The Senator Leonard K. Bullfinch Newsletter #11

Smoking

My fellow citizens,

After considerable consideration, I would like to weigh in on a subject that is important to many of my constituents, as well as some of you who are not. And that is smoking in public. Many people consider smoking in public, in particular, second hand smoke, to be a health hazard to those non-smokers forced to breathe this tainted air. Not that I am unsympathetic to their plight, but I disagree with outlawing smoking in public. In fact, I have decided to fight for legislation that will make it against the law not to smoke in public.

Universal smoking would be beneficial to our society. First of all, it would benefit our tobacco growers, which are almost wholly an American industry. Many farmers would, in fact, find it profitable to farm tobacco over those crops they’re now trying to grow, like wheat, soy beans, and rice. A strong American industry, such as the tobacco growers, manufacturers, and distributors would would mean a strong America. And who could argue with that? It is possible, as well, that some of those who are now growing such harmful crops as marijuana might actually abandoned their illegal ways and take up growing tobacco instead.

Universal smoking would also benefit other industries. For instance, it would help guarantee a strong health care industry, not to mention other peripheral industries, such as the funeral services industry.

Universal smoking would help to reduce unemployment. First of all, we would be employing more Americans in American industries. And who can deny the logic in that? And secondly, the entire problem with unemployment, after all, is that there are too many workers for a limited number of jobs. The fewer the workers, the lower the unemployment rate, and the better America becomes.

Smoking would also help to reduce crime. A non-smoking criminal would no longer have an advantage when trying to outrun a 3 pack a day cop. Can anyone truly argue that we want to make it easier for criminals to get away?

And Universal smoking would help to make America a more homogenous society. No longer would we be plagued by the perennial battle of smokers versus non-smokers. No longer would anyone find offense with another’s smoking. No longer would anyone have to be suffered the indignity of being treated like some second-class citizen, relegated to the back of the restaurant, or denied entry all together, in order to enjoy an after diner smoke. We must protect our civil rights!

Now I know that there are those of you that say all of these things would occur if we universally gave up smoking altogether. However, let’s be realistic. Expecting everyone to quit is just not going to happen. Smoking, after all, is a serious addiction. It is much easier, and much more realistic, to expect those who do not now smoke to begin, than for those who now smoke to quit.

When all of America finally lights up, it will be like the smoke that Francis Scott Key struggled to see through when he was inspired to write the National Anthem. America will become more than the home of the brave, when there are liberty, justice, and cigarettes for all.

God Bless,

Sen. Leonard K. Bullfinch