The RAnts of RA

I received a very disturbing e-mail today that really bothers me. The American Lung Association is at it again; they are demanding that congress increase the tax on cigarettes by 61-cents per pack. They are blaming “big-tobacco,” because they aren’t getting it.

The American Lung Association claims they need the money to help treat children with asthma. I have to ask why do they expect smokers to cough up more money to pay for everyone’s heath care? Maybe they haven’t heard that raw milk can cure asthma and perhaps they should be fighting for our right to drink raw milk, instead of chasing more money from poor folk – you know the ones who smoke, because of stress, yet can’t afford to purchase medical insurance for their children.

Having been a previous resident of Michigan, where the economy has been in the toilet for the past ten-years or so. I can tell you that people who are in financial difficulty do not quit smoking, even though it would help their family financially if they did. When stress levels reach the roof, smoking is a release that they can’t do without. Increasing the cost of cigarettes thinking it will help others to stop smoking (all while raking in the cash for the children – ha) is what’s ridiculous.

Let’s stop looking toward smokers to solve our problems and stop the attack on farm fresh – safe raw milk. Our children deserve the best start in life we can give them. Natural, organic, milk boosts the immune system – drugs only weaken the immune system. The choice is simple. If you want to fight asthma drink real milk (raw milk).

Read the E-mail:

Dear Annette,

Big Tobacco thinks it has won. Once again, Congress failed to attain a veto-proof majority for the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Now, the bill faces an expected veto, condemning millions of low-income children-many suffering from asthma and lung disease-to continue to live without health insurance, without access to specialists, without the medications they desperately need.

And the tobacco companies couldn’t be happier.

Why does Big Tobacco oppose SCHIP? Because they don’t want a 61 cents-per-pack tax increase. Because Big Tobacco doesn’t want to discourage smoking. And it’s our children who will pay the price. Ridiculous.

It is us versus Big Tobacco – and it is about time that we win. But we need your support to continue the fight.

Increasing the federal cigarette tax is a win-win for children’s health; in addition to providing much-needed medical care for our nation’s low-income, uninsured youth – including those living with lung diseases such as asthma – this substantial increase of $.61 will have the added benefit of reducing youth smoking.

This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans – this is about the health of our children. It’s about access to critical medical care, about reducing youth smoking, about breathing easier. Eight in ten Americans-majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents-support the expansion. Yet, Washington is at a crossroads, unable to force the change our children need.

The American Lung Association will continue to fight for this change.

Enough is enough. We demand that our children have the health care they desperately need and we ask that you join us in this important fight.

Thank you for your help,
Bernadette Toomey
President and CEO, American Lung Association

Donation pleas removed.