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They do keep trying, don't they?!

I remember the first study of the effects of secondhand smoke. It went: if firsthand smoke kills 200,000 people a second and secondhand smoke is equivalent to 1/10 the effect of firsthand smoke, then 20,000 a second are killed by secondhand smoke.
The anti-smoking industry revved up with that, but then realized: "Hey, that's just plain stupid."

So a second attempt was made. Some doctors were assigned to review the available studies for a Congressional Committee. The doctors said secondhand smoke was harmless, based on facts. The Doctor assigned to write the report for the Committee said the eveidence was conclusive: secondhand smoke is harmless.
Having committed perjury, his case was referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.

The third attempt was as wild as the first two. Judges tend to be intimidated by expert testimony, but when secondhand smoke was part of a suit brought before one heroic Judge, he tossed it out as junk science.

Consulted after this decision, members of the anti-smoking industry were not concerned. "We're making up stuff far faster than facts or common sense can ever refute it."

So, the secondhand smoke debate rages on. The facts are simple: no harm. But there's too much money and power over peoples' lives at stake. Those who want to make money from those with below median income and those who want to order people what to do will not be stopped.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 11/17/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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