[Hoot Gibson]

What about the societal "pain" caused by smoking? Is making sure black folks have access to corporately owned eating establishments an essential government function, Hoot? What say you? If only going to sleep were the real consequence of smoking and drinking oneself into a state of dis-health.... Shall we recite here the various maladies associated with too much smoke and drink? The exorbitant costs associated with treating same? Lost wages, lost productivity, lost consortiuum? What say you, Hoot?

Societal pain is caused when our elected representatives strip American citizens of personal liberties and relieve them of personal responsibilities. More taxes, more regulation, and more government is not the answer for societal ills.