In the US we have a separation of Church and State. Both are to act autonomously and without bias towards or against one another. The theory being one shouldn't influence the other.
Now as a society in this country, secularism is on the risen, and yet people have the urge to believe in something. This is the main problem. People are focusing their efforts in worship of different causes. We have fights over every belief. Whether its eliminating fossil fuel use to evolution in schools, whether its creating tougher penalties on drinking and driving to smoking cessation. People have put FAITH in their causes, and it comes with an advantage.
This faith can freely influence goverment. No restrictions whatsoever. Including campaign funding and spreading biased propaganda. I think its time as a people to not only understand the fact that this is happening, but if willing to, we should stop it. Now as a libertarian if you disagree with me, awesome, do your thing. I for one do not donate any of my money or time to causes that force legislation of any kind. Nor do I donate to any cause that has any contact whatsoever with gov't officials. this would include ALL smokefree organizations.
To me they are a threat to liberty, Nobody has the right to tell you what to do. Bill Godshall is a good and decent man IMO from what I've read. I support his efforts in
tobacco harm reduction even though I thoroughly disagree with his attacks against smoking. This is the same reason why all these organizations are doing what they're doing. Its about a FAITH in the fact that they feel its the right thing to do.
The money is a nice mitigating factor, but not the underlying cause. As such as long as organizations are allowed to lobby legislators the problem will persist. Believe in the separation of church and state? Then why support lobbyist organizations? My answer is I wont.
