Letter: Smoker: Bring on the cigarette tax

I’m a smoker, and I agree with the tax increase. According to Frank Lester, spokesman for Reynolds American, 1 in 4 smokers lives at or below the poverty line. If this is the case, I highly doubt these same people, including myself, have world-class health insurance.

We live in a country that believes human life is paramount. Because of that belief, we have systems in place that help to cover the medical costs for those who are not fortunate enough to have the luxury of health coverage. In the end, it will be the American people, smokers or not, who will have to foot the bill for our suicidal behavior.

Smoking is addictive, no doubt, but why in the world should anyone else be responsible for the cost of my demise? At my own hands no less. Why not let us pay a higher price, so that when we finally kick the bucket, we will have made a dent, albeit a small one, in the out-of-control costs we will have left behind?

Obviously we live in a pay-as-you-go world. Why should this be any different?

Kevin Perez
Chico