In the mid 1960s the government forced a warning label to be placed on each and every package and carton of cigarettes sold that informed the world smoking may be hazardous to the smoker’s health. The tobacco companies protested and the people cheered because “big daddy” that cures all ills had taken measure of the evil smoke making companies. Never mind that tobacco farming was and is subsidized by the self same government. Did smoking decline by any appreciable amount? Not according to the statistics but not to worry says the government. “Like the camel we now have our big snout under the tent,” says the poobahs of do it our way or else! The masses cheered and said it is about time government did something about the blue haze producing evil.

As the years wore on, a few of those called trial lawyers filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of the “blue haze” because the people were “forced to smoke” by the evil doers of tobacco land. Admittedly, the ads for tobacco products were slick looking and promoted social acceptability and glamour. But doesn’t personal responsibility for choices count in being “forced to smoke?”

People filing lawsuits won big awards and the government won even bigger amounts through settlements wherein the government forced the companies to settle or go out of business by going broke, as in belly up, bankruptcy, Chapter 7. Through slick negotiations the government agreed to accept money from the companies to begin programs to educate the young who weren’t smoking, the young who were smoking, and the older ones who would smoke no matter what, on the evils of smoking. All this designed to reduce the use of tobacco products.

Government poobahs being what they are suckered the tobacco companies. Cities and states were suffering a budget crunch at the time the big money from the settlements, increased taxes, and higher priced tobacco (produced more taxes)  products came rolling into their coffers. You can guess what happened? You are right. That money was used to offset budget shortfalls and to fund new programs. Apparently the need for tobacco education wasn’t needed much anyway.

Now here comes the shear madness of the con job. All the while the government is grabbing all the funds they can from tobacco companies, and the higher taxes paid by smokers due to higher prices, they are still trying to reduce tobacco use. A news report of March 8, 2006, said that cigarette sales are at a 55 year low. Well and good health wise as is seen in the following quote: "It is not a coincidence that cigarette sales are down and fewer people are smoking. The Master Settlement Agreement was designed to protect the public and reduce cigarette consumption -- and it does just that," said Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Yes it was and it did ... but ... now here is the question that must be asked: “What will fund all the government programs being paid for by tobacco products when smoking and other tobacco use are for all intents and purposes eliminated? Do I hear the words Higher Taxes? I thought I did.”

It is always shear madness when the government sets out to protect us from those things that aren’t any of its business and Sorting It Out isn’t too difficult when taking into account the mentality of the poobahs when they smell money; or maybe it’s the  “blue haze” they smell in this case.”

© 03-09-2006 DEC