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Grubble Grubble
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Thursday, August 15, 2002 :::
rant
I have been quiet about big tobacco. Ever since the states decided to sue big tobacco for money to help fund prevention and medical programs, I have remained fairly quiet. I used to smoke. I quit about 14 years ago. I can breathe again.
I am not going to rant about big tobacco now. I am going to rant about the distribution of big tobacco settlement money by the states. I have always felt that anyone who smokes now, does so knowing that it is unhealthy. If they die from lung cancer or any other smoking related illness, it is their own fault and their own choice. Don't cry to me.
A moment for a laundry list of spending:
The state of North Carolina gave farmer Keith Beavers $25,000 for new curing bins to help defray the costs of modernizing his tobacco farm. They have also spent $43 million to build a new tobacco auction house. A further $15,000 was donated to a tobacco museum to produce a video on the history of tobacco.
It gets better in New York. $700,000 was spent to install a new sprinker system at an upstate golf course.
Alabama has used its money, thus far, in an effort to lure auto manufacturers to the state. Now, that is not entirely bad. At least they are trying to strengthen their economy and create new jobs. However, they are also using tobacco money to fight satanic worship in public schools. *long pause* Satanic worship in public schools. I know when I think Satan, I think Alabama. Actually, I do. I did my basic training for the Army in Anniston, Alabama. In the summer. If it was not hell, it was just north of it. Still, I do not see satanic worship as a pervasive problem in Alabama. Call me crazy.
Finally, there is Nevada. They spent $2 million converting their public tv stations to digital broadcasting. Now, actually, I do not have issue with this. I support PBS and have volunteered at PBS stations. This is a good thing. I think.
A National Conference of State Legislatures report says that only 5 percent of the big tobacco money paid out went toward anti-smoking efforts. That does not instill trust in my heart for state legislatures. Quite the contrary, this gives evidence to support the duplicitous nature of those who would control our political futures.
Not only is the tobacco settlement money not being spent on prevention and medical programs, as promised, it is being used to funnel money back into tobacco production and pro-smoking programs. That is unconscionable. It is purely lying to their constituencies. These legislatures should be called to task and made to explain how this is justifiable.
You cannot legislate behavior. Bottom line. If people want to smoke, let them smoke. If you want to segregate them while they do for the health of those that don't want to smoke, that if fine by me too. Do not, however, vilify and talk about dismantling big tobacco only to turn around and support the very machine you proclaim to detest.
/rant
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