Smokers Need Continued Reform

Why is it that ashtrays have become obsolete?

Some years back and on occasion the bumper sticker stating; "the world is not your ashtray" could be seen now and then. Smokers have become and remain some of the most inconsiderate and disrespectful people in the world, their butts and empty packs can be seen everywhere. Go to any public place or beautiful area in a park be it National, State or local; what will you see cigarette butts. This aberrant behavior is sanctioned under "smokers rights."

Although their blowing smoke in other faces has been curtailed by the no smoking public health laws in restaurants and bars, spreading of  their habits debris upon the land has not been addressed. Is it that cigarette butts and plastic tip cigar material does not count as litter as compared to all the other trash about us?

How is it just, fair or civil to allow this dirty habit to effect us all? It does by degrading our shared spaces. In National or State Parks for example they become even more offensive. Beaches be they ocean, lakes or rivers become ashtrays. Yes; visit beautiful places and leave your trash, that's' what its all about.  

What an example for young people, especially of family members that smoke and litter. So a smoker makes a choice to endanger his own health, but his responsibility for making that choice does not end their, it spreads the disease to us all.

If we cannot eliminate the filter which is a mere placebo anyway and market only non-filter, then we should raise the price through a tax aimed at the end result of smoking and smokers inconsideration to us all.

The tobacco companies need be made to address this negative result of their product and spend some money on a campaign to at least try and remedy this behavior. People throwing butts about and spotted by police need be fined for littering, its not just one butt its millions and its unnecessary like all litter it is a simple matter of conscience discipline by one self and remembering how you effect others and all things.

How about the smokers at the shore who bury their remains under the sand, turning stronger than then storm into all the world is my ashtray.

Nick Homyak
Lake Hiawatha, NJ