Just got done watching the local news where the head of the local American Lung Association had the audacity to say that "California voters were fooled by "Big Tobacco."

What an arrogant jackass.

To the contrary we knew EXACTLY what we were voting against.

I heard this discussed once, very briefly, on talk radio and I can't recall who it was. Anyway, it was said that so many people disagree with heavy taxation that they'll even cross over to oppose taxes on cigarettes, even if they agree with anti-smoking.

I take this to indicate that the majority of people, when left alone to make up their own mind, don't think that the government has the right to interfere in consumer decisions with the burden of taxation.

The only ones doing the fooling and lying were the taxers. The lie was...."send a message to big tobacco". What a crock of shit. Big tobacco doesn't pay a dime of the tax that was proposed here in the left coast (Kalifornia). It all gets passed on to the smokers. How the hell do these freaking liars keep getting away with the same shit over and over?

Dear friends we welcome you in our online cigarettes store

www.cigarettes-sale-online.com

cheap marlboro cigarettes $11
cheap camel cigarettes $9.5
cheap winston cigarettes $8.5

delivery to the USA within 14 days!

I just wish Texas voters had a choice on the recent dollar a pack Increase.. I'm still miffed big time!

I don't understand why the spam messages are still here.

I just wonder how long it's going to take people to realize that there really isn't a "Big Tobacco" anymore. There are multi-national conglomerates that can afford to lose their tobacco tentacle, and there's "Little Tobacco."

For "BIG," look to Big Pharma and Big Government, who are the forces behind the anti-tobacco lobby in the first place.

If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid of them. Together, they kill far more people than smoking ever has, and on top of that, they want your freedom.

Robert is correct. (see below)


Supporters press lawmakers to pass statewide smoking ban

The Associated Press

ST. PAUL - Hundreds of smoking opponents descended on the Capitol Tuesday as part of a push organized by large health insurers and other anti-smoking groups.

"Take a deep breath; our work has just begun," DFL Sen. Kathy Sheran of Mankato told the crowd.

About 10 counterprotesters showed up, some holding signs that equated a smoking ban with Soviet Union-style government oversight.

One of them, Lia Nistler of Watkins, said a ban would hurt her bar, Shorty & Lia's Laborer's Lounge, where about 70 percent of the customers smoke. She predicted layoffs, shorter hours of operations and the loss of business from dart leagues and charitable gambling.

"We're your neighborhood bar," Nistler said. "We fight for every customer."

Still, most smoking opponents said a ban should apply to all workplaces — including bars.

"I don't think it's right for people to smoke in public places where we have to smell it or get affected by it," said Megan Ulrich, a Champlin teen who came with a group called Students Taking Action Against Tobacco. "Personally I don't think it's cool and I don't want to smell it."

oops forgot the link

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070...EWS01/101310043/1009

check the photo gallery too.

Megan Ulrich, a Champlin teen who came with a group called Students Taking Action Against Tobacco

why would a teen care what goes on in a bar or tavern..they are not allowed there any ways

quote:

Originally posted by Robert A Cook:
I just wonder how long it's going to take people to realize that there really isn't a "Big Tobacco" anymore. There are multi-national conglomerates that can afford to lose their tobacco tentacle, and there's "Little Tobacco."

For "BIG," look to Big Pharma and Big Government, who are the forces behind the anti-tobacco lobby in the first place.

If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid of them. Together, they kill far more people than smoking ever has, and on top of that, they want your freedom.

Get real Robert!
There is about 25% of the adult population of USA and in some countries it is a much higher percentage pay tobacco every day. BAT had a gross revenue for the 9 months to the 30 September 2006 of 7251 million UK pounds, that is about $14,241 million dollars US, they employ nearly 97,000 people world wide. This is one company we are talking about here, not my idea of a cottage industry. The number employed actually rose by over 6,500 from Dec 04 to Dec 05.

I would think that big tobacco think like libertarians, if they take one thing from us, they will take everything. The octopus you describe would no more want to be without a tenticle than you would want to be without an a finger.
Don't try to make tobacco out as the underdog, they aren't nice so the underdog tag won't sit nicely on them even when they are a one man industry. Tobacco is only a few rungs above Cocaine when it comes to dirty industries.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: I know it all,

quote:

Hundreds of smoking opponents descended on the Capitol Tuesday

About 10 counterprotesters showed up,

And that, to me, is one of our major problems. Only 10 of us to hundreds of them.

We need to match them 1:1 or, better yet, outdo them with 2:1.

That would be good, a group of crotchety old men and women face off against a group of teenagers. What a sight, smoke billowing and hacking coughs one side and kids the other. Those on their way out of the world with their foot firmly planted on the accelerator pedal and those trying to prepare the world for their entry to it.

Can I come watch?

"Silence is no longer an option"

I know it all: "...that is about $14,241 million dollars US...."

A billion here, a billion there, and sooner or later you're talking about real money.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation alone, a front for Johnson & Johnson which produces nothing except anti-tobacco propaganda and lobbying, is worth six billion.

Johnson & Johnson itself: 47 billion.
Pfizer: 50 billion.
GlaxoSmithKline: 37 billion.
Sanofi-Aventis: 31 billion.
Novartis: 28 billion.

That's just the top five.

Yeah, tell me all about evil "Big Tobacco."