Letter to the Editor

Child-free zones

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Dear Editor,

I am somewhat amused by all of the people who are so adamantly against cigarette smoking. It seems to me that when the states got their tobacco settlement money, a lot of them reinvested it in tobacco stock. I also seem to remember hearing on the evening news that a lot of 401 K money is invested in said stock. I also understand that the American Cancer Society gets part of its funding from the taxes we smokers pay. Why bite the hand that funds you?

I would find it quite amusing if the tobacco companies were put out of business because it wouldn't take long for me to find a black market source for my cigarettes, but where would all you sanctimonious anti smoking people find replacement funds for the money you lost in stocks? Money invested in the stock market isn't insured against loss like a bank or savings and loan association is. You take a bath in the stock market and you're just out what you lost.

I don't go out to eat not because I can't smoke, but because I am subjected to the screaming, squalling children of people who either can't or won't make them sit down and behave. I also don't see the reason that parents have to drag their sick children out of the house to eat out. Sick children are as great a risk to people with compromised immune systems as my second hand smoke is supposed to be, so while we're doing away with my right to smoke, let's put in some child-free areas in restaurants so that those of us who don't want our ears assailed by their screaming and crying don't have to be. I would gladly forgo a cigarette if I could just eat in peace and quiet, and I'm sure that those who have impaired immune systems due to the medications they have to use would also be thankful.

Robert A. Yost

McCook

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