a
Wednesday,
May 6,1998
Tobacco industry being treated unfairly
ERIC EATHERTON
Contributing Writer
I’ve heard it all about the great
smoking debate.
Those on one side of the debate
believe the tobacco industry should be
compelled to pay medical expenses of
those whose illnesses are directly related
to smoking. Some of them also believe
the tobacco industry has geared its ad
vertising toward minors, and ergo are im
moral. And, if that’s not bad enough,
some hold the belief that the tobacco in
outright
dustry concealed the gory details on
prohibit a
smoking just so they could make more
behavior
profits.
Those on the other side believe
such as
that the tobacco hearings, the class ac
smoking,
tion lawsuit, et al., are all part of what is
called “legalized extortion.” And, if left
gradually
unchecked, what’s happening to smok
chip away
ers’ rights could be a nightmarish pre
cursor to what may happen to the rest of
atit.
us.
Eric Eatherton
For those who may have been
Contributing Writer
voluntarily out of touch with reality, the
arguments in the great smoking debate
seem to go as follows: side one claims
that the tobacco industry geared its ad
vertisements to minors, and that the nicotine in cigarettes is
more addictive than practically anything else on this planet
Earth. Therefore, one who starts smoking more than likely
will never be able to stop so long as they live. And the tobacco
industry should be obligated to pay medical expenses of those
whose illnesses are directly related to smoking.
Side two of the argument consists of the civil rights argu
ment—a threat to the rights of some is a threat to the rights of
all—and of the argument where all the government is doing is
practicing a form of “legalized extortion.”
Here’s my take on the debate: while I personally don’t smoke,
and wish others wouldn’t, either (at least not around me, any
way), I won’t stop those who smoke from doing so. After all,
the last time I checked, this country was still the United States
of America, more or less meaning we had the right to do what
we want to do (so long as we don’t interfere with others en
joying the same rights).
Talk about “those who don’t learn from history are doomed
to repeat it”: Didn’t we try to do something like this before,
where we tried to stamp out destructive behavior by prohibit
||g
ing it outright?
Back in the 1920s, the US government
passed the 18th Amendment, prohibiting
the sale or possession of alcohol; it, and
the period of time in which it was law was
referred to as “Prohibition.” It was a mas
sive failure because it attempted to forc
ibly sober up American citizenry, practi
cally cold turkey. It failed so miserably
that in retrospect, one wonders just what
the people who drafted the 18th Amend?;,
ment had to have been thinking of in the
first place.
After all, it’s been proven numerous
times in a great many things: the greater^
your desire for something (whatevef it 1
may be), the more you’ll do to achieve or
obtain it. Since people could no longer
get their alcohol through legal means, they
went through illegal means to obtain it.
Now while this wasn’t the only reason
Prohibition went quickly to crap, it was so major a reason that
it couldn’t be overlooked.
It’s evidentthat the government learned its lesson from Prohibi
tion: if you can’t outright prohibit a behavior such as smoking,
gradually chip away atit So, guess what the government’s doing?
My problem with this strategy is that it will set a dangerous
precedent. Sure, it might be smoking today, but what will it be
tomorrow? If the government is intent on employing that strat
egy, we the people must monitor the government to make sure
it doesn’t overstep its boundaries.
If it’s true that, as some claim, the government is practicing
“legalized extortion,” then the government is doing no better
than the tobacco industry; in fact, it is far worse. What the
tobacco industry is doing (had been doing for years, in fact) is
called part of the American economy: they put out on the
market a product people want, people buy the product and the
tobacco company makes money the old-fashioned way.
And what the government’s doing is raising taxes on ciga
rettes practically every chance it gets. Its perceived goals are
twofold: to price cigarettes out of reach for a lot of smokers
and to raise money for health care. Some call raising the ciga
rette tax the aforementioned “legalized extortion”; they can
make their case for that.
What do I think we can do about it? To begin with, let’s finally
sort out what the facts are about tobacco use (objectively would
be preferable). To be honest with you, I didn’t know if those hear
ings were conducted fairly; still don’t, as a matter of fact.
But the whole point of this column of mine is: we’ll all have
to monitor the situation closely to make sure neither side gets
out of hand.
News
priera
The Registrar’s office is now accepting graduation pe
titions for the 1997-98 school year. Inquire at CC 100.
The Annual Spring Plant Sale sponsored by the
Clackamas Horticulture Club will be held Friday, May
8 from noon to 5 p.m. The event will be held next to
Clairmont Hall in the main parking area. Annuals, pe
rennials, herbs, fuschia baskets, shrubs and many more
varieties will be available for purchase.
All returning students of the college enrolled in a
Spring term class will receive an Early Fall Registration
Appointment flier in the mail during the week of May 4.
The letter will list the dates and times of advising and
registration sessions. If there are any questions, call ext.
2770 or stop by the Help Center.
The Anxiety Screening will take place today, May 6
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in CC 127. For more information
contact David Campbell at ext. 2600.
Learn CPR and First Aid: Tuesday, May 12, there
Mother's Day: Close to my heart
There are
not many things
more lovable than
mothers.
This
coming Sunday,
America celebrates
a “Hallmark” holi
day that is very
She has
close to my heart.
seen me
Almost
21 years ago, my
grow up to
mother brought me
be the mart into this world.
She has seen me
I am, yet
grow up to be the
in her
man I am, yet in
her company I still
company I
feel like a child.
still feel
Mothers do that to
like a
men.
Mom has
child.
taught me impor
Jacob Bosnisch
tant lessons in life
ASG President
and when I am
about to do some
thing wrong, I can
hear her voice tell
ing me not to do it. I believe my
mother’s voice is that of a guardian
angel. It helps me make the right de
cisions and gives me words of encour
agement when times are rough.
Wednesday, May 6, 1998
Her constant prayers are what keep
me safe. I believe they also help me
do well in school. I have always asked
my mom to pray for me during finals.
“You know what?” I would say to my
mom after the grueling tests were over,
“It really worked. I could feel your
prayers helping me.”
My mother is part of me, she under
stands me, she cares for me and she
loves me.
Life isn’t always perfect however.
Sometimes things just don’t seem fair.
At least that’s how I would describe
my mother’s battle against breast can
cer.
No more than four months ago, my
mother was diagnosed. For the first
time in her life, my mother had to face
the question of death. At first she was
very sick. The whole family was con
cerned about her failing health.
But my mother has never backed
down from a fight, so she wasn’t about
to let cancer get her down. It is my
belief that cancer doesn’t have a
chance against her pure will to survive.
The battle has been tough, though,
and even as I write, my mother is in
chemotherapy, the symptoms of which
are nauseating to talk about.
But although she will be very sick,
my mom will always tell me she loves
me and manage a strong hug. That’s
all I need to feel satisfied. I love you,
Mom.
Let this coming Sunday be a re
minder to everyone to thank their
moms for what they have done. They
deserve so much respect. They de
serve everything good in the world;
they brought us into it.
Thanks, Mom.
Jacob Boenisch
ASG president
will be class sessions for CPR from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and
May 22 for First Aid from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. People sign
ing up must be CPR certified before taking First Aid.
Cost is $29 for both classes or $17 for each individu
ally. Register in CC 140.
The Coyote Circle will be sponsoring a Mother’s Day
flower sale May 7 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the
Community Center.
To honor the Writers’ Club contest winners, there
will be a ceremony on May 13 at 3 p.m. in the Gre
gory Forum, room 108B. Refreshments will be avail
able and winners will share their work with the audi
ence in a reading.
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