Tobacco

I beleaf I are confused! The Department of Agriculture subsidizes the tobacco farmer, the Treasury taxes the processed product, the teen is taxed by adult mixed messages (we tell teens it is illegal for them to smoke but let them). The cartoon caricature Joe Camel is killed because it influences kids, but TV/movie sex and violence don’t. The FDA tells everyone that smoking is extremely bad for you (on billboards and packs), then the attorneys general extort $350 billion from the companies that sell the taxed legal product, but it can’t be that bad for you, otherwise our wise handlers would outlaw it like DDT, Alar and Freon. America--what a country!

LEN BECKMAN

Anaheim