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Smokers are the scum of the Earth
Boston Globe | 02-26-05 | Letter to the Editor

Posted on 02/26/2005 10:13:36 AM PST by Mears

February 26, 2005

IT IS NOT surprising that dictatorial employers would fire workers for smoking even off the job (''Smoke screens," editorial, Feb. 20).

ADVERTISEMENT

During the last 20 years punitive and regressive taxes have been imposed on tobacco. Smoking, which is legal in the United States, has been outlawed in private businesses, and institutionalized scorn has been directed at smokers.

I attended a meeting at the Harvard School of Public Health where Howard Koh, then health commissioner, said he had considered asking that every pack of cigarettes sold in Massachusetts bear the phrase, ''You are the scum of the earth."

Society has always found cause to scapegoat particular groups based on race, religious, or political ideolology. In this case, it's public health.

S.H. Cambridge


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: pufflist; smokers
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To: cbkaty

An acquaintance of my son just relocated from Midland to Massachusetts. Is he in for a culture shock or what?


61 posted on 02/27/2005 12:38:46 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: TexasCajun

The wind farm is being fought by people like the Kerrys on Nantucket,the Cronkites on Martha's Vineyard,and of course the Kennedys in Hyannisport.

They would love the windfarm off the coast,as long as it's near Hull or Lynn.

Limousine liberals all!!!!!!!


62 posted on 02/27/2005 12:43:44 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: SheLion

Article 1, section 9 of the Constitution for the United States of America, paragraph 5 states simply: “No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.




Interesting---I wonder if this means state taxes?


63 posted on 02/27/2005 12:46:57 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: Mears

Sounds to me like a typical statement made at Harvard.


64 posted on 02/27/2005 2:58:44 PM PST by OCRET
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To: Mears
"I attended a meeting at the Harvard School of Public Health where Howard Koh, then health commissioner, said he had considered asking that every pack of cigarettes sold in Massachusetts bear the phrase, ''You are the scum of the earth."

Really now. Tell it to this guy, face to face:


65 posted on 02/27/2005 3:07:52 PM PST by robertpaulsen
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To: ReeWalker
Top Secret
66 posted on 02/27/2005 4:04:00 PM PST by nkycincinnatikid
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To: Mears

Apparently, Harvard, despite being one of the countries most expensive and exclusive universities is not a repository of wisdom. It is particularly discouraging since Harvard, Yale and other Ivy League schools often train the leaders in many fields.


67 posted on 02/27/2005 4:14:49 PM PST by dog breath
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To: robertpaulsen

Isn't that a great picture!


68 posted on 02/27/2005 5:20:18 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: Mears

It would be just as great without the cigarette.


69 posted on 02/27/2005 5:22:17 PM PST by Ditter
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To: Ditter; robertpaulsen; SheLion; TexasCowboy

It would be just as great without the cigarette.




I don't think it would.

The cigarette gives him a Greatest Generation, brave,tired,world-weary,look.

I doubt it it would have worked with a lollipop.


70 posted on 02/27/2005 5:36:27 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: Ditter; robertpaulsen; SheLion; Mears
"It would be just as great without the cigarette."

Well, maybe to you.

71 posted on 02/27/2005 5:56:39 PM PST by TexasCowboy (Texan by birth, citizen of Jesusland by the Grace of God)
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To: Mears

The "public health" lobbies and fascists are the worst scum on the face of the planet. They are the biggest police state ninnies I've ever had the misfortune of seeing in action.


72 posted on 02/27/2005 6:09:23 PM PST by Dan from Michigan ("There out ta get me! They won't catch me! I'm #@^#@# innocent! They won't break me" - Guns N Roses)
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To: Mears
...Howard Koh, then health commissioner, said he had considered asking that every pack of cigarettes sold in Massachusetts bear the phrase, ''You are the scum of the earth."

Just one question - was he talking about smokers, or tax-payers in general? That seems to be the prevailing atttitude among people on government payrolls.

73 posted on 02/27/2005 6:16:30 PM PST by Bernard ("Those weren't lies - that was spin!")
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To: Ditter

Please give him a break. He's just a kid from Kentucky who hasn't been enlightened to the terrible risks to his health by his poor decisions. Maybe thats why he is in Iraq for us.


74 posted on 02/27/2005 6:32:19 PM PST by nkycincinnatikid
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To: Mears

The cigarette being clean and white and him being dirty and beat up is a good contrast, other than that, I am just as impressed with him without the cigarette as with it.


75 posted on 02/27/2005 6:36:54 PM PST by Ditter
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To: TexasCowboy

Goodness,how'd you do that? You technical types astonish me.


76 posted on 02/27/2005 7:12:54 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: Mears
"You technical types astonish me."

LOL!
I'm just a blue collar worker on a drilling rig.
I'm about as far from a technical type as you can get.

77 posted on 02/27/2005 7:26:28 PM PST by TexasCowboy (Texan by birth, citizen of Jesusland by the Grace of God)
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To: TexasCowboy

Aw,come on---I'll bet you are a geek with sandals,dirty jeans,greasy hair and a Malcolm X T-shirt. LOL


78 posted on 02/27/2005 7:50:43 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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To: Mears
Well, you almost got it right.
I've got a ring in my belly button and one in my nose, and I'm wearing a "Make Love, Not War" T shirt with flowers all over my monitor.
79 posted on 02/27/2005 7:59:46 PM PST by TexasCowboy (Texan by birth, citizen of Jesusland by the Grace of God)
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To: TexasCowboy

Oh God,"flower power"-----I had forgotten all about that.


80 posted on 02/27/2005 8:25:07 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
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