The tobacco industry

The Opinion page article "Cut the Taxpayers' Subsidy of Cigarette Advertising," Oct. 13, was excellent. One would think that with the debt topping $4 trillion and affordable health care in short supply, someone in the government would increase revenue and actually taxing tobacco advertising, using the money to sponsor counter-advertising designed to discourage the number of smokers, thereby easing the strain on the health- care system.

I am confounded by the fact that tobacco kills so many people each year and causes so much disease, yet it remains legal. Giving the tobacco industry tax breaks on their drug pushing is not in our society's best interests. Robert Duke, Ellisport, Wash.

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