Why Banning the Sale of Cigarettes Was Not On the Ballot!
by Jason Cunningham (11-19-06)
Almost two weeks ago, many Americans across the land voted
on statewide initiatives to ban gay marriage and legalized casinos in their
state or locality. Unfortunately, no states had banning cigarette sales on
the ballot. Most politicians probably do not have the guts to introduce a
legislative ban. It is possible that the violence in the suburbs would
equal crime numbers in America's most dangerous inner cities, as a result of
banning cigarettes.
Over twenty years ago, the late President Ronald
Reagan declared "The War on Drugs." The country shifted its focus and began to
educate children in school about the dangers of such drugs including marijuana.
Cigarette smoking seemed to get a pass, except that companies were banned and
punished for their past marketing efforts aimed at children. During the 1990's,
the United States took the tobacco industry to court for the enormous
healthcare costs that are a result of cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke.
It is no secret that the tobacco industry has powerful lobbyist
in Washington. Otherwise, cigarette and other tobacco sales would not be legal.
Where are the health benefits of cigarettes? Tobacco products seem to be able to
kill individuals who do not even smoke. Therefore, secondhand smoke has also
become a major heathcare concern. Some states and localities have gone as far as
banning smoking in all public areas. Still, how many more millions of deaths are
necessary before Congress turns its back on the tobacco industry and bans their
sale?
In my opinion, cigarette sales will always be legal, in spite of
the inherent risk to your health. A banning of cigarette sales would be the
Unites States second time round with Prohibition. In the early 1900's, the ban
of alcohol sales in America produced violence and crime, in this country,
that we would like to forget. If you banned cigarettes, the suburbs would become
more dangerous than all of the inner cities flooded with illegal drugs. I
believe this is part of the reason why politicians will not stand up to the
tobacco industry. Politicians often talk about the deaths due to illegal drugs,
but most rarely speak of banning cigarettes, except in public areas. Before the
end of humanity, cigarettes will probably be know as the greatest killer of
people.
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