Letter to the Editor

The letter titled, “Disagrees with cigarette editorial” (Herald, Feb. 21), although well-written and pointed, begs for response.

With predictable overzealous and fanatical zeal to her cause, the author completely misses the point. She supports yet another ultra-exorbitant tax on cigarettes in the name of savings gazillions of lives. Never mind that cigarettes are perfectly legal and are just one of many life-choices that may not be wise in a used-to-be free country, she apparently views taxation as a justifiable social engineering tool in the pursuit of bettering life on the {her?} planet.

Well, hey, why stop there?

Perhaps we could “save lives” with a few more draconian measures. Say, how about a $1,000 “tax” on a speeding ticket, or maybe $5,000 for not fastening that seat belt. How about $10,000 for jay-walking?

Why, the possibilities are endless! A $10 tax on every can of beer….sure, everyone knows of the evils of drink. Think of the good that can be done!

But of course the real benefit is to the government coffers, and for the spineless politicians who haven’t the wisdom or the courage to honestly tackle funding for their pet projects. Let’s simply pile more tax burden on those who have no say or representation in the political process. “It’s for their own good, you know!”

As it’s been said: What we need most to ban in this country are those who are intent on banning that which affects others, but not themselves. Please, before there is nothing left to ban.

J. D. Ames, Austin