Despite the fact that I am a two-time survivor of stage 3 cancer, I never contribute a penny to the American Cancer Society. That’s because I believe organizations like that should stick to charitable activities instead of acting as political lobbies they way ACS does. ACS should restrict its functions to things like helping cancer victims and funding research to find cures for various forms of the disease. But while it does a great job at those things, it also spends a lot of time trying to strong-arm politicians into using the force of the law to achieve their ideals for society.
Just the other day, I read a letter to the editor from some dunce who was representing the ACS. His letter called for an 85-cent per pack increase in the state’s cigarette tax as a means of funding programs to prevent teens from smoking and to help adult smokers quit the habit. He also called for more restrictions on smokers reduce cut down on harmful second hand smoke. While the prevention of childhood smoking, the cessation of adult smoking, and the reduction of second hand smoke are all honorable goals, using the government to force the issue in these matters is not the answer. I am opposed to a nanny state and any organization that does its bidding.
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