Opposition has been raised by the Republicans to increase the state tax on tobacco by $1.00 per pack. This new tax would be for a road construction project. Everyone uses the roads, smokers should not be paying for road construction.<br type="_moz" />
An update to developments from Edmund Contoski regarding his enlightening series of FORCES columns, “<a href="http://amlibpub.blogspot.com/2010/10/monetary-mess-dollar-gold-and-you-part_09.html">Monetary Mess, the Dollar, Gold—and You</a>”.
A new study claims that Smoking causes Diabetes. However, the author said "noted that the study can’t prove that smoking causes diabetes." That won’t matter because it will be quoted as being true even though it can’t be proven. Epidemiology is theoretical, not clinical. As this story progresses it will be positioned as factual even though it isn’t.<br />
The Government Accountability Office just published a new report "Illicit Tobacco". As tobacco prices increase so does crime. Prohibition led to crime and it was repealed eleven years later. Three states are decreasing tobacco taxes because of crime and loss of revenue.<br />
Kate Moss returned to the catwalk after a seven year absence at the Claridge Hotel in London. She was modeling the new Louis Vitton collection, as she walked down the catwalk she lit a cigarette to the applause of some in the audience.<br type="_moz" />
A poll taken by Smoke Free Florence Coalition claims that 63% support a smoking ban. Opinion research studies can be easily manipulated just by the way they ask the questions. It would be a more plausible if this type of research was not paid for by an Anti-Smoking group.<br type="_moz" />
The Illinois State Legislators are reviewing bills which will permit casinos, bars and restaurants to obtain "smoking licenses."
From Danish blogger Klaus K comes an in-depth analysis by Niels Ipsen and Klaus Kjellerup regarding the benefits of smoking; translated from Dutch into English. <br />
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"After 40 years of scientific research on the effects of nicotine, researchers now say that they have sound scientific proof that smoking and nicotine have a significant positive effect on human brain performance."<br />
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This well referenced and researched article is certain to be of great interest to FORCES devotees, as well as any tobacco user.<br />
The Competitive Enterprise Institute launched their lawsuit against the MSA because the Tobacco Companies passed costs to the consumer. The result was a national tax that was never approved by one legislator or any government agency.<br type="_moz" />
The North Carolina legislature is pondering taking money from the Master Tobacco Settlement to pay for its sterilization of thousands of people against their will. Sterilization occurred between 1929 to 1974 on mental patients, primarily women.<br />
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