Cigarette Tax Takes Effect

So Brown, the 48-year-old paralegal described in the article, is seeing his effort of fighting against legislators and local officials going up in smoke following the passage of Proposition 99.

Brown says that Proposition 99 is “a form of extortion,” singling out a group of people in our society. He states that we might as well tax red meats, using the money to fight heart disease; and tax candy because it leads to obesity.

We could just as well attribute Brown’s 1 1/2-pack-a-day intake to occasional cerebral failure. Think about it, Tom. When was the last time a candy eater jeopardized the health of the non-candy eaters in the same room? When have non-red meat eaters in a restaurant been gagged by the presence of nearby red meat eating patrons, as well as seeing windows clouded as a result of the meat? And, of course, let’s remember that a scavenger hunt’s easiest obstacle is to find a crushed cigarette butt, wrapper, or box--they’re on the ground practically anywhere you look.

Two years ago it was predicted that smoking will be “non-acceptable in society” in a decade. Nonsmokers have taken great strides to see that this dream comes true.

J. SCOTT BOYER

San Gabriel