The anti-smoking lobby's hidden agenda

Poor Heather Crowe, the Ottawa waitress who recently died of lung cancer and had lent her persona to the anti-smoking lobby as the typical victim du jour. Crowe was said to be a "typical" restaurant worker who spent 40 years working in Ottawa restaurants, all the while breathing the second-hand smoke that’s said to have claimed her life.

There are so many things wrong with Heather Crowe’s case that it begs for an official inquiry, but like all politically correct causes the anti-smoking lobby can do no wrong. Crowe, who really did die of lung cancer, was anything but a typical restaurant worker. Apparently she worked in three different restaurants, starting her day at 6:00 AM and ending her day usually around 2:00 AM the following morning. Most individuals working as servers in restaurants do not work three full shifts per day, totaling upwards of 20 hours.

In the commercials that Crowe made for the anti-smoking lobby she said she wanted "to be the last person to die from second hand smoke." If she did die of exposure to second hand smoke, it’s likely that Crowe was also the first person in the world to die from this condition. There is not one documented case of anyone ever dying of second hand smoke. Anti-smoking groups like to bandy about numbers of people who have died of second hand smoke, however the truth is that no one knows if anyone has died as a result of this because the numbers being quoted are not garnered from death certificates, but are made up through epidemiological estimates that do not involve review of individual death certificates.

What’s more, the numbers most people quote as individuals who are dying of second hand smoke vary from place to place. For instance the anti-smoking lobby of Lambton, Ontario claims that this year alone some 5,000 people will die of second hand smoke there. That seems awfully high, given that the overall population is just over 127,000. Other places use different numbers; Calgary claims it’s 3,000 deaths, while British Columbia claims it will only be 500 deaths this year.

When Heather Crowe was first diagnosed, her doctor told her that she had an inoperable "smoker’s tumor" in her lungs. As a diagnosis, the term "smoker’s tumor" is novel in that it is not a medical term and does not appear in medical dictionaries. It sounds like the doctor who made this diagnosis was following an agenda.

What’s more, when Heather Crowe sought compensation from the Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (OWSIB), the board ruled in her favor, a fact which many of the anti-smoking lobbyists tout as being proof positive that second hand smoke causes cancer as well as a plethora of other ills. The OWSIB ruling only proves that it pays to have friends in high places, of which Heather Crowe appears to have had many. A number of influential politicians, as well as Dr. Robert Cushman, Ottawa’s Chief Medical Officer of health wrote letters in support of Heather's application for compensation. Crowe’s case was supported by a study emanating from California that claimed restaurant workers there inhaled the equivalent of 1.5 to 2 packs per day. I find it curious that the details of the OWSIB ruling were never made public.

As for the study from California, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifies that .5 mg of nicotine per cubic meter is an acceptable level. Testing conducted in 2004 of 18 restaurants in St. Louis Park, Minnesota disclosed that none of the restaurants had second hand smoke levels close to the allowable minimum specified by OSHA. In fact, most were far, far below the minimum.

So why all the hysteria? Can you say money? The anti-tobacco lobby is being controlled in large part and funded by pharmaceutical companies that are doing a land office business in selling smoking cessation medications. That’s the real hidden agenda of which I doubt even the staunchest anti-tobacco crusaders are aware.

But let’s face it, when organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) distribute millions of dollars to anti-smoking groups, maybe someone should take a closer look at this foundation. The board of directors of the RWJF includes some very interesting people. Robert Wood Johnson IV is the chairman and CEO of the Johnson Company, a New York investment firm that seems to hold an inordinate amount of pharmaceutical investments. Other directors include what appears to be the entire former board of directors of Johnson & Johnson Company, which incidentally is a major manufacturer of alternative pharmaceutical nicotine products. Robert E. Campbell is the retired chairman of J & J; George S. Frazza and was corporate counsel and member of the J&J executive committee. Edward Hartnett is the retired group chairman of J&J Pharmaceuticals. Ralph S. Larsen is former chairman and CEO of J&J. So, it’s evident there is a lot of interest in the RWJF to encourage governments to impose smoking bans. Could this by any chance have anything to do with the fact that RWJF is holding in excess of $5 billion in J&J shares?

