The Wannabe

For those who don’t live in Oregon, we’re currently trying to pass a law that will write a cigarette tax into the Oregon constitution.  The money will be going to what’s called the “Healthy Kids Program.”  The Philip-Morris machine is in full swing with advertisements explaining why the program won’t work and why we should vote no.  As with any measure, we’ve been receiving unsolicited mail from people trying to persuade us to vote one way or the other.  The existence of the people writing the letter is debatable; most likely they’re drafted by groups and sent out under a single name.  Recently I received one such letter, imploring me to vote no.  Here’s the basic gist of the letter.

I’m a non-smoker (showing that he has no special interest in the measure passing).  I’m a first grade teacher (showing that he cares about kids).  I was going to vote yes on measure 50 (attempting to relate to those who’ve decided to vote yes).  But then I looked into it and here’s why I’ve decided to vote no:

• Over 70% of the money doesn’t go to the “Healthy Kids Program.”
• Some of the money isn’t slated for anything specific (i.e. It’s a “blank check” for the government).
• Our constitution shouldn’t be used to tax specific products.
• The program can’t sustain itself (The money required will increase while the money collected will decrease).

A very well written letter and the logic is easy to follow…except for one thing: A CIGARETTE TAX IS A GOOD THING, NO MATTER WHAT!  All of these ads (obviously) fail to recognize one simple fact: If cigarettes are more expensive, fewer people will be able to afford them.  That means fewer irresponsible parents blowing smoke into their children’s faces and fewer kids with access to cigarettes.  How will this not result in healthier kids?  Obviously this is a bad thing for companies like Philip-Morris, but how is this a bad thing for the rest of us? 

I’ll be completely honest with you.  I never knew my father so my only real father figure was my grandpa, who had been a smoker nearly all of his life.  When I was twelve, he went in for surgery due to holes in his lungs (caused by cigarettes).  It didn’t work.  He died in the hospital, shortly after the surgery.  My uncle suffered a similar fate.  The last memory I have of him is that of a withered man who looked twenty years older than his actual age, hooked to an oxygen tank, slowly dying. 

Now, every time I stand too close to someone with smoker’s breath, walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke downtown, or go to breakfast with my in-laws at some bar, all I can think of is death and suffering.  So let me be very clear when I say that I would vote yes on measure 50 even if 100% of the money went straight to the governor’s personal bank account!  Yes, it’s that important.  I’M VOTING YES ON MEASURE 50.