In Response to "Joe Public" on the Issue of Tobacco Sales.

Dear Joe, when I make a decision on a town council issue, I generally look at things from both a financial/business perspective and from an individual one. Often the town council is making decisions weighing the benefit to a person or business against the detriment of someone else. Tax abatements are an example, where a business gets a financial benefit that is paid by the taxpayers. I don't like tax abatements although they may be a necessary evil in this economy. Another example is the school budget, where there is a debate about how much tax payers should be paying for education, often from taxpayers who have no children in the school system. The town has many ordinances regulating traffic, noise, trash, business operations, building and construction, food inspections, the sale of liquor, etc. I don't like overregulating any business.

However, recall back in the 1970's when businesses were free to dump hazardous waste into rivers and streams, when toxic chemicals were spewing into the air, and when they were burying toxic waste. Any older mechanic will tell you about their exposure to asbestos, PCBs, chromium, lead and other toxic materials, without any regulation on the jobsite. Construction workers will tell you about a time when there was no OSHA protection and when workers were injured at much higher rates than presently. I have a case right now that involves dozens of workers being exposed to unabated asbestos during a project at the Sikorsky Aircraft facility in Stratford.

Do you want to go back to the days when there was no regulation of business activities and do you care about the health of people who live and work in our communities? You claim it is Stalinist attitude to consider implementing tobacco regulations in South Windsor, but you are incorrect about Stalin as well. He took it upon himself to starve millions of peasants in the Ukraine in the 1930s because he thought they were subhuman and were not entitled to the food that they were producing. Stalin had very little concern for human life, and so your comparison is not at all accurate. He also refused to stop the slaughter of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto even though he had a troop buildup just outside the ghetto.  Stalin was a mass murderer.

Further, tobacco may be legal, but it is heavily regulated, and there is overwhelming evidence that tobacco is and has been the leading cause of preventable deaths in the country. for decades.  I am not interested in protecting tobacco sales. I am interested in protecting children from getting hooked on cigarettes. If you believe it is a Stalinist attitude that I am concerned about toxic dumping, workers being exposed to dangerous chemicals, and construction workers being exposed to dangerous conditions, then that is your opinion. If you believe that it is Stalinist to worry about lead in children's toys, then you can have that opinion too. If you do not care about the cancer, emphysema, COPD and other diseases caused by cigarette smoking, then that is your right.

This country was founded by people just like Dr. Anwar, standing up for our Constitution and protecting our freedoms and liberty. That includes the health and safety of our citizens and ensuring that irresponsible people and businesses do not subject our children to poisons. I believe in democracy and will respect the decisions of the majority. But I will not resort to name-calling and bullying to make my point. Dr. Anwar should be thanked for bringing us his concerns and offering his suggestions. We should all strive to strike a balance in doing the right thing, but also recognizing the rights of others.