No one whose throat chokes up around cigarette smoke chose to be there. They are not "hanging around" smokers. To characterize them as such is misrepresenting reality.

People who fill others' breathing air with noxious cigarette smoke are totally SELF-CENTERED and SELFISH.

I used to come to point of tears when people smoked around me from the time I was a small child. Even a child's heathy body knows when it is being assaulted.

Children don't get to choose where they spend their time.

People who walk into a smoke-filled space were not expecting this and when they have the choice, they flee quickly, as they would from a downpour or a tornado or even someone spraying chanel number 5 in their faces.

Insisting on smoking, despite knowing that one is making people choke, have trouble breathing and making their eyes water badly, .... what these militant smokers are doing is a sign of their being examples of a "me first" and "me last" generation.

This is not like the right to bear arms. Is people are so selfish that they insist on assaulting others, it becomes necessary for government to step in. Shame on you for defending what is indefensible.

The snide comment, "Why do you hang around smokers?" proves self-centeredness better than anything else these selfish people say.

This is not a liberal/conservative issue.

No one whose throat chokes up around smoke chose to be around the smoke.

Militant smokers think they are the only ones who count and to hell with anyone else.

No one whose throat chokes up around smoke choses to be there.

Fleeing from smoke is indeed what people do. Militant smokers know it, but don't care.

People who practice this behavior and can't help themselves, as people who practice other obnoxious physical behaviors, should do so alone without subjecting anyone else to it - not children, not fellow citizens, not even enemies.

This is not a political issues; it's a golden rule issue.

No one whose throat chokes up around cigarette smoke chose to be there. They are not "hanging around" smokers. To characterize them as such is misrepresenting reality.

Then why are you putting yourself into that atmosphere? And not calling you a liar, but I never heard of any person's throat chokes up" from just breathing smoke. It must be HELL for your on the interstate. And don't you BB Q?????

People who fill others' breathing air with noxious cigarette smoke are totally SELF-CENTERED and SELFISH.
And there we have it folks! The real agenda shows up! SELF-CENTERED AND SELFISH.

I used to come to point of tears when people smoked around me from the time I was a small child. Even a child's heathy body knows when it is being assaulted.

Assaulted? Well, many of us grew up in a smoking home and none of us as "children" thought anything about it. It was just a way of life. I know that MY immune system is much better off today because of my parents smoking. Taught my immune system to get tougher against the polluted air of today.

Children don't get to choose where they spend their time.

Pity. It's a pity that you couldn't place a call to Social Services and they would have found you a nice foster home that was smoke free. heh!

Insisting on smoking, despite knowing that one is making people choke, have trouble breathing and making their eyes water badly, .... what these militant smokers are doing is a sign of their being examples of a "me first" and "me last" generation.

You are full of chit, you know it? DON'T HANG AROUND SMOKERS. WHEN YOU HAVE TO WALK THROUGH A GROUP OF SMOKERS HOLD YOUR BREATH AND WALK FAST. You are just a rabid anti-smoker. Admit it!

This is not like the right to bear arms. Is people are so selfish that they insist on assaulting others, it becomes necessary for government to step in. Shame on you for defending what is indefensible.

Necessary for government to step in? Yes, to protect whiny babies like you that came from a weak gene pool. Funny you aren't in a BUBBLE today!

The snide comment, "Why do you hang around smokers?" proves self-centeredness better than anything else these selfish people say.

"I'm" selfish? Well, I sure don't hang around YOU my FReeper friend. We shall never meet and you will never ever have to smell my smoke.

You know who you remind me of? Greg on Yes Dear. He is allergic to EVERYTHING. And "I" am not allergic to ANYTHING! Wonder why that is!

No one whose throat chokes up around smoke chose to be around the smoke.

