Others applaud. When they whine because it is their turn to fill the pork barrel, I'm going to sound very Vice-Presidential in my remarks...
Tobacco has been around longer then any of us. A legal commodity. Then, along came the anti's that saw a way to make big bucks, and they convinced the government that smokers are 'dirty filthy people.' The smokers were shamed into believing this. The smokers were co-orsed into believing that we needed to buy those expensive quit smoking drugs from Big Pharm.
There are 55 million of us in the United States, Joe. We are quick to stand up for our rights in everything else. But why did the smokers let it get this far? I still can't understand this. Smokers outnumber the NRA and the AARP.
Gay marriages is on the horizon and pot smokers will soon see their drug of choice made legal. And the smokers sat back and watched our (legal) relaxation of choice being taken away from us.
Where am I? Where DO we live???
Oh yes! Instead of the money being spent on prescription drugs for the elderly, and to help any sick uninsured smokers, the states turned into gluttons!
MASS built a big $175,000 GOLF course with that tobacco settlement money. Maine sponsored "5" race car teams and race tracks across the state with that money. Called the teams "Kick Butt Racing." I bet the other teams loved being in the pits next to THEM. heh!
Some little old lady in Easton, Maine was given tobacco settlement money to build a big beautiful garden in town. How sweet. Not!