[Jacsracing]

I'd like to commend you folks, smokers and non-smokers alike, for being able to carry on an intelligent conversation about this very controversial subject without resorting to insults (with one notable immature individual excepted). Some time back I made the mistake of trying to discuss the matter over at Corral. I will never return to that website again. Even the moderators there are very anal.

I'm an older guy and a long-time smoker. I started while in Vietnam. The government gave them to us for free. Now of course they've switched tracks and are raking in the bucks with outrageous taxes and lawsuits against the companies, all the while waving the flag in our faces about how they are doing it for our own good.

Right now I wish I never lit my first butt. Back in my Army days while serving with a Ranger Battalion, our whole company ran 25 miles just to prove a point. I barely broke a sweat. Today I couldn't make a run to my car in the parking lot to get out of the rain. Yesterday, my doc told if I don't stop, I'm not long for this world. Not easy. The only substance in the world more addictive than nicotine is crack cocaine. Yet, the government, the medical industry, and the insurance industry offer no solutions other than some chewing gum and a phone-in hot line.

But I'm going to keep trying. Like Mark Twain said "Quiting smoking is easy, I've quit thousands of times."

Regards

John