I want to know..............just WHERE DO YOU GO THAT YOU ARE AROUND SMOKE?????? You must not live out west. Gawd! Whatever would you do with all those fires and the air thick with smoke? WHAT WOULD YOU DO????? Say, you had to stay and protect your home. Now, how do you think you could do that since your throat is all "choked up?" Can you answer me that????

Militant smokers think they are the only ones who count and to hell with anyone else.

People like YOU made us militant! WE AREN'T TAKING YOUR GUFF ANYMORE.

No one whose throat chokes up around smoke choses to be there.
You said that already! heh!

Fleeing from smoke is indeed what people do. Militant smokers know it, but don't care.

"Fleeing." That's funny.

"No, you should not have a "right" to smoke free air. Smoke was not an issue when our Constitution and Bill of Rights written and ordinances to control private businesses are an abuse of governmental power in any municipality, county, state or country where public officials attempt to legislate differently. SHS has not been proven in any studies. to be a health hazard and is clearly visible to those who do not want to be exposed to it. Charitable tobacco control organizations, telling the same lie repeatedly, do not make it the truth! Current ventilation methods are very capable of maintaining safer indoor air quality than we find outdoors. Tobacco is a legal product. As long as it remains legal, then consenting adults who choose to use a legal product on private property where the public does not have to go and employees do not have to work, have the "right" to smoke. Your nasal "rights" end at the perimeter of a private business' property. If clean air were really a health issue we would all be walking, riding a bike or a horse and forbidden to drive an automobile. Airports would be non-existent to eliminate the quantities of jet fuel fumes exhausted constantly into our air. If you do not want to get wet, you come inside out of the rain! If you do not want to breathe smoke in a private business, either buy the place and change it or use the sense you were born with and leave. Smokers represent over 20% of the population and accordingly represent a significant portion of the spending public. You do not have any more rights than they do. It is none of your business. If you don't like it...YOU go outside, or go somewhere else and mind your own business in the company of others who do not smoke."

People who practice this behavior and can't help themselves, as people who practice other obnoxious physical behaviors, should do so alone without subjecting anyone else to it - not children, not fellow citizens, not even enemies.

THEN STAY AWAY FROM AREAS THAT YOU KNOW SMOKERS WILL BE! CIGARETTES ARE LEGAL!!!!!!

This is not a political issues; it's a golden rule issue.

You said that already. Peat and repeat is all you know. What are you doing? Copy and paste? LOL

ummmm good!

"People who fill others' breathing air with noxious cigarette smoke are totally self-centered and selfish"

HAHAHAHAHA.HOHO.HUMHUM.

Insisting that private business owners can no longer operate their establishment how they see fit wouldn't be selfish, now would it? Forcing your will on the rest of us isn't selfish either. Using the strong arm of the government to get it done is the Amerikkan way!

You all got people who choose to smoke threw out of about everywhere. No problem. Then, you b*tch, and moan, and throw a hissy fit if anyone is near the entrance to said building which they were threw out of.

No problem.
You are not selfish. How could you be? You only want everyone to bend to your will, you offer NO compromise, and you get upset when it don't go your way. You're not selfish.

Keep telling yourself that.

You stand for all that is fair, and just, and good in the world.

Keep telling yourself that.
You want everyone to live happily ever after, forever and ever amen, without ever seeing anything to offend your delicate sensitivities.

Keep telling yourself that.

But, you can quit telling US that. We gave in. We moved out of most places. But that is not enough for you.

Tell yourself it's not all about you. Go ahead. It's okay.

"what these militant smokers are doing is a sign of their be leaders of the "me first" and "me last" generation."

That's a good one, all right. Keep telling yourself that too. Who is assaulting everyone's right to make a choice, whether it be a business choice, or a personal choice?

Not me, man.

Who's the militant?

Not you, oh, no. You can not be a "ME FIRST,ME LAST". Absolutely not. You're not self-centered, you only want it to be the right way, the best way, your way.

In other words, you want the choices made to be the ones you make, and everybody should just play along.

Keep telling yourself that, too.

Glad I read your post. It really helped me See -More -Clearly- Now.

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