First let's start with the newscast. When the state of New York increased the tax on cigarettes, this is a great thing, they said, more people will quit now. The next news brief, same broadcast: New York will generate billions of tax dollars. Next news brief, yet to be broadcasted, “Crime is up more now than ever before, reason: robbery of cigarettes, and gas to get away.” Oh no! Now there's not enough for drugs!

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great thing for people to quit smoking. I have been a non-smoker for 14 months now, with a past habit of four packs a day for over 40 years. I made that decision #- not for health or cost reasons, but because we as smokers are losing our rights. By being told where and when we can smoke. It was aggravating, causing me to smoke more to calm my nerves.

I know the government's concerns over health costs. But do they have the right to change our amendment rights to suit their justifications. Is the government concerned about people's health or are they concerned about lining their pockets. It's the government who continues to overspend, drive up the cost of living to the point where only the rich can survive and can continue to get richer - while everyone in a lower class of living stays honest and works hard (until the companies move to cheaper taxed locations) and pay until there's nothing left to pay with. Then the government gets to pay us with what they seem to think we can live on, for food and housing.

We know we are in a recession/ depression with no bright light ahead. (In spite of what our president seems to believe, knowing full well his guilt.) Glad to know his taxes in Texas aren't foreclosing on his ranch. And have you noticed how the size of our food products are getting smaller, while the prices are getting higher. Well I guess it's time to start a garden, for food, grow some tobacco to smoke, cut some trees to keep warm, buy a horse and buggy to get it home, dig for coal for the lanterns, start a still to drink, and pray the weather doesn't ruin it all.

Well writing this little note didn't cost anything but time, I guess I can afford a little of that to vent a few thoughts. Hope you found some humor in spite of the fact of where our country's headed.

Last thought: Bring our troops home. Use the billions of dollars allocated for fighting to rebuild the U.S.A. and the people who believe in America's homeland so that we may flourish once again in peace and prosperity.

Thanks for reading,

Mitch Bizzari

Auburn