Letter: Nothing wrong with tobacco tax increase

Talk about it

In Thomas A. Briant’s letter to the editor, he states hat the taxes placed on tobacco products is outrageous. Does he have any inkling as to how outrageous the costs in financial obligations, illnesses and —yes — deaths, resulting from tobacco products are?

I lost my husband to lung cancer 17 years ago. I lost my oldest son to lung cancer 16 months ago. One of my daughters suffers from a highly painful and frightening COPD as a result of smoking. She now depends on oxygen tanks to keep her alive. Another of my daughters now suffers from the loss of a kidney to cancer and is now on dialysis; I feel it’s a direct result of smoking.

I just received a telephone call with news that my last living brother is now in the VA hospital in Dallas suffering from a kidney cancer; he has been a heavy user of cigars for much of his adult life. My three older brothers have all died before the age of 70 due to lung cancers and the resulting illnesses, and several others of my family still struggle with the addiction of tobacco products. It is an addiction stronger than many caused by drugs of various kinds. There are not many facilities or rehabs offered for fighting tobacco addiction as there are for drugs.

I suggest Mr. Briant get into a business other than tobacco if he does not like the new higher taxes on the product. Perhaps a stint in the medical profession, volunteering perhaps at a hospital where many are fighting to stay alive in spite of cigarette-caused cancers — not to mention countless other afflictions.

Mr. Briant goes on and on about the higher costs of taxes on tobacco products and the number of people who will lose jobs or businesses that will close due to the higher price. Does he have any inkling as to the costs in jobs, businesses and lives due to the higher cost of tobacco-induced illnesses? Think about it. Why are tobacco products still being sold on the open market?

And yes — I, too, am a former smoker and with the help of a loving God, I finally kicked the addiction when my husband became ill.

Tags: opinion, letters, tobacco