THE TOBACCO CONUNDRUM

By Ronald C. Tobin

Recently, the major tobacco companies bought off forty-six US states that were suing them for alleged damages incurred by said states providing health care to smokers. This 188 billion-dollar national settlement could amount to much more, as the payments could go on "forever." Many non-smokers are applauding this settlement, saying that the tobacco companies had this coming. People say that this will protect the children (always a by-word for 'hang on to your wallet') from the evil influence of Joe Camel. This, of course, conveniently side-steps the issue of self-responsibility. This shakedown, this settlement that is really a new tax, is being called a windfall by the mainstream media. In reality, it is extortion of a once favored industry, with very dangerous ramifications.

Granted, the tobacco industry has been deceitful, lying about how addictive nicotine is. This crop remains one that receives subsidies from the federal government, though that may be ending. Smoking has no doubt contributed to many illnesses and premature deaths. Yes, the cost to private insurance and government health care has, no doubt, been quite considerable. These states went after the tobacco companies with a vengeance to recoup these costs, and, after years of fighting, convinced these companies to cave in and admit they lied about nicotine being addictive.

This situation fails to address what I regard as being the most important question: what was the government doing in the health care industry in the first place? Had the welfare state not existed, then there would never have been any justification for this outrageous action. In an absolute sense, the government did not incur any expense for treating smokers - like everything else they allegedly fund, this was paid for via money extorted (some call it taxation) from the citizenry. Bottom line - it is government health programs that should be eliminated, along with any other activity/program not within its legitimate purview. Government can only serve three purposes and be legitimate: 1) Provide police protection for crimes against people and their property; 2) Courts of law to handle such crimes and adjudicate disputes; and 3) Armed forces for national defense. Any government that goes beyond those bounds is not legitimate in the eyes of any rational libertarian. In a libertarian society, this tobacco suit would never have happened.

I am not a smoker, and I do not allow people to smoke in my home. I think it is a bad habit, with serious health repercussions. However, I would not stop anyone from choosing to be a smoker. Like choosing to use cocaine or marijuana, using tobacco is not within the government's legitimate zone of concern. In the twisted ways of this country, I can easily see a time coming when marijuana use is "legal," while use of tobacco becomes a "crime." The nanny state must be brought to heel - which does mean that we have to replace the republic with a more libertarian social order.

It is a sick joke to really believe that this tobacco settlement is really going to hurt the big tobacco companies. Already, these companies are raising the price of a pack of cigarettes an average of forty-five cents. Scarier still than that, in the wake of this settlement, various government units are starting to go after other industries for alleged damages. Chicago and New Orleans are suing gun manufacturers to recover health care and "law" enforcement expenses - as if a manufacturer has any control over how their product is used! Who is next - the candy industry for causing obesity? The car industry for hit-and-run accidents? The condom industry for unwanted pregnancies? The way to end this now is to demand that people accept responsibility for their actions and insist that the government butt out.

As a final aside - I understand that at least one Canadian province, British Columbia, is trying to get a tobacco suit going, patterned after the successful U.S. model. Please, Canadians - do not let this travesty take place in your country. Show the world what I already know - that you are more fed up with government interference than the people of the United States are.

REMEMBER: This is not about tobacco. It is not about health care. It is not about compensation. This is about getting rid of the nanny state and gaining our freedom.