Editorials

"An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"

News and information to help you stay informed

By Mike Carney, April 15, 2004

Dear Alaska Senate and House members,

In the interest of keeping you informed on the issues, here is a sampling of articles (1 day of "news") from around the world relating to tobacco use. For those of you who believe everything you read, enjoy. Please note that most of these "studies" and "facts" come to you as a direct result of contributions made by our governments and special interest groups that rely on this type of funding.

Reading these articles, I'm surprised that we are not all already dead. How did we ever survive as a nation for so long with out all these studies? We are all just lucky to be alive, I guess. It is extremely comforting to know that we are being looked after so that we do not harm to ourselves by the actions we choose to take. I've also read somewhere that the Sun is a class A carcinogen. Is there some sort legislation you can pass that will protect us from that as well? I really think we need a "sun block" law. Oh, and I think we could use a law that prevents us from sticking forks in our eyes too. I've heard that may harm you too.. I say a "rubber fork" bill is definitely needed here in Alaska.

I digress but, did you know that teenage lesbians are more apt to smoke? It's true, there was a study that said so.  Maybe we should have a "Special" tax just for them. Or a "Kick the lesbian's Butts" day? According to the testimony given April 5th to the Alaska Senate on SB368,  some 40+% of Alaska native kids smoke. Yet they claim a %50 decline underage smoking. Does that mean that 80+% of Alaska Native kids smoked? Wow! That is a truly amazing "fact". Another astonishing "fact" was the statement  that 67% of pregnant Alaska Native girls smoke. That must mean that 134% of them smoked before.....right?  I wonder what the rate of lesbian Alaska Native girls was? 400%?

Perhaps we can hire a governmental "Fact Checker" with some of the tax money gathered by Governor Murkowski's proposal so long as it isn't a pregnant teenage Alaska Native lesbian girl. She might fudge with the facts.

What is also remarkable is that these stories end up in most of the reputable newspapers. Those reporters must really be on the ball tracking down all this information...or...perhaps...it is sent to them... in the interest of keeping them informed.

Links of interest:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-ftr-health15.html Where there's smoke, there's danger for pets too

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1508&ncid=751&e=9&u=/afp/20040414/hl_afp/women_health_smoking  Women sexually abused in childhood more prone to smoking: study

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=dcda6a6d-9853-4dc6-a7dc-9f8b1d9da92d  Childhood sleep woes linked to addictions

http://jech.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/58/5/402  Childhood abuse and risk of smoking onset

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/504273/  Report Reinforces Need for Sex-Specific Medical Research

http://www.medicalposting.ca/men/article.jsp?content=20040415_093740_5540&topStory=y  Smoking has a 'shocking' impact on reproductive health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3626157.stm  The dangers of inhaling at work

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=20&u=/afp/20040414/ts_afp/france_drugs_children_040414123602

French teenagers smoke joints as often as they drink alcohol

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/index.php?newsid=7275  Are toddlers who cannot sleep at higher risk of becoming teens who smoke, drink or do drugs?

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=130-04152004  Study Shows that States Should Protect Anti-Smoking Programs Says American Heart Association

http://www.newstatesman.com/site.php3?newTemplate=NSArticle_Life&newDisplayURN=200404190033  Fag end of fashion

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2004/tc20040413_8456_tc119.htm  Why Women Shouldn't Light Up

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