Posted: Friday, March 16, 2007 12:00 am
Unfair tax on smokers
I would like to respond to the guest column March 8 by Marilyn Kirsch, "For kids, tobacco tax must be raised." She is a health care professional and disagreed with Mr. Hering's opposition the so-called "Healthy Kids Plan."
She points out there are 117,000 uninsured kids living in Oregon and that many of them end up in the emergency room at hospitals for care. What she doesn't say is how many of these children are from illegal parents. Also she says this will cure the problem, and I disagree with her. They know that even if they put this unfair tax on the people who smoke, it will not be enough to fund the insurance.
I don't smoke and haven't for several years but have sympathy for those who still have that terrible habit. I have to ask: Why should a few be responsible for the mass? For the most part the people who are still smoking can barely afford the cigarettes now and it is naive to think this will make them quit or stop young people from taking it up.
She also says how much the people that still smoke cost Medicaid. I am not sure where she gets all of this information, but I doubt it is true that cigarettes are responsible for $287 million a year on the health care system. She suggests writing to the lawmakers. Well, Ms. Kirsch, I have and I asked them not to pay attention to the bleeding-heart people such as you and our good governor.
Bill Porter, Sweet Home
Stop abusing tobacco tax
In response to "For kids, tobacco tax must be raised," please!
I am so tired of watching as my freedoms are controlled by those who think they have the right to tell me how to live.
I served my country for my rights. Did you? Get off your soap box and leave the legal products alone.
If you are so bent on a tax for the kids, why not make it a real tax that all people have to pay and not just the smokers?
Do you realize walking down a busy street at rush hour traffic time is more harmful to you than second-hand smoke? While we are beating that horse, there are very few places left in the entire state where you can be exposed to second-hand smoke because you have banned them all.
If you really feel for the kids, then offer your hard-earned dollar instead of mine. And if you just need a soap box then why not go after the illegal drugs in this county? Oh, here's an idea, maybe you could research what our forefathers were protesting when they had the Boston Tea Party. Taxation without representation.
You do realize that the very people who have served their country so you could live the way you do are the ones you hurt most with this stupid tax on tobacco. Does that make you proud? Stop abusing the tobacco tax.
Donna Jamison, Jefferson
Some may well go to jail
Regarding your editorial bemoaning Scooter Libby's conviction, I would like to offer some observations of my own.
To begin with, you admitted it was dumb of Bush to make false public comments about the leaks. If he had lived up to his promise about firing any leakers, at least Cheney, Rove and Libby would be gone. Bush would be obligated to resign, but he was lying again and nothing happened. Oh well - dumb is as dumb does.
And it's rather dumb on your part to believe that ol' Scooter just forgot some details. The jury believed he was a liar and they certainly know more than you. It is also dumb for you to insist that no crime was committed. Libby committed perjury, and it may be standard procedure for some but is a crime nevertheless.
The dumbest thing of all, however, is giving Libby a pardon. Bush and buddies set themselves above the law on an on-going basis. There should be more of them in jail, and I suspect that will be the case in the future.
Dennis Newton, Lebanon
We all emit carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide. Everyone talks about it, but I think that they don't necessarily know what it is or how it is generated.
Everything when burned produces carbon dioxide with the possible exception of hydrogen. Coal, oil, wood, gasoline, diesel, natural gas and every other fuel that is used for heat or electrical generation. It also includes your dinner. Yes, people generate carbon dioxide. Maybe the governor should ask for a law requiring everyone to wear a potted plant on their head. It even includes the less polluting fuel, alcohol. At this point, it should be noted that huge quantities of carbon dioxide are produced during its manufacture, and it also takes a fire to make it.
Water power is clean, yet people want dams removed. Air power is clean, but many people complain about their obstructed view. Solar energy is clean, but very expensive. And, of course, atomic energy is clean - that is, like these others, it doesn't generate carbon dioxide.
This all leads to a couple of serious problems: How many acres does it take to produce a gallon of alcohol? (Include fuel).
Also, how much power is there in a gallon of alcohol as compared to a gallon of gasoline? It takes power to to move motor vehicles; not good intentions.
M. Paul Lindsey, Lebanon