Put the funds to better use

To the Editor:

Did you know that the original 13 colonies succeeded because of the Tobacco plant?

Did you know that in the past 10 years, more farmers have had to sell their family farms because of government regulations on tobacco farming? The federal government is already taxing tobacco products so high that most can't afford them anyway. If a person chooses to smoke, they should have that right.

Business owners should have the right to decide whether to allow patrons to smoke or not.

As far as the (Clay County Tobacco Coalition) is concerned, I have one question: Who pays for all the research into your ongoing crusade?

I hope it's not the Clay County taxpayers.

I think if this is the case, these funds could be put to better use like our roads, sidewalk replacement and other pressing issues.

By the way, prohibition failed.

Look, it's simple. If you don't smoke and you don't want to breathe secondhand smoke, go somewhere else. There are a number of businesses that have paid big money for exhaust fans to take the smoke out of their establishments.

Who will pay them back for their investment? Possibly the CCTC?

I doubt it.

Paul J. Wetnight,

Brazil