to help smokers stop, then I might have actually voted yes...BUT, THERE IS NO WAY THEY WOULD DO THAT....because that means less $$$ for tobacco industries, and less $ for taxes...They don't want us to stop, they just want the $$$...Use it to introduce half-way houses, and I may have voted....But not a single nickel in Cal. as far as I know, is geared to helping any smoker stop!!! GUESS WHY FOLKS!!!!! CAUSE THEY WANT YOU TO KEEP ON SMOKING TO PAY THE TAXES IT GENERATES..
Reminds me of the prop. that was passed for emission control for out-of-staters...If your vehicle did not have a special metal tab that stated it was California Missions control passed, you had to pay an extra $300 on top of the regular license fees to get your car on the road...IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT YOUR VEHICLE PASSED, AND DIDN'T EVEN COME UP TO 30% OF THE ALLOWABLE FOR EMMISIONS...AND YOU PASSED WITH SUCH FLYING COLORS, IT WASN'T FUNNY....It still meant that it would cost you an extra $300, even when your vehicle was doing better than most California vehicles on the road....OF COURSE THE CALIF. PEOPLE VOTED ON IT, AS IT DIDN'T AFFECT THEM...EVEN THOUGH IT MADE NO SENSE....it was just another way to "RAKE IN" millions for no other reason than you didn't have the "CA" ok....So, while you weren't polluting, or even coming close to polluting, you still got hit up big time, and punished!!! WE ARE BACK AGAIN TO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!
COMMENTS ANYONE???? WHEW....SORRY, I AM FINALLY DONE!!! lol SOMEONE, GIVE ME A PODIUM FOR THIS!!!!
Take care all....HAPPY READING.
GINNY
PS: I thought rape was against the law!!!! |
